Surviving the cost-of-living crisis: How to easily incorporate affordable veggies into your diet
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Being on a tight budget is no joke. These days, it feels like the cost of living just keeps soaring higher and higher, leaving us with little wiggle room in our weekly grocery shopping.
Sadly, fresh vegetables often end up getting tucked away in the far corners of our minds—and shopping lists—in favour of cheaper alternatives.
Remember those carefree days of dining out? Well, for most of us, they're nothing more than a distant dream right now. Even our trusty home recipes seem to be hitting us where it hurts.
But we can't neglect the importance of a nutritious diet, and that means more than just loading up on protein. We need to find clever and affordable ways to sneak some greens into our meals.
So, how on Earth do we manage to pull this off without breaking the bank?
To help us figure this out, non-diet nutritionist Nina Kingsford-Smith gave her advice on some cheap and easy ways to get the veggies we need.
'The big supermarkets' wonky fruit and veg tend to be way cheaper than their other produce,' she said, and thankfully, there are apps that are perfect for helping to compare prices between stores!
'WiseList (available on Apple Store and Google Play) lets you put your local supermarkets in and compare which ones have better deals on which produce ahead of your shopping trip, so it's really helpful for checking what's cheap and where before you even get to the store,' Nina added.
So, if you're a savvy shopper, arm yourself with the right apps and take advantage of these cheaper wonky-looking vegetables when you visit the store.
When you need a break from fresh vegetables, don't forget you can also turn to the canned and frozen versions.
'Canned and frozen vegetables are just as good a way to eat vegetables as their fresh counterparts - and they're also often heaps cheaper,' Nina advised.
'You can do fun things like stir fries with frozen veggies, or make a pizza loaded with them,' she continued.
'Alternatively, you could also stuff capsicums and mushrooms with some canned vegetables or even whip up a Mexican-style bowl loaded with beans and corn. '
And don't forget, legumes like lentils, chickpeas, and black beans are also veggies, and they're dirt cheap.
'You could make some falafels with chickpeas, or homemade hummus,' Nina suggested.
'You could also do something really fun like a tray of roasted chickpeas, and you could even stir some diced celery, grated carrots, and grated zucchini into dishes like spaghetti bolognese and lasagne,' she added.
Of course, what's a meal without some condiments? Olives, pickles, pesto, salsa, and guacamole are all vegetable dishes that also add up.
Finally, you can also add some veggies straight into your smoothies, like baby spinach, steamed zucchini, cauliflower, or carrots—or even pumpkin, which adds a nice sweetness.
Members, the next time the rising cost of living has you feeling overwhelmed, remember that there are heaps of creative and cost-effective ways to keep your body—and bank account—full and healthy. Don't forget, it all adds up!
Happy shopping, folks! Do you have other supermarket-saving tips and advice? Share them in the comments below!
Sadly, fresh vegetables often end up getting tucked away in the far corners of our minds—and shopping lists—in favour of cheaper alternatives.
Remember those carefree days of dining out? Well, for most of us, they're nothing more than a distant dream right now. Even our trusty home recipes seem to be hitting us where it hurts.
But we can't neglect the importance of a nutritious diet, and that means more than just loading up on protein. We need to find clever and affordable ways to sneak some greens into our meals.
So, how on Earth do we manage to pull this off without breaking the bank?
Fresh vegetables were some of the first food items to be crossed off the weekly shopping list for many Aussies. Credit: Pexels/Ella Olsson.
To help us figure this out, non-diet nutritionist Nina Kingsford-Smith gave her advice on some cheap and easy ways to get the veggies we need.
'The big supermarkets' wonky fruit and veg tend to be way cheaper than their other produce,' she said, and thankfully, there are apps that are perfect for helping to compare prices between stores!
'WiseList (available on Apple Store and Google Play) lets you put your local supermarkets in and compare which ones have better deals on which produce ahead of your shopping trip, so it's really helpful for checking what's cheap and where before you even get to the store,' Nina added.
So, if you're a savvy shopper, arm yourself with the right apps and take advantage of these cheaper wonky-looking vegetables when you visit the store.
When you need a break from fresh vegetables, don't forget you can also turn to the canned and frozen versions.
'Canned and frozen vegetables are just as good a way to eat vegetables as their fresh counterparts - and they're also often heaps cheaper,' Nina advised.
'You can do fun things like stir fries with frozen veggies, or make a pizza loaded with them,' she continued.
'Alternatively, you could also stuff capsicums and mushrooms with some canned vegetables or even whip up a Mexican-style bowl loaded with beans and corn. '
And don't forget, legumes like lentils, chickpeas, and black beans are also veggies, and they're dirt cheap.
'You could make some falafels with chickpeas, or homemade hummus,' Nina suggested.
'You could also do something really fun like a tray of roasted chickpeas, and you could even stir some diced celery, grated carrots, and grated zucchini into dishes like spaghetti bolognese and lasagne,' she added.
Of course, what's a meal without some condiments? Olives, pickles, pesto, salsa, and guacamole are all vegetable dishes that also add up.
Finally, you can also add some veggies straight into your smoothies, like baby spinach, steamed zucchini, cauliflower, or carrots—or even pumpkin, which adds a nice sweetness.
Members, the next time the rising cost of living has you feeling overwhelmed, remember that there are heaps of creative and cost-effective ways to keep your body—and bank account—full and healthy. Don't forget, it all adds up!
Happy shopping, folks! Do you have other supermarket-saving tips and advice? Share them in the comments below!
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