Distinct’s Ultimate Health & Conditioning

Given that I have a diet which consists primarily of meats, fresh fruits and vegetables that often breaks that 4,000 Calorie mark daily, I am often asked how I can afford to eat so much. I must either be rich, or so dedicated that I’m willing to sacrifice a large percentage of my budget towards food, right? Well, neither is the case. I spend on average $40 a week on food, and that’s without cutting a single coupon or waiting for sales. The key is resourcefulness, and in this article I will share with you some tips which will help you cut your food bill down substantially while still maintaining or even improving the quality of the foods you eat.

Eat with the Seasons

One of the key ways you can save money on produce, especially fruit, is to eat what is in season. Take apples, for instance. Where I live in New England, an apple in the winter costs a lot more than apples do in autumn, and the apples grown during the fall season are not only freshly picked, they’re locally grown in the regions abundance of orchards. The savings a company or individual acquires via less storing, transporting and stocking of produce is passed down to the consumer. The same goes with meats, believe it or not, though I’ll touch more on that later.

Farmer’s Markets and Locally Grown Food

Not only does eating locally save one money, it also helps everyone in the end by reducing pollution and enriching our own communities. There is likely a farmer’s market in your area, where everyone from individuals to large scale farmer’s sell their goods, including organic produce, eggs and meats. You can start at the USDA’s site to find a market near you. You will always be assured that what you are buying is priced right, as since it is all grown locally it must be in season and at it’s freshest.

While farmer’s markets offer a unique and affordable way to cut out the middle-man, for meats you can also go straight to the butchering facility that supplies a lot of the stores in your area. There is a butcher in my area that supplies meats to not only high end specialty stores, but a number of big chain groceries as well. Cutting out the stores and going straight to the source eliminates a lot of money in mark-up.

Grow your own

Going to a farmer’s market may seem romantic to some of you, and perhaps will even inspire you to see if you have a green thumb. Planting and harvesting your own food can be as much of a commitment as you’re willing to take on. From a few tomato plants in containers on your porch, to a more traditional cultivated plot, gardening is both enriching and healthy in myriad ways. One of the important aspects to successful gardening is to grow what you like, and what you know you can eat. Avoiding waste and becoming efficient may take a couple of seasons to master, but it’s well worth it. At my home, I plant only 4 or 5 vegetables that I know are easily managed with minimal investment in time and money. I use raised bed gardening, and plant my plants in such a fashion that reduces weeding to nothing. Growing certain plants near each other, and ones which are suited to your climate, also helps minimize bugs and disease -reducing or eliminating your need for pesticides. Once a week, on a Saturday, I will go out and harvest what’s available and do an inspection of the plants.

I also keep a small flock of chickens. This may seem foreign to some, but it’s growing in popularity among people who live in towns where this is accepted. Most towns in this country permit having small flocks, and a small number of birds is easy to manage. I kept my birds healthy all winter long while working 10 hour days full-time. Chickens are surprisingly self-sufficient, and moe than make up for the cost of upkeep simply with the quantity of eggs they produce. Out of 8 hens, I get 7 to 8 eggs daily; so many that I sell a few dozen a week to neighbors and co-workers. They’re fed grain based food which you can buy at the store, and during the summer subsist primarily on what they can forage (bugs, grass and seeds). To sum it up, chickens cost me $6 a week to feed, and bring in $20 a week in egg revenues, provide me with ready to use fertilizer, reduce bugs and ticks, and make joyful little companions to have about the yard.

Buying in Bulk

Most of you likely have membership stores in your area, or at least a place where you can purchase non-perishable goods at a discount. While I personally don’t make use of this resource, as I don’t consume many grains or canned goods, one can really rake in the savings. If you enjoy rice, oatmeal, tuna fish or other dry goods you can usually get much more for your money at a discount store. This also goes for consumables, such as paper towels and toilet paper.

