Imagine being able to lose weight without all the expensive bells and whistles. This was the discovery L.A.-based musician and clothing designer Papa Joe Aviance made when he decided he needed to lose weight. At 450 pounds and on a tight budget, the last thing Aviance could afford was a gym membership or expensive diets. So he started off getting rid of all the junk food he had at home and started adding healthier options instead.
The problem was being able to afford healthy foods without breaking the bank. But he was steered towards the cheapest and most convenient solution ever!
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When you picture a 99-cent store, the last thing you're think of is healthy food. Well, Aviance started his healthy eating by visiting a 99 cent store! A friend recommended he visit his local 99-cent store, where he noticed they carried an abundance of healthy foods that included oatmeal, bananas, nuts, apples, spinach, eggs, and so forth. In the end he was ONLY spending $50 a week on food by shopping at the bargain store.
Little did he expect that within three months he had started to shed the pounds thanks to his healthy diet and new walking exercise regimen. By 18 months, Aviance had dropped over 250 pounds and his health improved. He still continues to live a healthy lifestyle and even tours the country as a health and wellness expert to encourage overweight people to start eating better.
Aviance's weight loss story not only touched us but inspired us enough to come up with some helpful tips for healthy shopping while on a budget. You will never have an excuse to NOT eat healthy again after you see what we have in store for you. Check out our tips below!
Buy dried beans instead of canned: Dried beans such as lentils or black beans are high in fiber, iron, folic acid, potassium, and vitamn B6. Save money with this nutritious food by buying them dry as opposed to canned and save about 35 cents per cup. In addition to the saving, you'll make up to 8 cups with just a pound of dried beans compared to the 2 cups coming out of a whole can of them. Plus, you'll have less sodium too!
Buy in season fruits and veggies: Depending on where you live, you won't always have access to all your favorite foods. However, if you know what fruits and veggies are in season, you are able to save a lot on grocery shopping. This is a good list to follow when trying to figure out which fruits and veggies are in season now. If you really are craving foods that aren't in season, your best bet is to buy them frozen. Not only are they cheap but they are frozen at their peak which means they contain more nutritional value.
Stock up on oats: Oats are not only high in fiber, but they are cheap! Avoid presweetened oatmeal which not only costs more but contain unnecessary sugars. Instead, buy your oats plain and sweeten them naturally with fruits such as blueberries, bananas, apples or dried fruit. One serving made from a half cup of oats only costs about 30 cents and has 150 calories.
Stock up on bananas: You can't go wrong with this fruit available to you year round. Buy them green to give them time to ripen and if they are a bit too ripe for your taste, you can even freeze them and use them later on. Depending on where you live you can even buy a week's worth of bananas for a dollar.
Add someeggs to your diet: Eating eggs is a great way to get your protein quota of the day and you could find a dozen of them under two dollars. They last long in your fridge and also give you a dose of vitamin B12, riboflavin, and phosphorus.
Buy many cans of tuna: If you opt to get canned fish, make sure it is in water and not oil. It's a good way to get your omega-3 fatty acids in and it costs under a dollar.
Add sweet potatoes to your meals: For only 40 cents, one sweet potato can make for a satisfying meal or side. They are loaded with vitamin A and are a good source of carbs and dietary fiber compared to regular potatoes.
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