For some households, the New Year means a new opportunity to learn how to cook more at home! It’s easy to get into the habit of stopping for fast food or takeout on the way home after a long day. But overall, cooking at home is generally more affordable and nutritious. Plus, you can experiment with new recipes and get into a new habit of enjoying home cooking on the regular. When you’re familiar with cooking often, this lends more freedom to eating what you want including more recipes from different cuisines.
It’s just about that time of year to get started with cooking summer recipes! With graduation parties, holidays like the 4th of July, and time off to vacation, there’s a lot of cooking and eating to be done. It’s a fun time to experiment in the kitchen and cook with an abundance of the local produce that’s available. This season supports a bountiful supply of fruits and vegetables that bring nutrients and freshness to your plate!
If you’re looking to cook more spicy food, there are so many ways to get started! Different spices and foods bring the heat to meals and snacks in several mouthwatering ways. Various cuisines are even known for spicy food and experimenting with those flavors. Spicy carnitas, kung pao chicken, and arrabiata sauce are a couple examples of some of the spicy food that is enjoyed all over the world. And there’s no wrong way to season your own food with the amount and type of heat that you prefer!
Contrary to popular belief, affordable healthy eating is 100% possible. There’s a common misconception about how costly it can be to eat healthy. Fortunately, affordable healthy eating is obtainable no matter the number in your bank account – that’s a WIN. There are a lot of healthy food products on the market that can cost quite a bit more, however, that does not mean you need those products in your pantry in order to eat an abundance of whole foods. The Tacoma Boys guide to affordable healthy eating is here to show that healthy eating is within reach no matter the circumstance!
Affordable Healthy Eating is Accessible
“So you’re telling me affordable healthy eating is within my reach?!” – The answer is yes! Consuming an abundance of whole foods is a crucial part of anyone’s diet. What you put into your body plays an important role in your immune system, energy levels, sleeping patterns, and more. Making your health a priority in regards to food may require planning, but it can be life changing! It’s important to do your own research and avoid possible rumors that may not be true – in this case, affordable healthy eating.
Where Do I Start?
Plan Ahead
Without a doubt, planning saves money. When you plan your meals out for the week and write out the ingredients needed at the store, you’re less likely to purchase goods that you don’t need and may go to waste. Try sitting down and planning out your next week’s meals and creating a detailed grocery list. This is an easy method to set yourself up for success. Afterall, during unprecedentedtimes, planning ahead for the unexpected is crucial!
Produce, Produce, Produce!
There’s no denying that produce should be at the heart of every grocery trip! Tacoma Boys carries a wide variety of fresh local produce that works well for any budget.
Tacoma Boys Tip: Try freezing your own produce if it’s about to spoil and use it in smoothies and soups later on!
Shop Pantry Staple Foods
Having pantry staple foods on hand is an affordable way to make food last a long while. There are many healthy pantry staple foods you can stock up on to last – some may even cost less than $1 per serving – yes please!
Bob’s Red Mills Steel Cut Oats
Timeless French Green Lentils
Lundberg Black Japonica Rice
Jovial Foods Brown Rice Pasta
Remlinger Farms Frozen Fruit
Pacific Foods Broths & Stocks
Eggs
This popular ingredient deserves its own category because of its versatility. Depending on the type of eggs you buy, a serving of 2 eggs can cost as low as 0.83 cents. Serve alongside some spinach, onion, bell pepper, and you have yourself a hearty breakfast scramble for under $3. Tacoma Boys has a great selection of high quality eggs such as Vital Farms and Stiebrs Farms Organic Free Range Eggs that work great for any meal of the day!
Affordable Healthy Recipes Made Easy
When planning your meals ahead of time, look for recipes that use minimal ingredients that fit within your budget. Budget Bytes provides high quality recipes with budget and ingredients laid out clearly. This is a great tool to use when budgeting your weekly groceries. You may also want to think about using discount codes from Raise (see here – https://www.raise.com/coupons/target) to help you make savings when shopping for groceries at places like Target or you can use them to get reductions on lots of other items from your favorite brands and stores. This way, you can really stretch your budget a lot further!
This guide is a friendly reminder that your local Tacoma Boys is here to help assist you with any of your grocery needs. Although Tacoma Boys does carry a variety specialty food items, the budget-friendly options are bountiful throughout each store. When swinging by a Tacoma Boys near you, keep in mind produce, pantry staples, and products like eggs for cost efficient grocery shopping. (And don’t forget to plan ahead!) For more tips and tricks on saving money at your local Tacoma Boys, check out the following resources: