3 Tips for Starting a Healthy Living Program on a Budget

Are you among the 55% of adults who would like to lose weight? If so, there’s never been a better time to invest in your health. With a healthier diet and a focus on fitness, you can transform your physical and mental well-being.

Keep reading to learn 3 tips for starting a healthy living program on a budget!

1. Prep Meals in Advance

Healthy living at home starts with cooking more nutritious meals. After a long day at work, you may turn to frozen pizzas and grilled cheese too often. Instead, commit to doing meal prep for a few hours each weekend.

Create a shopping list with ingredients for low-cost soups and casseroles. Substitute ingredients like yogurt in place of sour cream, and cut your cheese consumption. Load up on veggies and stick with low-sodium soup stock.

If you’re prone to impulse buys, try shopping after eating a large meal. You won’t be as hungry and motivated to buy items that are not on your list. And it will be easier to stick with your healthy living program diet.

Involve the whole family in assembling anything from vegetarian lasagna to lentil soup. Package and label the meals. Then stash them in your freezer.

2. Focus on Cheaper Sources of Nutrients

Healthy living programs don’t need to cost a fortune. Instead of reaching for expensive processed meals, assemble a pantry with low-sodium beans, farro, and bulgur wheat. These hearty foods can form a nutrient-rich base for any meal.

Beans are loaded with fiber and potassium. And farro is a great source of fiber, iron, and magnesium.

If expensive cuts of meat are always calling your name, try cutting back. Going with cheaper forms of protein, such as chickpeas or lentils, will keep your budget happier.

Choose black beans and brown rice for healthier grains, and use lemon instead of salt for seasoning. When you pull together the right ingredients, you can mix and match them to make freezer-friendly and low-cost meals.

And consider supplements if you’re not getting enough vitamins or nutrients in your regular meals. Buying Kratom in bulk, for instance, can translate to bigger savings.

3. Make Movement Part of Your Routine

Healthy living also pertains to your fitness level. Do you schedule workouts during the week? If not, take baby steps to become a more active adult.

For instance, take the stairs at work or park in the space that requires the most walking. Use your lunch break to take a stroll. Or pull yourself out of bed a little earlier for a brisk walk in the mornings.

Aim to be active for 30 minutes each day, and include strength training to build muscle mass. And if you need an extra nudge, find a workout buddy to help with healthy living accountability!

Start a Healthy Living Program

Starting a healthy living program can spur significant improvements in your quality of life. Focus on buying nutritious ingredients and stocking your freezer with healthy meals. And if you don’t get a lot of exercise, gradually introduce movement into your routine.

For more healthy living tips, check back soon for new articles!