Pinching Pennies for Great Health
By Donna Stark
At some point or another, most of us have had a time in our lives when we needed to pinch more than just a few pennies. Maybe there was a family trip to save up for, an extra medical bill in the mailbox, or an extended amount of time between one job and the next. If you are in a financial bind right now, then you know exactly what I am talking about. You also probably know that it can be extremely difficult to keep up on your health and fitness. But don't cut out everything yet in order to build that pile of pennies. You can still maintain an extremely healthy diet and get all the exercise you need by making a few simple changes.
Healthy Habits Can be Cheap
Despite popular belief, it is possible to stay healthy and fit without the need to sacrifice your firstborn child. Here are some very simple and practical ways to ensure your good health. Let's take a look.
- Plan your meals - This is going to feel like high school homework all over again, but the end result will give you exactly what you need. After figuring out how much you have to spend on groceries each week, plan your meals wisely. Choose recipes that can provide extra meals for the next day, make a list of ingredients and see where they can be shared, and avoid food waste as much as possible by freezing the extra.
- Jump on those specials - Did I hear someone say, "Buy one, get one free"? If your store is having a sale on items that you actually use, take advantage of it! Check out your local flyers, clip those coupons, and be sure to sign up for your favorite store's customer reward card as well.
- Make soup - Soup is a lot more than the obligatory meal when you are sick, it's also a great option to make when you are on a budget! Soup can provide immense amounts of nutrition, can last for days, and costs very little to make, so start looking up some recipes!
- Cut back on expenses, not workouts - For the time being, you may need to cut out your expensive gym membership, but don't worry! That doesn't mean you have to cut out your exercise as well. There's plenty of ways to get your workout without needing to hit the gym. Just find some exercise programs online, head outdoors for a workout under the sun, or join a free adult sports league.
For Everything Else
As you can see, it is possible to maintain your health and fitness even when you see your finances shrinking and disappearing. So choose what you can go without, and make some simple changes to your lifestyle, but just remember ... this time of strain is only temporary!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Brentwood, Tenn.