Is it too expensive to buy and cook healthy? What kinds of foods should I be looking at when I go to the grocery store? What can I do to help make it affordable and make my family want to eat it?
I have a “rule of thumb” when going food shopping, and that is, stick to the outer portion of the store and stay away from the inner isles.
If you think about it, all the processed, high fat, high sodium and high calorie food is down all those little isles in the middle of the store. If you take a look at the outside parameter of the store you will notice that is where all the “fresh” foods are. This is where you want to be spending those hard earned dollars. If you can prepare an entire meal out of one single box, put it down and walk away.
Cooking fresh is not as expensive and difficult as people think. You can grow a garden in the spring and summer months and freeze your own vegetables to eat during the winter months. Experiment with fresh herbs and spices and find what works for you and keep your herb garden fresh in a sunny window or grow light all winter long.
The hardest part of cooking healthy is learning how to do it. Once you learn that it is not that hard it will not take very much time out of your day and it can be exciting and gratifying. Let your kids prepare meals with you and teach them how to shop in the store at a young age so they grow up making healthy food choices and teaching others and their future families how to be healthy. I have found that my kids choose to eat the healthy foods more diligently if they have helped prepare it and they ask to help with dinner all the time.
Take these few steps towards educating yourself in the grocery store and pick up a cook book that allows you to cook with fresh herbs and fresh ingredients and have fun becoming a healthier you!