Did you know that you can strengthen personal finances through the food that you eat? Apparently, when you eat healthy meals, you can help make your finances more secure.
It is probably a good thing that 6 out of 10 Americans have made a commitment to prioritize healthy food purchases from now on. We all know that the eating habits of the majority are not exactly healthy. This is why we have a big problem with obesity. But lately, there had been a huge campaign to help people take care of their bodies more. While exercise is among the top priorities, the food that we eat is also considered to be an important part. What you put in your body will serve as its fuel. If you give it the wrong one, it will not get the nutrients that will make it function properly. When your body is exhausted, that could lead to problems.
This is why you need to eat healthy if you want to improve your financial position this year.
Most people think that food and money are only related when you are buying them. This is probably why they are not really concerned with what they eat. As long as it is cheap, it should be good enough to help secure their finances, right?
That is where you are wrong. Your food choices have a bigger effect on your finances. If you make the right choice, you can actually save a lot of money in the long run.
5 ways you can save money when you eat healthier
It might surprise you to know that there are 5 different ways that eating healthy can strengthen personal finances.
Keeps you from getting sick
The food that you eat serves as the fuel for your body. If you follow a healthy diet, your body will get the nourishment that it needs to function efficiently throughout the day. One study revealed that poor diet is one of the factors that contribute to 1 out of 5 deaths all over the world. Sometimes, this poor diet is not because people lack access to proper food. There are people who consciously choose to eat the wrong things – leaving their body vulnerable to diseases. And when you get sick, you have to pay for the high cost of healthcare. You need to buy the medicines or get treatments that will heal your body. But if you ate the right food that can nourish your body properly, the chances of you getting sick will be lessened. This is how eating healthy can help strengthen your personal finances.
In case you have existing conditions or genetic diseases, eating healthy will lower your healthcare expenses too. You do not have to pay for getting treatments repeatedly. And if you improve your health because of what you eat, it is possible for you to take lesser medication.
Makes you more productive
When your body is conditioned, you become more productive. Healthy food will help you get the vitamins and minerals that will help your body work harder. By being more efficient and productive at work, you get to earn more. If you are employed, the quality of your work and the fact that you hardly miss a day due to sickness will make you a valuable employee. This will increase the chances that you will get a raise or promotion.
Lowers the need for pills
First of all, if you are less likely to get sick, you do not need to drink medicines. That is one less thing for you to spend on because your body is healthy. But that is not all. There are a lot of over the counter vitamins and minerals that are meant to make your body stronger. If the food that you eat on a daily basis is enough to sustain and nourish your body, there is no need for these supplemental pills. You can rely on the natural way to get healthy – which is simply eating the right meals.
Secures your retirement
When it comes to preparing for retirement, most people just focus on the money. While this is not wrong, it is not enough. It is true that you need to save money in order to strengthen personal finances when you retire. But in order to secure your financial future, you also have to consider what you will be spending on. Some people think that since they are young, they can abuse their bodies. While you may not feel the effects in your youth, it will be felt when you are older. By then, it would be harder to treat the ailment. That means you need to spend your retirement money on healthcare. If you take care of your body while you are young, you do not have to spare too much of your retirement money on healthcare costs. You can use it to enjoy your life instead.
Rewards from your insurance
Believe it or not, when you take care of yourself and you eat healthier meals, your insurer will reward you. After all, the chances of you claiming from them will be lower if you take care of your body. Some insurers give you discounts when you buy certain produce. This is meant to encourage people to eat healthily. These discounts can help you keep your monthly expenses lower.
As you can see, there are several ways that healthy eating can benefit your finances. You will not only feel a lot better, you will also strengthen and improve your financial position.
Tips to eat healthier on a budget
Based on the data from the US Department of Agriculture, American’s average food expense is 11% of their budget. That means if you earn $4,000 a month, you spend $440 on food. 6% of that amount is spent on food and groceries while 5% is spent on eating out. While it is not clear if the food bought is healthy or not, there is a general perception that healthier meat and produce is more costly.
This might counter your intention to eat healthy so you can strengthen personal finances. However, there are tips and tricks that you can use to save money on food.
Grow your own produce
This is probably the best way for you to save on your food budget. If you have a garden, you can plant as many produce as you can fit in there. There are greens that you can easily grow. If you do not have a garden, you can opt to grow herbs instead. Keep the pots on the window sill of your kitchen. This will really help lower your grocery bill by a couple of dollars. It will also be healthier because you are the one growing your food.
Buy staples when on sale
Whatever you use immediately, try to buy them in bulk when they are on sale. You are sure to use them up anyway so you do not have to worry about them expiring. These staples include pasta, canned beans, flour, olive oil, nuts, etc. It all depends on what you use all the time.
Do not buy pre-packed salads
While it is convenient, it can be expensive. It is still cheaper if you buy each ingredient and cut them up yourself. This will give you a more crisp salad and you can choose what you want to put in it. The salad will end up being fresher this way.
Get spices from bulk bins
You should know that spices help you keep healthy because it gives your meals flavor without the need for fat. But if you are to buy spices, get it from the bulk bins – not the packaged or bottled ones. The price per ounce is usually cheaper. These can be stored for a long time.
Choose when bulk buying is smarter
Just because something is cheaper when bought in bulk, that does not mean you are saving money. If you are buying something that has a short shelf life, you need to think twice first. Even if it is on sale, if you know you cannot finish it all, then do not buy it in bulk. Food waste is never a good thing. Also, make sure you compare prices first. Sometimes, the bottled or packaged ones are cheaper compared to those in bulk.
Know your food
There are certain ingredients that are highly nutritious and yet inexpensive. An example is a potato. It is rich in fiber, vitamin C, and potassium – and it is not as expensive as the other root vegetables. Not only that, it is also quite versatile. You can fry, boil, bake, mash, roast, and turn them into any dish that is good for breakfast, lunch or dinner. When it comes to meat, chicken breasts (boneless and skinless) can be healthy and nutritious too. You can also do a lot with them. Beans are also a great ingredient because it fills you up – so you can afford to eat less and not go hungry immediately.
Consider all of these tips so you can save money on your food and groceries without compromising your health. When you are well-fed and healthy, you can bet that you can also strengthen personal finances at the same time.