We swear by home-cooked meals. They are fresh and delicious and loaded with healthy ingredients. Moreover, they are always pocket-friendly. Let’s admit that the rising cost of living globally has been a major concern for everyone. From our daily ingredients to luxury food products, we can see a huge jump in prices. But this does not mean that we compromise on health and well-being. This is where budget-meal planning comes in handy. This article will help you prepare a roadmap for a healthy diet within your budget. Let’s get started.
Also read: People who eat a balanced diet have better mental health and cognitive function: Latest research
7 steps to make affordable nutritious food in India:
1. Identify the content:
It is important to understand what is good for you and what is not. For example, you can always avoid eating processed foods and ready-to-eat meals, which are less expensive but come with a number of health problems. Instead, we suggest you use healthy ingredients to make your meals nutritious.
2. Prepare a meal plan:
Planning your weekly meals is important to save time and money. Planning helps you avoid unnecessary purchases, which automatically saves a lot of money in the long run.
Also read: Living alone abroad? Nutritionist recommends 5 healthy food choices for busy days
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3. Buy your groceries wisely:
Once you have prepared a meal plan, buy your ingredients accordingly. Instead of buying raw materials in bulk, buy them for four to five days, finish them completely and then go for the next shopping.
4. Avoid food wastage:
This is something we should always keep in mind – avoid food wastage! Instead of cooking too much food and wasting it, use leftovers as much as possible. Also, instead of throwing away rotten fruits and vegetables completely, use them as compost for your kitchen garden.
5. Include indigenous grains and pulses:
Today, we have seen that people are moving from fancy ingredients to local ingredients. In fact, food products made from millets, various types of beans, cereals, ragi, etc. are in trend today. Hence, we suggest experimenting with such indigenous food products to make your meals more nutritious and economical.
6. Eat seasonal produce:
Every season brings with it a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables that are loaded with a variety of health benefits. We recommend that you include such seasonal vegetables in your diet so that you can get all the essential nutrients, that too at affordable prices.
7. Shop from the local market:
This is something we always guarantee. Instead of buying your food products online, we suggest you buy your food items from grocery and vegetable stores in your locality. This will not only help you get fresh ingredients but also at a lower price than some fancy mart or e-commerce platform.
Click here for some affordable Desi recipes to try at home. Enjoy your meal!