Clean Eating on a Budget

            I’m a college student with a busy life. I struggle every day to pay the bills and still feed myself. Minimum wage isn’t exactly ideal so when it comes to budgeting, it’s all about having a system. The dreaded fast food industry has taken my money for the last time.

 Nothing about processed foods is healthy for you. Taking a nutrition course in college was probably the best thing I ever did for myself. I am learning healthy living habits that I can easily practice every day. One of the things I have been focusing on is clean eating. Below, you will see what I WANT my fridge to look like. Unfortunately, this is not the case…

This hippie child loves eating a vegetarian diet. Where do I get protein? My answer to you is beans, nuts, and seafood. If you visit choosemyplate.gov you can easily find a meal plan that works for you. After using this site in my nutrition class, it has been easier for me to set goals. I have a set grocery list that I now follow: 

I’m one of those girls who are addicted to Pinterest. It has helped me find fun vegetarian recipes to follow. There is something new for me to try every day so I don’t fall into a boring routine and break my healthy habits. If you don’t have a Pinterest and you love to cook, my advice is to give it a try. By following this new diet, I have lost 15 lbs. within a span of 2 weeks. There is nothing more exciting than getting on that scale and seeing the number lower than it was before.

So how do I manage to budget for healthy foods? My way might not be for everyone but it certainly helps me. Whenever I have cash on me I take out every $5 bill that I have. I put them away in a jar and at the end of my 2 week plan I have a decent amount set aside for groceries. I constantly check for coupons and sales at multiple stores. Making a plan that fits you makes it so much easier to reach your goals.

Now that my body feels good, so does my mind. I stress less about money and have more energy for my day. If you are like me and are constantly on the run, it might be a good idea to pre-make meals. I portion out meals for an entire week every Sunday night. This helps me to grab and go rather than waste time when I’m already running late.

Something I strive for is all organic foods. Shopping at the Farmer’s Market or stopping at a local farm that sells its produce are great places to find organic foods. These places can provide foods that have not been exposed to countless chemicals and hormones. If the food is exposed to chemicals, that means we take it all in when we eat. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like the sound of that. Clean eating doesn’t have to be something that comes from Walmart or Kroger. In my experience, a lot of booths at a Farmer’s Market offer cheaper prices than a grocery store. This is super beneficial to my strict budget. 

Clean eating doesn’t mean cutting out snacks. I have found plenty of recipes that satisfy my sweet tooth without eating junk. One thing that I really love is frozen grapes. You put them in a plastic bag so they don’t dry out and leave them in the freezer until frozen. It is a perfect substitute for sugary popsicles.  If you love potato chips, I have a substitute for that too. Slice an apple into thin pieces and bake them for 2 hours at 200F. After the first hour you will want to flip the slices so that both sides get crispy. Let them cool and prepare for a sweet treat. Instead of paying for the pricey store brands, you can simply make them at home with your favorite kind of apples.

Cutting out sugary drinks has done my body wonders. I constantly carry a water bottle with me so that I can keep myself from having an empty stomach. This helps me stay away from binge eating. I let myself have one coffee or soda a day and stock my cupboard with different types of tea. At the moment, I have 12 different flavors of tea. I might add a small amount of honey from time to time but I stray from too much sugar. Water has been a crucial part of my weight loss. They say you should get at least 8 glasses of water a day. By carrying a refillable bottle with you, it is easy to reach that goal.

Figure out a goal, set a budget, and make a plan that you can stick with. This college girl has really turned her life around just by changing eating habits. Clean eating has made me happier and healthier. Hopefully my experiences can help you too.

Namaste.