Lose weight AND save money!

A recent article in the business pages discussed how various diet companies were lowering prices. That is good news for those of us who buy Nutrisystem foods or join Weight Watchers or their competitors.

Even with a discount buying packaged foods, like Nutrisystem, is very expensive. It works if you eat the suggested meals because you limit the calories you consume. That is half the battle! Increasing exercise is the other half.

Weight Watchers and other groups can be fun. Support groups can be very helpful. Rather than eat a pint of ice cream in front of TV you can call a friend and chat. That makes you happier as well as healthier!

To research the cost of losing weight we informally surveyed foods at a local super market. At first look dieting seems more expensive! Lower fat versions of ground beef cost much more than the fatty kind. Nice whole grain bread was available at a $2 discount for a net price of $2.49. Not bad! But that is still super expensive when compared to the store brand of bleached, bland, spongy white bread at a super bargain of only 99 cents for a loaf! Potatoes were only $2.99 for 10 pounds! When trying to save money nobody in their right minds would pay $2.59 for 5 pounds when for only 40 cents more you can get an extra 5 pounds.

When you look closer you realize that, in fact, you can save a large amount of money by eating better. Yes, we said better. Better tasting and healthier food can indeed be cheaper.

The key is to eat less meat and more vegetables. Go ahead and buy the 10 pounds of potatoes. Don't buy any mayonnaise, don't make potato salad. Well if you must then try German Potato Salad which uses vinegar rather than mayo. Buy the bananas. Buy apples. Buy lettuce and carrots. Make a vinaigrette salad dressing from scratch rather than buy bottled Caesar's or French. Not only is it both cheaper and healthier but it tastes better!

Yes, homemade dressing tastes better! Unfortunately it is possible that if you use the 5 star, extra virgin olive oil and prize winning balsamic vinegar you might not save any money. Give it a shot and let us know how it goes!

Hamburgers need some fat for best taste. So buy the regular 20% fat kind rather than paying double for the 10% or even 4% fat varieties now available. The super lean ground beef just does not make a good hamburger. The key here is to eat one rather than two or if you only eat one, make a smaller one and have an extra pickle or peach. Add tomato slices, lettuce and ketchup (I like mustard.) Use the whole grain bread.

One huge savings is to eat more home made meals. Bring your own lunch to work. Find a friend, walk 10 minutes, and eat your sandwiches together. Have a crunchy apple for a snack. It very healthy to get fresh air, exercise and have a relaxing face to face chat with a real person. No friends at work? No problem, just invite a random co-worker.

When cooking your own meals you have much more control over what you eat. When you walk to a local picnic table at lunchtime you get exercise and are not rushed. That routine is so much healthier and less expensive than jumping into a car and hitting the local fast food drive-thru I just can't say it often enough. And wait, there's more! It is good for the environment too. :)

Please feel free to add comments - tell us what you do that both saves money and also enables you to eat good, healthy meals.


bon appetit! ----- Read the full article and lose weight with us at: Diet Inn