If I was able to swim in a pool of Benjamin's like this lovely lady, then I would, of course, savor every little moment of it. Makeup? All of it. Food? Everything. But nope. Not today. At least for me...
So, if you're in the same boat (whether you are a college student or just have no money to spend on $10 quinoa at Whole Foods), then this is for you:
HOW TO ESCAPE THE JUNK FOOD TRAP & NOT SPEND ALL YOUR $
If you've been to any grocery store in the past, uh, I dunno, decade, then I'm sure you're no stranger to the extraneous pricing of healthy food vs. junk food. I know, it's absolutely absurd. It doesn't make sense, and it is extremely detrimental to countries all over the world, including ours.
Quick (educational) side note: My senior year of high school I did an independent study with an economics teacher. Economics is totally not my forte, but I found some of the topics so interesting. For example, I crafted a paper that included research about the relationship between poor communities and access to healthy food choices. Here is a snippet from the paper:
"Lack of access to affordable, healthy foods along with limited resources contributes to the poor’s vulnerability and susceptibility to obesity...many low-income neighborhoods do not have full-service farmers’ markets or grocery stores where customers can purchase a variety of goods, such as fruits, vegetables, or whole grains; or, when these products are available, they tend to be of poorer quality, diminishing the appeal of these items to buyers. Instead, the residents of these neighborhoods, especially those without transportation, must shop at corner stores, where the fresh produce/low-fat items are limited, if available at all. In the study of neighborhood disparities in food access, it was found that people with better access to supermarkets and limited access to corner stores have a reduced risk for obesity".
I could go on and on for hours about the unfairness of this dynamic and how it's contributing to rise of obesity in many countries, but perhaps that's a topic for a different day. Anyways...
My point is: healthier options are extremely outrageously priced, while junk food is not. And that is a major issue. As someone who cannot afford all the organic products I want, I also do not want to ruin my health by surviving off of Pop Tarts and Oreos every day.
So? What's the resolution?
1) Plan what you are going to eat for one week. Yep, just one. Any more than that and you will go berzerk trying to plan food that far ahead. I usually plan out a rough draft of what I will eat for breakfast and lunch during the week, with dinner being whatever it happens to be depending on my plans (work, gym, etc). I tend to plan this out and get my shopping done on Sunday's so that I can have a fresh start on Monday morning. Besides, who is able to properly start a new week off on a Sunday?
2) Here's where you choose how to go about actually getting the food. If you are in high school or college and live with your parents (as I do), maybe make a list of suggestions for food that you may like to have in the house when they go grocery shopping. In my situation, with 3 younger siblings, I learned to just start buying my own foods a couple years ago because it can be stressful for my parents who have to buy the food that they will actually eat (luckily, as they get older, they have started eating better, more healthful foods). Because I would like to get my own food on my own time, I plan an hour during the weekend to make it to a store to get the food. My favorite place is Trader Joe's, but we also have places like Hannaford and Shaw's, or places like Food Lion and Kroger . Whatever it is, I guarantee you they will have plenty of options.
3) Ahhh, the shopping part. Here's where the good stuff comes in. As I have said before, I am not a certified nutritionist nor am I an expert on food, but I have some experience with what works and what doesn't. Whether I am at Trader Joe's or just a good 'ole grocery, "off-brand" products are not always as bad as you may think. They are often a lot cheaper but have the same ingredients as something that is more well-known. Now, I agree, this is not the case with all foods; for example, "creme-filled sandwich cookies" do not taste the same as Oreos. But, when trying to decide whether to grab that cup of Oikos vs. Trader Joe's nonfat cup of yogurt, I am 90% sure that they taste the same (to me, at least). Don't get me wrong - I can, as most people, be a "brand-name snob" when it comes to certain things. But, now that I am a broke college girl, I ain't got money for that. So, Trader Joe's brand it is.
4) Try to make the most of your time at the grocery store while you're there. OK, that sounds weird, but I mean don't spend hours debating whether or not you need those chocolate-covered espresso beans (struggles). Make a list ahead of time that has what you NEED, not want. Don't just grab the first bag of spinach on the shelf. Don't look at the first jug of almond milk and automatically assume it's the best for the price. When I wasn't taking the time to think about my choices, I would leave the store with $200 worth of food that was going to expire within a few days because I was too apathetic to check things through. Always go for the produce and dairy products that are towards the back because they won't expire as soon as you buy them! Just a fun little tip.
I know it sounds stupid to have an elaborate way of grocery shopping, but seriously, it helps. The junk food trap is real. Avoid just going in and grabbing whatever looks "healthy", because I guarantee that at the register, a look of horror will crawl across your face when you see the final total. There are so many ways to make healthy choices while also keeping the price affordable.
Here are some examples from my recent grocery trip/meals:
Told you I like Trader Joe's
Almond butter on multigrain bread
Broccoli slaw is life
Until next time, cherubs
Lynds
