When Gayle and I changed our eating habits to consume a whole-food plant-based diet, not only did we see Gayle’s cancer become inactive and both of us feel great and have more energy, but we saw an impact on our bank account.
You see, our new eating strategy saved our health and saved us money at the grocery store.
You and your family can eat healthy and spend less, too.
Here’s how…
It’s so easy.
Eat a whole-food, predominantly plant-based diet and avoid the packaged “fake” food stuff. You can still eat some healthy meats, just avoid processed packaged foods.
Here are two examples of how healthy meals and snacks can save you calories and money.
1. Snack
A typical snack might look like this:
| Food | Cost | Calories |
| Snack bag of chips – 3oz | 99 cents | 465 |
| 20 oz soda | $1.25 | 250 |
Total cost = $2.24 Total calories = 715
A healthy snack might look like this:
| Food | Cost | Calories |
| Medium Apple | 65 cents | 70 |
| Water | Free | 0 |
Total cost = $0.65 Total calories = 70.
This one example of eating a daily snack showed you how to save 645 calories and $1.59.
If you did this every day for a year, you would have saved $580.35 and eaten 235,425 fewer calories.
2. Lunch
A fast food lunch might look like this:
| Food | Cost | Calories |
| Combo meal with quarter pound cheeseburger | $5.59 | 510 |
| Large Fries | Extra charge $.70 | 380 |
| Medium soda (32 oz) | Included in combo price | 210 |
| 1 Chocolate chip cookie | $1.00 | 160 |
Total cost = $7.29 Total calories = 1,260
A lunch from home might look like this:
| Food | Cost | Calories |
| Turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread with mustard, lettuce and tomato | $1.09 | 200 |
| Water | Free | 0 |
| Medium Apple | 65 cents | 70 |
| 1 large graham cracker square | 28 cents | 59 |
Total cost = $2.02 Total calories = 329
This second example saved you 931 calories and added $5.27 to your bank account.
If you did this every day for a year, you would have saved $1,923.55 and consumed 339,815 fewer calories.
The above examples show how simple yummy substitutes can add up.
If you are not ready to make a full commitment to a healthy eating strategy year round, imagine this:
If you choose eating a healthy snack only 1 day a week, you could save $82.68 and 33,540 calories in a year.
If you choose eating a lunch from home only 1 day each week, you could save $274.04 and 48,412 calories in a year.
Eating healthy is good for your health and good for your bank account.
Here are a few more ways to eat healthy and save money
- Grow your own food
- Visit farmers markets
- Buy in bulk, but don’t buy more than you need
- Make your own meals
- Plan your meals and shop with a list
- Avoid wasting food. Eat leftovers
- Avoid pre-packaged and processed items
- Buy produce when it is in season
- Shop vegetarian and eat less meat
Source:
National Institutes of Health
