Budgetary restrictions and time constraints are concerns that many of us face when trying to incorporate healthier foods into our diets. Organics, green foods, and superfoods often come with a hefty price tag, especially if you don’t live in a state that can grow these foods year round.
While some people have access to farmers markets where they can buy these things at a reasonable price, many others do not have this option. As someone who has four kids and is on a tight budget, I totally understand this! We simply cannot afford to buy the variety of organic greens and “super foods ” that I would like. So, we have to be resourceful and get creative.
1. Grow your own
When we used to live on less than an acre, we built some raised bed gardens and grew a few of our own vegetables and herbs. These were mostly low maintenance plants, such as squash, tomatoes and berries. This way, we usually had some fresh, organic foods that we were able to freeze for times when they are not in season.
Over the years, my husband has gotten raspberry and blueberry bushes on clearance at stores like Lowes, planted them, let them go, and within a year we picked bags and bags of berries, which we then froze. This is a big money saver, since organic berries are so expensive at the store, and it doesn’t require much of a time commitment either.
Herbs, micro greens and wheatgrass are especially easy to grow, even inside of the house. These plants are full of vitamins, minerals and have many detoxifying properties that would be great to include in the diet. You can just cut some off the plants everyday, throw it into a green smoothie, and have breakfast ready within a couple of minutes. We’ve gotten organic seeds for some of these plants on websites like amazon.com, and plants such as wheat grass and micro greens germinate quickly and grow fast.
2. Shop smartly and have a smoothie!
I know it’s been said before, but I am going to say it again. Try to buy
greens and vegetables in season when possible. I say this on the premise that the prices of seasonal fruits, vegetables and greens can be lower if they are in season in some stores.
In our local grocery market, we do not notice a big price change if an item is in season, but sometimes they have specials. When we notice a lower price on organic herbs, greens and other veggies, we buy them and freeze them. While it is definitely possible to buy already frozen, organic vegetables, it can be cheaper to do it yourself, and also broaden the variety of choices. This way, you can get more variety in your diet at a lower price point. All of these frozen items can easily be thrown into a smoothie, which can be consumed “on the run”.
Also, buy local superfoods. These are nutrient-dense leafy greens, vegetables and fruits that are native to your area, and therefore usually cheaper. Imported superfoods, like acai berries, and goji berries are brought in from other parts of the world, which certainly adds to the cost.
Now if budget is not a concern, a great and quick way to incorporate many of these greens and superfoods into your diet is by using a high quality, organic superfoods or greens powder. This is not a complete replacement for eating the foods in their whole form, but an easier way to incorporate a broader spectrum of nutrients to your diet. Amazing Grass makes a very palatable, good quality “supergreens” powder that can be added to your morning smoothie.
3. Prepare in advance
Many of us are short on time these days. It’s just a fact of life. I have often gotten caught at lunch time, with good intentions to eat a big salad or eat a nutritious meal, only to be sabotaged by extreme hunger and lack of time to prepare such a meal. One way around this is to do things ahead of time when you have a little extra time.
This doesn’t even mean pre-making a meal, but just chopping up vegetables ahead of time, cooking up a larger batch of meat or fish at once and portioning them out for several days, or even opening up a can of wild-caught sardines, salmon or tuna.
Another great quick and easy superfood snack/meal is a chia seed pudding. This can be put together quickly the night before you want to eat it, and only a few ingredients are needed. The great thing with chia seed pudding is that you can flavor it in any way you’d like. I personally like to add pumpkin and cinnamon to mine.
4. Let go of perfection
It’s easy to become obsessed with the idea of attaining perfect health and cramming as many superfoods as possible into your diet to achieve that goal. I know, because every time I find out about a new food or supplement that is “vital” for our health, I feel like I need to buy it.
Noble as it may be to want to achieve perfect health, most of us still have to live within the confines of reality. When we get to the point that we are breaking the budget to buy every superfood and supplement out there to reach this goal, we need to stop, sit back, take a deep breath and question what is really necessary.
Furthermore, what exactly is perfect health anyway? I think that everyone
can reach a point at which their health is optimal. This may be where their weight is at a healthy level, they have energy, sleep well, and have mental clarity. These are health goals that many of us try to obtain.
Do we need to take 20 supplements daily and eat as many superfoods as possible on a daily basis to get there? Probably not. Find what works for you. If adding some chlorella powder to your smoothie gives you clear skin and loads of energy, keep it up! If you don’t notice any changes or improvements in your health, try something else.
Be experimental. The journey to optimal health in involves a lot of personal experimentation, and a lot of trial and error.
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