Today we live in an era where knowledge, awareness, and consciousness about healthy food and fitness is truly vast. However, when it comes to consuming healthy food, sadly not all of us can afford to do so.

The Problem with Healthy Food

Healthy food can be defined as natural food which is believed to have health-giving benefits. Foods which generally fall under this category include the following:

• Fresh fruits & vegetables
• Grains
• Protein
• Dry fruits
• Indian spices
• Lentils & pulses

However, today we have other varieties of foods emerging, which have been promptly termed as ‘weight loss superfoods’. They are as follows:

• Brown rice
• Herbal teas
• Exotic spices
• Soya & tofu
• Quinoa
• Yoghurt
• Varieties of seeds
• Raw pressed juices
• Exotic vegetables & fruits

Even though these foods may be available in most supermarkets, they are priced at high rates which cannot be easily afforded by everyone.

But Junk Is Yummy & Cheap!

Thick crusted pizzas, salty fries, and cheese loaded burgers! Doesn’t your stomach begin rumbling at the mere mention of these tasty treats? And do you know what the best part about junk food is? Well, it’s yummy, it’s filling, and it’s cheap!

Junk food had become much more than just a rare treat or a ‘cheat-meal’. Junk food has become a daily indulgence for many of us. We have begun to rely on this unhealthy food so much so, that many of us cannot survive a day without chomping on chips or a samosa. But do you know what all this ‘junk’ is doing to your body?

Health Problems Caused by Junk Food

The main role of food is to fill our bellies and provide our body with the nourishment and energy it requires. While junk food may satisfy our cravings and fill our bellies, the amount of nutrition derived from these fried snacks is bare minimal.

Moreover, the regular consumption of junk food can lead to many health problems. They are as follows:

•  Weight gain & obesity
• Skin problems
• High blood pressure
• Fatty liver
• High cholesterol
• Acidity
• Diabetes

Thus, although junk food can be tremendously tasty, it can also cause a number of hazardous negative effects on one’s health.

Learn More: Overweight Problems – Top 6 Side Effects of Obesity On The Health

6 Ways to Eat Healthy Food On a Tight Budget

We understand that maintaining a healthy diet can be tedious and expensive. However, if you want to keep yourself free from the above-mentioned health risks, following a healthy diet is a must.

So here are 6 ways to eat healthy, without draining out your wallet!

• Shop Online
• Buy Food In Bulk
• Make Eating Healthy A Priority
• Be A Mindful Shopper
• Take Up Gardening
• Go Local

Shop online!

If you love online shopping, you are going to love this healthy food hack! Did you know that apart from ordering clothes and electronics online, you could also order groceries and food online as well? Also, most online grocery sites often offer fruits and vegetables at discounted rates. This is a good way to save your money and get healthy food delivered to your doorstep.

Buy Food In Bulk

Buying food in bulk will ensure you have enough food to last you at least a week. This way you won’t have to eat out or order food as your cupboard will always be full. Also, with the fluctuating prices of fruits and vegetables, buying food in bulk will save you from a lot of unnecessary expenditure.

Make Eating Healthy A Priority

The matter of the fact is that most of us can afford to eat healthy food, but we spend our money eating junk food. While an evening out will not do you any harm, try to refrain from spending all your money on an expensive dinner or a round of drinks. Instead, invest your money on some delicious exotic fruits or weight-loss benefiting herbal tea you have heard so much about!

Be A Mindful Shopper

How many times have you walked into a supermarket to buy one item, and ended up walking out with 10 items instead? Apart from being a great place to buy the groceries, supermarkets are also the home of very tempting, but also very unhealthy foods.

Moreover, these foods are high in fats, which lead to the build-up of belly fat and body fat. So the next time you find yourself reaching for that packets of chips, ask yourself if that packet of chips is worth all that unattractive weight gain.

Take Up Gardening

Looking for a new hobby? How about growing your own food! You could start off with something easy, such as coriander, Neem or curry leaves. Potatoes, onions, carrots, tomatoes, and peas are also considered easy to grow.

Learn More: 8 health benefits of tomatoes

All you need is some good soil and a pot. Then bury a half-cut vegetable such as a potato or carrot in the soil and give it a few weeks to grow. And do not worry, these foods are completely safe to consume!

Go Local

Instead of buying your veggies, fruits, and grains from the supermarket, consider buying them from your local fruits seller or grocery stores. There are also many government-based ration shops which offer food grains at substituted prices. And remember, you can always haggle!

So now that you know that healthy food is affordable, it’s time to stop making excuses and starts putting these healthy food hacks into use!