Eating Healthy - It Just Makes "Cents"

It’s a common scenario. You get off work, pick the kids up and go through the fast food drive through. It’s cheap, it’s easy and it’s something the kids will actually eat without complaint. But how cheap is it really? Let’s say you hit the drive through 3 days a week. You buy a meal for yourself and your 2 kids. You’re out about $6 for your meal and your spouse’s and $4 for each kid’s meal. That’s $20 each time, but it’s $60 for the week! Take that $60 to the grocery store and shop for ingredients to make healthy meals and I guarantee you’ll get more for your money!

The first step is to have a menu for the week. From that menu you can make your shopping list. Visit smarthealthforfamilies.com for menus with coordinating shopping lists already created for you. Then go shopping! This is fun – really!! The trick is to stick to the shopping list and not to be tempted by all the delicious junk you see! That just adds unnecessary dollars to your grocery bill and unnecessary calories into your body and the bodies of your children. Buy a few delicious snacks – just make sure they are healthy! Who doesn’t love fresh strawberries or crackers and cheese?

As you get the hang of this, start incorporating recipes into your weekly menu. Again, visit smarthealthforfamilies.com for tons of healthy, fast and delicious recipes! Make it a family event. Let your children or spouse pick out a recipe for the week and help prepare it. Some examples: Grill some boneless skinless chicken breasts and place them in a baking dish. Pour 1 cup of rice and 2 cups of water over top. Sprinkle chopped onions and celery on top. Season with salt and pepper and bake at 400 degrees for about an hour – until the rice is tender. This serves a family of 4 and only costs about $2 a serving. It’s healthy, delicious and costs half as much as a kid’s meal. Or make a big pot of chili. Brown ground hamburger. Add chopped onions and a can of mild green chilies. Pour in 1 can of tomato sauce, 1 can of chopped tomatoes, 1 can of black beans and 1 can of kidney beans. Add a packet of chili seasoning and simmer until hot. Add water if necessary! Top with 2 % milk cheddar cheese. Even if served with cornbread muffins this meal only costs about $1.75 a serving. And it’s loaded with vegetables and fiber!

See, it’s easy to eat healthy and save money! Yes, it takes a tiny bit more time to prepare your own meals, but it’s time you get to spend alongside your family chatting about the day instead of sitting in a drive through!

Visit smarthealthforfamilies.com for more information!