Health is wealth, isn’t it? But the tables seem to be changing in recent times, wealth is presumed to be synonymous and to precede healthy living. Think about a plate of chicken, spiced and well decorated along with a glass of wine to go with….UH LA LA😋. But what comes next after that thought? Money and all the cost we would incur to get such luxury. However, maybe the problem is not in the cost of the meal but in the misunderstanding we have about what healthy food is.
According to Healthline.com, healthy food is a balanced food, containing all the classes of food in the right proportion (which differs with age or health condition). Most times, the assumptions we have of healthy food is usually wrong, and as such we think we need a lot of money to eat healthy foods or live healthy lives.
Hack #1- PLAN MEALS AHEAD AND NEVER LET HUNGER PUSH YOU INTO EATING JUST ANYTHING.
Hunger is a spontaneous desire to eat and depending on how intense the desire is, you might just be willing to eat anything to satisfy the desire, except you had a plan. This phenomenon introduces the concept of “Junk food”, which is an instant filling food that is not cumulatively beneficial to the body, and most times tends to cost more than having a pre-thought and planned meal.
Many individuals complain about the restriction of a planned meal or food timetable, that it is at times boring and monotonous. Here is the trick:
- Before writing a food timetable, list all the foods that catch your fancy and preferably healthy and natural meals. Then stock the raw materials for these meals.
- Draft a plan for preferred food for different hours of the day and on different days. A particular time can have two meal options at once, to cater for periodic preference.
- You can search online for drafted food plans and adjust according to budget and preference. For instance, if you come across a timetable that reads Quaker oat, whipped cream with baked beans for breakfast and you know what you can afford is Pap, cowbell milk and Akara, then you are good to go as you would have taken the same class of food.
Quaker oats=Carbohydrate=pap, whipped cream=vitamin=cowbell, baked beans=protein=Akara. The concept is to fix a substitute of the same class of food when needed. - Cook! Cook!! Cook!!! Cook meals in large portions that can be stored up for a reasonable period of time, to satisfy any future hunger.
- Avoid using a plan for a long period of time. (Switch plans or timetable constantly; weekly, bi-weekly or less).
- Observe changes or body reactions and moods to the different plans and adjust where needed. You could talk to a nutritionist.
- And importantly, avoid wasting of food, as these are the negligence that leads to overspending.
Hack #2-IF YOU EVER HAVE TO EAT OUT, BE SURE OF WHERE YOU EAT.
Eating out is more expensive than personal cooking. However, some people do not have the luxury, of time and of personality, to get into the kitchen and cook. But they still need to eat healthy. How?
- Trust your instinct. If your body isn’t reacting well to a particular food, then the food there is likely not healthy for you. Do not allow cheap food to make you pay more at the hospital. Eat only in reliable and organic food outlets.
- Choose water over carbonated drinks and drink enough water, it is safer and cheaper. Often substitute artificial drinks for unprocessed fruits.
- Maintain healthy eating habits while eating out; wash hands properly and preferably, use personal utensils.
- And to the topping; be diversified in your choice of food, even when eating out.
These two Hack headings are not at all exclusive but they are a good basis for a healthy eating habit and overall lifestyle. Remember your lifestyle does not affect you alone, it spreads like an aroma to everyone you contact or relate with. So Abeg o🙏, Keep it healthy🤗.
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