The new year is a great time to pick up some new habits and get on track towards achieving your goals. According to a survey conducted by Flipp in December 2020, the two most popular new year’s resolutions are being more active/getting in shape and saving money.
What if we told you that eating healthier can help you get a head start towards achieving both of those goals? That’s right! You don’t need to drop hundreds of dollars on expensive health foods to eat healthy.
Today we’re sharing some easy food swaps on a budget that will be kind to your body and your wallet.
Infused Water Instead of Sugary Drinks
An easy way to maintain a healthy weight and boost your immune system is to ditch the sugary drinks and drink more water. We’ve heard this time and time again, but if the health aspect alone isn’t enough motivation to make the switch, maybe the financial aspect will be. A 2-pack of 12 oz cans of pop will cost you around $12. If you’re drinking a can a day, you’ll be spending around $30 a month on soda alone! That’s $360 a year. Imagine putting that money aside for something on your wishlist.
If you’re finding it hard to drink more water, infusing your water with fruits can be a great way to flavor it and motivate you to get hydrated. Simply toss some orange peels, sliced strawberries, or whatever flavor you desire into a pitcher with water in the fridge, and let it infuse overnight.
Fresh Fruit Instead of Dehydrated Fruit
If we’re talking about snacks, dehydrated fruit like dried mango slices, prunes, and apricots are definitely a better choice than artificially-flavored candy, but if you want to feel fuller longer, it’s better to eat fresh fruit instead. That’s because the water in fresh fruit will fill you up faster.
To get the same full feeling, you’ll have to eat a lot of dehydrated fruit to feel satisfied, which means you’ll be doubling up on sugar and calories. Not only that, but any packaged food will come with a higher price tag, while buying fresh fruit will get you more bang for your buck. Open the Flipp app to see which fruits are on sale at your local grocery stores today.
Whole Grain Cereal Instead of Sugary Cereal
Who doesn’t love cereal? It’s a quick and convenient meal, but the type of cereal you choose matters. Experts recommend cereal that is high in fiber and protein and low in sugar (less than 8 grams per serving).
Fiber is great for regulating your digestive system, while protein is an important building block of bones, muscles, tissues, and more. In addition, both fiber and protein have shown to keep people feeling fuller and satisfied for longer.
Coffee or Tea Instead of Sugary Energy Drinks
Energy drinks are packed with sugar and unnecessary calories that can lead to weight gain and other health problems over time. For your daily boost of caffeine, opt for a good ol’ cuppa joe or a warm cup of tea. You’ll still get the caffeine kick you’re looking for, but without the extra ingredients that will interfere with your health and fitness goals. Not to mention how much more cost-effective a pack of ground coffee or tea bags are (around $6) compared to a 20-can box of energy drinks (around $30).
Plain Yogurt Instead of Flavored
The beauty of plain yogurt is that you can flavor it any way you like, and of course control exactly what goes into it. Instead of buying multiple flavors of yogurt that are packed with sugar, buy one big tub of plain yogurt and experiment with your toppings and mixes with fresh fruit, maple syrup, chopped nuts, high-fiber granola – the options are endless.
Ready to give these food swaps a try? Leave a comment below if you have any other food swaps or ideas for eating healthier. Remember to always check the Flipp app for the best prices on groceries.
Brewed Coffee Instead of Lattes
For those who enjoy going out for coffee, this next tip will be kind to your wallet and your waistline. The plainer your coffee, the cheaper and better for you it will be. For example, a 12-oz cup of drip brewed coffee with 2% milk comes at around 30 calories for about $2. In comparison, a 12-oz vanilla latte has around 200 calories, and sells for around $5.
Homemade Salad Dressing Instead of Store Bought
Salads are healthy, light, and low in calories. Sadly, many store-bought salad dressings are packed with calories, with some even having around 150 calories per tablespoon – and most of us are using more than the suggested serving size.
Save your calories and your money by making your own salad dressing using ingredients you already have at home. For example, mix some freshly squeezed lemon juice and greek yogurt for a creamy, protein-packed salad dressing.
Popcorn Instead of Potato Chips
Craving something crunchy to snack on? Ditch the bag of oily potato chips and opt for freshly popped popcorn. You don’t need to spend your money on expensive luxury popcorn. Go the old-fashioned route and buy a bag of popcorn kernels for around $4. You can pop them on the stovetop with a bit of olive oil, or better yet, invest in an air popper to make fresh popcorn that’s even lower in calories.
