Research has proven that a healthy balanced diet can reduce the risk of heart diseases, cancers, obesity, diabetes type 2 and tooth decay. However, during these austere times, we wanted to demonstrate that it is possible to eat healthily on a budget.
Read on to find out why how you too could enjoying tasty, balanced meals without spending too much.
Take advantage of the supermarket price wars
UK shopper’s health should benefit this year. From the continued supermarket price wars and the rise of discounters, there has never been a better time to eat a balanced diet and stick to a low budget.
With the cost of groceries falling 1.7% on average compared to the same period last year, this will save the average shopper £58 per year, according to Kantar Worldpanel.
Food poverty and effects on health
In the UK, food poverty is a real problem. In general, the less well-off people are, the worse their diet, and the more likely they are to suffer from diet related diseases. This is food poverty, and poor diet is related to 30% of life lost years to early death and disability.
Below we look at which foods you should be popping into your shopping basket, which are both nutritious and affordable.
A nutrient dense shopping basket for under £12
To achieve a balanced diet, it’s important that you make sure you are getting enough complex carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, fruit and veg; which will also give you fibre, vitamins and minerals. It may help if you consider, “How much nutrition are my family getting from this product?”
Here is our top 12 foods to add to your shopping basket*
TOTAL BASKET = £11.64
*(prices and products based on www.asda.com on the 8th November 2015).
Balanced meals to make from your shopping basket
Here are some balanced meal ideas for the week:
BREAKFAST
- Porridge with milk and chopped banana
- Toast with banana
- Banana milkshake
LUNCH
- Lentil soup with wholegrain bread
- Homemade tomato soup with wholegrain bread
- Tuna sandwich
DINNER
- Spanish omelette
- Dahl – lentils, spinach and potato
- Baked potato with tuna
If you still think that eating healthy foods on a budget is virtually impossible, then check out Jack Monroe’s blog “Jack At A Pinch”. When she lost her job and had a young child to support, she resorted to healthy savviness in the kitchen and prospered on a £10 weekly food shop. It can be done!