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When
comparison shopping, it is good to buy the foods that
cost the least per pound. However, that should not be
your only consideration. Another big issue for families
on a tight budget is not just where to buy foods the
cheapest, but what foods to buy. If you want
to eat healthy and cheap, then buying foods that are
both inexpensive and nutritious is really the best route.
Most
dietary guidelines are not based on how many pounds
of food people should eat each day, but how many calories
they should eat, and how many vitamins and minerals
they should consume each day. So in order to decide
what foods are really the cheapest, we need to find
out how to get the most nutrition for our food dollars,
not the most food by volume. Sure everyone hears the
stories of master coupon cutters who feed a family of
six on $50 a week, but are those families getting fresh
and nutritious foods that will maintain health for that
amount, or are they loading up on discounted but normally
high priced convenience foods filled with sugar, salt,
empty calories, refined starches, chemical preservatives
and hydrogenated oils?
Skimping
on nutritious food can save money in the short term,
but over the long term thousands of thousands of medical
studies have shown that a diet of processed foods lacking
in fresh fruit and vegetables can lead to heart disease,
cancer, diabetes and many more modern ailments. Manufacturers
tend to offer coupons on processed foods with high markups.
It isn't that often you'll find coupons for items like
romaine lettuce and carrots. So if you really want to
eat frugally and cheaply, as well as avoid expensive
medical bills down the road, try buying a wide assortment
of fresh food in as natural a state as possible, even
if it doesn't always come with a coupon.
According
to a 2004 study on fruit and vegetable costs published
on the United States Department of Agriculture web site,
watermelon is the least expensive fruit to buy, both
on a per pound and a per serving basis, with an average
price of only 32 cents per pound. Though inexpensive,
watermelon is a nutrient dense food and a good source
of vitamins A, B6, and C. In a poster I have from the
Center for Science inthe Public Interest, watermelon
was the highest rated fruit by the CSPI in terms of
nutritional value. For more recipes than you ever thought
were possible using watermelon, visit The National Watermelon
Promotion Board web site at www.watermelon.org.
If
you like to garden, you can eat healthy and save money
on vegetables by planting your own organic vegetable
or herb garden. Gardening also is great for fresh air,
sunshine and exercise.
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