10 TIPS FOR BUYING FRUIT AND VEGGIES FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HEALTHY EATING
10 Tips For Buying Fruit And Veggies For Those Who Love Healthy Eating
Want to eat more fruit and vegetables but scared that they might hit you in the wallet? In this article, we take a look at how you can eat healthier on a budget.
Cash-conscious buyers who love healthy eating often find themselves in a bit of a situation: They want to keep eating healthily, but they know that nutrients can be a tad expensive. So what do you do?
First of all, there are plenty of reasons why you should keep eating fruit and veg. Fruit and veg are stuffed with all kinds of micronutrients that you just won’t find anywhere else, and which help to reduce your risk of developing chronic disease while ensuring you stay feeling vital and energetic in the present moment.
Fruit and veg is also so wildly varied. There are many different kinds of exciting tastes, colours and flavours, and they each add variety and nuance to literally thousands of dishes.
Let’s take a look at 10 tips for buying fruit and veggies for anyone who loves healthy eating.
’Tis The Season To Be Jolly …
When it comes to A) saving money while buying fruit and vegetables and B) buying the tastiest ones, you should always try to buy fruit and veg when it’s in season.
You can buy produce when it’s out of season, and many of us knowingly do this all the time. But it’s just not as fresh, and therefore doesn’t taste as good as it could do.
For example, ever noticed how sometimes an orange is super, super juicy, and how at other times it tastes a bit flat?
It’s the same with pineapple. Eat it during the summer when it’s in season and you’ll enjoy its crispiness to the max.
Produce is always cheaper when it’s in season because farmers have so much of it. When it’s not in season, it’s more scarce and therefore more expensive.
Shop Online
Often, you’ll find that the best deals to be had are online. Pop online and see what you can find.
Buy Loose Fruit
Loose fruit is often cheaper than packaged fruit. One of the reasons is that you’re not paying for the packaging (duh!). Secondly, you don’t have to buy as many as are in the packet.
For example, let’s say you want two courgettes but they only come in packets of fours. Are you going to buy two loose courgettes and save some money, or are you going to buy the packet of four with the extra two that you probably won’t use?
Always Shop On A Full Stomach
We know how it can sometimes go. You left the house to go grocery shopping with all the best intentions. You had a list full of healthy produce – mangoes, aubergines, avocados, mushrooms, lettuces, cucumbers, and so on.
But when you arrived at the store, you were so hungry that you ignored half of your list and instead bought hamburgers, pizzas and ice cream.
This happens often when we’re on a full stomach. We lose our heads and stock up on food that would satisfy us there and then.
If you enter a supermarket on an empty stomach, there’s no question that you’re going to go on the rampage. Grapes are out and meatballs are in. To prevent this from happening, it’s a smart idea to always shop on a full stomach.
Add Gone-Off Vegetables To Stews
Did you know that vegetables can keep on being useful after they’ve gone past their sell-by-date? Just add them to stews!
Buy Frozen
Some shoppers are sceptical when told they should try frozen produce. Perhaps, somewhere along the line, they’ve heard that frozen produce isn’t fresh.
But it is fresh. And not only is it fresh, but frozen produce can also save you money over the long-term.
You can buy frozen anything these days – from carrots and cauliflower, to mixed berries and onions – before opening them, using them and storing the rest in your fridge for as long as you like.
And, nope, you don’t lose any of those crucial nutrients.
Buy Small Amounts
The problem that some healthy shoppers come up against is that they bulky buy their fruit and vegetables, and then realise that they’ve got too much.
After three days they find themselves having to throw away leftover spinach, peppers, onions, avocados and so on.
It’s annoying because you paid good money for all your produce, but because fruit and veg doesn’t last too long once opened or ripe, you don’t always get to use it all.
Unfortunately, not all fruit and veg works well frozen so you won’t want to buy all your produce frozen. For produce that’s not so good frozen, just buy it in small amounts. If you only need a small amount of spinach for your next soup, buy a smaller packet.
Buy small but frequently. Don’t bulk buy in the hope that your five avocados will last you all week. They probably won’t last longer than two-three days.
Buy Canned Fruit
Canned fruit is cheaper than fresh fruit an still counts towards your five-a-day. Moreover, it lasts longer and tastes just as good.
Go For Store Brands
A lot of people are a bit sceptical when it comes to buying store branded produce, as though it’s somehow inferior and they may as well not be buying any fruit or veg.
But store branded produce is just as good. The only difference is that it’s cheaper. Which is what you want, right?
Grow Your Own
Lastly, if shopping for fruit and vegetables really is becoming too much of an expensive hassle, you could always grow your own.
Indeed, more and more people are becoming green-fingered and growing their own produce. After all, that’s what a garden is for!
Growing your own fruit and veg is not only cost-effective, it’s also fun and rewarding. When you see your first asparaguses of the season spring up, it’s an amazing feeling!
Moreover, you could also sell your produce to other people if you grow so much – or give it away if you’re feeling kind-hearted!
Stay happy and healthy!
from Beauty And Tips Magazine
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