Eating healthy is hard no matter who you are.
But eating healthy when youre on a tight budget can feel damn near impossible.
But, heres the thing:My budget was higher than45 million Americanswho receive food stamps.
And I only work 40 hours a week and dont have kids to support.
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Her goal was $10,000 butshe ended up raising over $144,000.
It was a totally life changing, insane experience, she says.
Now the book is available nationwide.
Its been really amazing, she says.
Its gone so far beyond what I ever thought it could be.
Start Slowly
Learninghealthy eatinghabits is a marathon, not a sprint.
If you push yourself too hard in the beginning, youre more likely to give up.
The same goes for kitchen-related purchases.
Prioritize your purchases based on needs, and add items one-by-one to stay on budget.
Whether its some olive oil, or a couple of jars of spices…
Think about those sorts of items that really add a lot of flavor to your general staples.
Put simply:Decide which flavors you like the most, and buy those first.
Celebrate Vegetables
Brown isnt saying to go vegetarian, but she does suggest making your meals more vegetable-centric.
I absolutely lovevegetables, she says.
Then, I get home from work, exhausted and order a pizza.
Apparently Im not the only one.
Brown saysfood wasteis one of the reasons fresh produce can seem more expensive than pre-packaged foods.
She suggests only buying produce you have a purpose for at least at first.
you’re free to use it in cooking, inbaking.
Theres so much variety possible.
Shop Seasonally
Youve probably heard this advice before, but may not know how to put it into practice.
To help, heres a fantasticinteractive seasonal food guidethat tells you whats in season, based on your state.
Opt for Canned or Frozen Produce
And if somethings not in season?
Dont be afraid of the canned orfrozen aisles.
Frozen produce can be a really great value, and really good quality, too,says Brown.
Even [something] canned can sometimes be pretty great… Canned tomatoes are fantastic.
Honestly, other than in July and August, Id much rather eat canned tomatoes than fresh.
Cook in Batches
The excuse many of us use for not cooking?
It takes too much time.
To combat this, Brown suggestscooking in batches.
There is some sort of trade off I wont lie, she says.
Be Kind to Yourself
When you do start cooking, be patient with yourself during the process.
Sometimes, theres so much guilt around eating healthfully, explains Brown.
Find Joy in Cooking
Similarly, its important to view cooking as an enjoyable activity rather than a duty.
Its the only way youll stick with it!
An Easy and Healthy Recipe: Crustless Veggie Quiche
Its time to sample the goods!
Its delicious, and its awesome for lunch or dinner, she says.
Its actually good cold… Its just a hilariously anything you want works in this.
I havent found anything that doesnt go with eggs yet.
She promises this recipe will bring them back to life!
Add onion slices and sprinkle a bit of salt and pepper over them.
Cook the onions until theyre golden brown and starting to caramelize.
Butter a pie plate and scoop in the onions, creating an even layer on the bottom.
The onions add a crust-like texture and a bit of crunch.
For tomatoes, zucchini, spinach or any other quick-cooking vegetable, just use them fresh.
Spread the vegetables evenly over top of the onions.
The dish or pan should look fairly full.
This is a savory custard mixture.
Pour the custard over the vegetables and onions and enjoy watching it fill in all the free spaces.
Bake the quiche in the oven for 1 hour.
Once the surface is lightly brown all the way across, its fully cooked.
Let the quiche cool for about 20 minutes, then slice into wedges and serve with a side salad.
Sounds amazing, right?
Personally, I cant wait to try all of the recipes in Browns book!
To grab your free copy, head toLeanneBrown.com.
Your Turn: Whats your biggest challenge when it comes to eating healthy on a budget?
Susan Shain, senior writer for The Penny Hoarder, is always seeking adventure on a budget.
Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
