Hello HC Fitness Readers,
I am pleased to inform you that my first week on my new Weight Watchers program resulted in a loss of 2 pounds. Hooray! So far, so good. I am feeling very healthy and far from starved while doing this program, so although it’s early in the game, I think it’s going to be a winner.
This week I wanted to focus on buying healthy but cheap snacks, particularly when you head to the grocery store. These pointers are my take on a great article I read on Weight Watchers called “Snack Well, Spend Less,” by Leslie Fink. They will be helpful next time you decide to go grocery shopping and are trying to figure out what foods you want to buy, without breaking your bank.
1.)The Bigger the Better
Purchasing single serve snacks (mini bags of Oreos or Wheat Thins come to mind) can be super expensive. Instead, create your own single-serve snacks by buying large bags or boxes of pretzels, cereal or baked chips, for example, and portioning them out into small plastic bags or containers.
2.) Bright and Crunchy
Fruits and vegetables make tasty, energy-boosting snacks — just make sure to choose seasonal ones. They are more flavorful when they’re in season, and they cost less, too. While fruits and vegetables are all healthy, opt for ones that are brighter and are crunchier, such as carrots or apples (I know I love Fireside Orchard Apples).
3.) Go for the sale and generic items
Choosing buy-one, get-one-free specials definitely reduce the stress on your wallet. You can always save the extra for a later date. Buying generic items rather than brand names will also leave more money in your pocket.
4.) Chew your food!
Have you ever heard of the saying, “Don’t drink your calories, eat them”? Well I know I have, and sometimes I admittedly roll my eyes at this idea. But drinking a latte is not only pricey – it is also definitely not going to give me the fullness that a chicken sandwich would. Whole fruits and vegetables contain more fiber than juice does (fiber helps you feel satisfied longer), and they take longer to eat than an easily gulped cup of liquid. They tend to be lower in calories, too. So when you go to the store, try to resist buying that gallon of orange juice or a fruit smoothie. It will save you calories and money!
This week I plan on going grocery shopping and using some of these tips, particularly the first one, with an extreme emphasis on portioning out serving sizes and saving other things for later. I will let you know how that goes and what I think. So until next time, keep moving, keep chewing, and spend wisely.