Eating Right on a Budget for Heart Health

Here are some 5 tips to eat right on a budget: 1. Skip the meat! Eat vegetarian meals more often. Select beans, peanut butter, and eggs as your protein source. This will cause less of a drain on your pocketbook and a great choice to promote heart health! 2. Reduce portion sizes. Reduce your meat serving size to save. A serving of meat is 3 ounce (picture a deck of cards). For heart health begin to use meat as a "side" and fill your plate with a variety of heart healthy vegetables. 3. Select “in-season” fruits and vegetables! Keep an eye out for special discounts and buy produce when it’s in season. Canned and frozen fruit and vegetables are good options. Stock up when there’s a sale. Select fruit in light syrup or packed in its own juice. Drain and rinse canned vegetables prior to preparing. 4. Think long term. When you are trying to make ends meet on a budget it’s tempting to select less expensive (and less heart healthy) options. Keep in mind that less nutritious options tend to lack nutrient density which leads to overeating. For example, you’ll feel fuller after 1 slice of 100% whole wheat bread versus white bread. In a round about way you’ll save money in the long run by selecting nutrient dense foods even if the price tag is slightly higher. 5. Never shop on an empty stomach. You’re much more likely to stray from your grocery list and buy more foods as well as select less nutritious choices. Not good for your heart health or your pocketbook.