Many people don’t believe they can improve their diet to incorporate more natural wholesome foods with higher levels of nutrition, because of the cost compared to processed and packaged foods. However, if you look at the bigger picture, spending a little more on your grocery bill can reduce the amount spent on fast food, medical bills and material items in other areas of your life. By placing a high importance on your well-being, you can set yourself up for success in your career, relationships, improve your self-confidence, physical fitness, sleep better, and reduce stress levels. I believe food is the essence to life and can determine your path, happiness, energy levels and longevity.
Why Being ‘Healthy’ Isn’t As Expensive As You Think
Although the food may be more expensive ‘per item’, it lasts longer because it’s more wholesome and filling per serving
You can make your meals go further by incorporating complex carbs to bulk up the meal. Stock up on oats, brown rice, beans, lentils, quinoa and pumpkin as they are cheap, packed with fibre and slow-burning. If I was to eat a McDonald’s burger for example, as it isn’t nutrient dense or ‘heavy’, I might only be satisfied for around 1 hour. However, if I ate a kumara and chickpea salad with spinach and walnuts, it could take half a day to digest until I am able to eat again! Although the food preparation may take a little longer, it is 100% worth it compared to letting money slip through your fingers by buying lunch, snacks, takeaways and fancy dinners unnecessarily on a regular basis.
It can save you on medical bills in the future
Although you may not worry too much about how the food you are fueling your body with digests and affects you internally, you may be wishing for a better life 20 years down the track. The medical industries are dishing out pills for everything instead of using food to heal, but do you really want to rely on pharmaceutical drugs just to feel ‘normal’ again? If you monitor your health now and treat your body as a temple, it will thank you later down the track.
Photography by Winston Gee
A healthy diet will uplift your happiness, leaving you less likely to fulfill it with outer possessions
- There is an average of 300,000 items in the American home.
- The average size of our homes have almost tripled in the last 50 years.
- Women spend approximately 8 years of their life shopping.
- 25% of people who own two-car garages, don’t have room to park inside them.
Foods that boost your happiness levels include dark chocolate, asparagus, honey, tomatoes, coconut, pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, tahini, walnuts, cashews, spinach and turmeric. This is due to containing high levels of selenium, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, anti-inflammatory properties and folic acid. These can aid with your blood flow, reduce stress, and boosts serotonin levels which improves your mood.
Do you ever find yourself shopping after a bad day? By acquiring new possessions it may give you a short-term boost and allow you to feel better in the moment. But by fulfilling your happiness from the inside out, it will allow you to live a more minimalist lifestyle, saving you money in the long-run.
Boosts your self-confidence
Adapting your eating habits and exercise routines can improve your confidence as you start seeing changes in your body. This could include clearer skin, increased strength, weight-loss, posture, toning and definition. Confidence also stems from setting and achieving new goals, believing in yourself, trying new things out of your comfort zone, and becoming more in-tune with yourself.
A healthy lifestyle can open new opportunities
When you feel comfortable and confident with who you are, you are more willing to take risks, step out of your comfort zone, and are less afraid of failure and rejection. By looking after your body internally and externally, you may be more willing to ask that special someone on a date, make better business decisions, help others in need, overcome challenges and difficult times, and lead to a more positive and success-focused mindset overall.
Instead of making excuses and feeling sorry for themselves, confident people always view the good in situations whether it’s a lesson learned, a change in paths, or negativity being filtered out from their lives.
Gives you more energy to work harder so you can focus your efforts into what really matters
Whether you are career focused, starting a family, travelling the world or making a difference in one way or another, an appropriate diet will allow you to excel in whichever area of life you dedicate your focus to. If you are starting your own business, or working two jobs to save for a house as an example, you will be wanting to use every waking hour of the day efficiently, and optimising your concentration and creativity.
By fueling your body with wholesome plant-based foods, you will have more energy to use your spare time wisely which could earn you more money in the long-run. It’s a win-win!
Nutrient dense foods will curb cravings, reduce hunger levels, and stop you from snacking on unnecessary takeaways or empty carbs
Think about how much money you spend on a ‘snack’ here and there when you are running errands in town, travelling, or searching for a sugary energy boost when you crash in the afternoon. According to NZ Herald –
- 68% of New Zealanders order takeaways at least once a week.
- 53% spend up to $50 a week on takeaways.
- A third of Kiwi’s believe buying takeaways are cheaper than groceries.
An excellent way around this is to cook food in bulk! Personally, I tend to cook around 3 servings of food when I prepare dinner. This method will save you in grocery bills AND time!!! Plan ahead and start getting creative in the kitchen.
Great snack foods for when you’re on the go include nuts, whole-wheat crackers with hummus, avocado or tomato on wholemeal toast, a fruit smoothie , roasted chickpeas, bliss balls or a wholesome dessert slice using natural (low-sugar) ingredients. By being prepared ahead of time, you won’t find yourself getting caught out when hunger strikes, and throwing your money down the drain on unnecessary fast food that damages your body and leaves you feeling tired.
If you liked this post, check out my Instagram for daily health and wellness inspiration @cassieamber__
