8 Budget Friendly Diet Tips by Nutritionist

Verified by Amisha Gulati - Nutritionist at Gytree

What comes to your mind when you think of dieting? An expensive salad bowl? A smoothie worth your daily savings? The Contemporary World has made dieting even more complex. The fitness industry adds something new to the “DIET FOODS” list every day. The list is fascinating, with enormous claimed benefits but are they worth it? The idea of diet and health being overpriced has already led people to ignore their medical concerns. You do not need exotic items for your diet to succeed. Here are 8 budget friendly diet tips for you.

1. BUY LOCAL FOODS

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Always choose local foods. These are fresher, safer and cheaper. These are easily available and you can buy them anywhere. Buying local also helps the local market and economy. Tip: You can always get cabbage instead of lettuce. 

2. PREFER SEASONAL FOODS

The food industry has made outstanding developments in the processing and preservation of seasonal foods to make them available in the off-season. But frankly, not everyone can afford them. Seasonal foods are best during their season as they are immensely nutritious and fresh. Moreover, these foods support our bodies according to the weather. In summer, we need refreshing foods with good water content such as cucumber, watermelon, melon, bitter guard, bottle guard and much more. During winter, we need food to keep us warm and enhance our immunity. Winter foods like leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, papaya, radish, beetroot and carrots are abundant in antioxidants which boost immunity. 

3. PLAN BEFORE YOU PURCHASE

When we go grocery shopping, we are more likely to buy unwanted stuff if we do not have a grocery list. Devise a budget for grocery shopping. For a budget friendly diet, add the items which are daily necessities first to the list. Carry the list for your grocery trip.

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4. PURCHASE WISELY

Before you add that to your cart, have you considered all its alternatives? When you have to buy a cell phone you go through all the youtube reviews, customer reviews and what not. However, when purchasing foodstuff we never do such extensive research. A wise consumer should go through the nutrition label, the date of expiry, and the ingredients on the back of the product. You can also ask a dietitian for better yet cheaper alternatives and brands.

5. DO NOT BUY “DIET FOODS”

The market is flowing with products labelled as “DIET FRIENDLY”, “WEIGHT LOSS FRIENDLY”, and “LOW CALORIE”. These products can be appealing but not worth the publicity and the money. You can lose weight by following a home-cooked diet with no preservatives and additives. You need a balanced diet which provides all the essential nutrients. One product can not make you lose weight. Stop falling for these marketing traps. 

6. AVOID EATING OUT

Healthy alternatives at any restaurant are overpriced. A bowl of salad will cost you double the price of a burger. It's better to carry your lunch box to your workplace rather than spend hefty amounts in restaurants. 

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7. ADD CHEAP SOURCES OF PROTEIN

Protein powders, shakes, and bars can add to your expenses. However, you can still meet your daily protein needs through budget friendly dieting. Add these cheap protein sources: soybean, lentils, peas, peanuts, pulses, pumpkin seeds and dairy products to your daily regime. 

8. ASK YOUR DIETITIAN FOR A BUDGET FRIENDLY DIET PLAN

Talk to your dietitian about your monthly food budget. Tell her about the locally available foods. Your dietitian can help you figure out affordable healthy alternatives and guide you better on the products. Talk to Gytree Experts to get a personalised budget friendly diet plan.

Overall health depends on being mentally, physically and financially fit. Although we recommend eating whole balanced diets, the intake of supplements in specific cases where the requirements are not satisfied by diet becomes extremely important. Always consult an expert before adding a supplement to your diet. Remember, healthy is not expensive.