We get it; eating healthy can sometimes feel expensive. But the truth is, you don’t need to break the bank to fuel your body with nutritious meals at work. While the saying “health is wealth” holds true, smart planning and simple swaps can make healthy eating both affordable and convenient. Here are 10 easy and budget-friendly tips to enjoy healthy meals at work without overspending.
10. Homecooked Meals Are Key
Healthy meals such as salads from restaurants and cafes are a bit pricey compared to a combo meal from your favorite fast food place. But since we’re aiming for a healthier approach, why not prepare your meals at home? The best thing about this is you get to ensure that every ingredient added is nutritious enough, and you can even adjust the flavor to your own liking.
9. Plan Your Meals in Advance
So you’ve decided to take the homecooked meal approach, but how can you stay consistent? It’s all a matter of planning healthy meals in advance. Get a planner and search the internet for healthy work meals you can prepare. Create a budget per meal and take it with you when you go grocery shopping to make sure you don’t go over the budget.
8. Always Choose Water
When you’re at work, there are a lot of tempting drinks to choose from. Remember that one sweetened beverage or shake will already cost you at least $5-10. Why not opt for water? It keeps you hydrated and costs nothing if you bring a reusable bottle.
7. Don’t Shop When You’re Hungry
Some of us may have poor control over our decisions. To help you with it, don’t shop on an empty stomach. Why? When we’re hungry, everything looks tempting, making it easier to grab unhealthy and overpriced options. This applies when grocery shopping or checking out available food during your work break.
6. Get Creative with Leftovers
Instead of letting food go to waste, get creative with your leftovers! You can repurpose your dinner leftovers for easy work lunches, given, of course, that they’re nutritious as we’re not letting go of our health agenda. Roast chicken can turn into a wrap, grilled veggies can top a salad, or a simple stir-fry of veggies mixed with the right amount of seasoning will do.
5. Grow Your Own Produce for Fresh and Free Ingredients
One fun activity that you can do during your day off is growing your own produce. If you have a little space in your yard, then growing herbs and vegetables can save you money while ensuring that you eat fresh. Not only that, but growing your own produce is a great activity that exercises your body physically and mentally.
4. Replace Meat with Other Proteins
To help you save up more meat, you can replace it with other proteins on some days. There are affordable options where you can get your source of protein, like eggs, legumes, and canned fish. Incorporate them into easy dishes that you can bring with you at work.
3. Look For In-Season Produce
Local produce that’s in season tends to be cheaper than out-of-season options. Since they’re in the picking season, you can get more nutrients and flavor from them. When planning your meals for the week, make sure to check out what’s in season and prepare packed dishes from the produce that you have.
2. Buy Frozen Vegetables and Fruits
In-season vegetables and fruits can’t be around all year long, making them a bit pricier. To continue eating healthy at work, you can opt for Frozen Vegetables and Fruits from your grocery’s freezer. Don’t worry; quick-frozen products are just as healthy and usually cheaper. They’re sold in large quantities of bags, and they’re around all year long.
1. Prepare Food in Batches
There are some days when work becomes so demanding that you no longer have time to prepare your meals. Well, you don’t need to sacrifice your health by ordering fast food. During your free time, you can cook your food in large batches and freeze a portion of it for later. This practice may save you time and ensure that you’re still consuming nutritious food.