Buy the House Brand

Wherever you shop for your groceries, keep your eye out for the house, or “generic” brands. More often than not, these products are the exact same thing at a fraction of the cost. Oatmeal, for instance, is $2 less expensive at my local mom and pop grocery store. Larger grocery stores tend also to have house brand meats, cheese and other such things as well.

Saving Even More on Meat

In addition to cutting out the middle man by going to a butcher, one can save even more money by buying “lesser” cuts of meat. These cuts are just as nutritious, and just as tasty, as their more expensive counterparts. The only reason some cuts are more pricey than others is that they have certain attributes deemed more worthy by society, such as fat distribution or tenderness. When making stews, you can also add things such as beef heart which is very good for you and costs nearly nothing (79 cents a pound for me in May, 2008). This tastes the same as stew meat, and can sometimes be far more flavorful. I would avoid ground meat though, as it tends to be the less sanitary choice as it has the highest incidence of contamination from such things as e-coli. Substituting chicken thighs for breast is another great idea, they even offer boneless for those of you who don’t want the hassle of preparation.

Avoid Pre-Prepared and Packaged Food

If you examine your grocery bill, much of the money likely goes towards buying foods which are pre-made and packaged. These foods are not only incredibly expensive, but they also are usually less good for you and deprive you of the ability to know exactly what goes into your meals. If you rely on foods such as this for convenience, try preparing meals ahead of time and bringing them with you in containers for lunch at work. I also like to carry some fruit, nuts or other snacks in my bag while I’m out and about in the off chance that I become hungry and would otherwise be tempted to stop at a gas station for overpriced junk foods.

Eat Calorie Dense Foods

Since I eat a lot of meats and fresh produce, my refrigerator often looks quite sparse. The reason for this is that these sorts of foods are very rich in calories, vitamins and the enzymes needed to aid in digestion. Processed foods such as certain breads, microwave meals, junk food and even “health foods” don’t provide you with as many complex nutrients and calories, making you less full and eventually leading to your eating more. Even whole grain products, while they may be good for you, can add up if you are relying on them as staples of your diet. Getting the same amount of protein from grains as from a 10oz steak would cost me a fortune, the fiber from vegetables is far higher, and the carbs in fruit are much more vitamin rich and easily digestible. Meals high in fiber, complex carbs, protein and/or fats also make you more satiated, requiring less portions and making you snack less throughout the day.

Some Rather Unique Opportunities

Local hunters can provide you with an abundance of inexpensive game for your dinner table. Not only is it fresh and great tasting, it is also incredibly healthy for you, being low in bad fats and having no pharmaceuticals pumped into the animals. As for the ethical nature of this decision, consider that well regulated hunting for sustenance serves the environment better than any donation you could make. Conservation has done more for the animals at large than any politicized organization ever will. In these modern times, it is unfortunate that many individual lifestyles encroach on wild animal’s natural habitats by reducing predators and food supplies. It thus becomes necessary, for the time being, for us to fill the slot and intelligently keep populations in check to reduce disease and starvation. There was a location in my state which was devoid of many natural obstacles to a deer’s survival, and they soon became so overpopulated that they consumed ALL of the available food in the area, and disease and starvation took hold. The local department of environmental protection organized for a few hundred of these deer to be killed in an attempt to balance out the area once again. Many of these deer were a very, very depressing sight to behold - they looked like skeletons. What little meat they had was donated to local food shelters for the homeless; another benefit of conservation which is often overlooked. Today the population is in check, the food has grown back and the deer are as healthy as can be.

Look Online

While buying food online may or may not be practical given the current economic climate (the cost of oil, thus fuel, raising the cost of shipping), you can find numerous resources in your area to help you find food and save money. You found this article online, didn’t you?

Conclusions

I hope this article has helped you to discover new ways to eat healthier for less. Efficiency, economy and self-reliance are wonderful tools to add to your pantry. If you have additional tips, please comment on this article so that fellow readers may take part and become even more knowledgeable and empowered.

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