CB2.0's Journal, 15 Jun 21

Okay so hopefully this helps. I can't really say that I've ever really bought "expensive" healthy food. As someone who lives at home, my family generally buys everything they want...So what I've learnt to do is switch up their chips and snacks for healthier and still affordable options like popcorn (for a crunchy snack), carrots, cucumbers (all snacking food honestly). I also make sure to when I can but jungle oats bars and have those instead of just chocolate especially if I feel like I want to finish whatever chocolate I buy😅(It happens) And even if I do buy a chocolate like a Cadbury slab for example ( I'll cut it in half from the get go, there are exactly 7 lines and 3 squares per line.I eat 3 per day as a healthy treat). That's literally what I've done so far and for my protein...Eggs are the way to go for me..Have not yet bought any protein shake or anything like that. Work with what you have .. Having a tighter budget to me just means buying healthier foods like fruits over sweets or popcorn over snacks...More or less the same price but way healthier. Wishing you all the best. 

Eggs & chicken pieces are always good options. In-season veggies are almost always also cheap. Things like butternut & sweet potatoes goes a long way as well & relatively cheap. Salad things are cheap too. Remember that you don't pay vat on vegetables. 

👏👏👏 

I have to eat healthy on a student budget, so I buy popcorn kernels and pop it in a brown paper bag in the microwave without oil for a snack 😋 Eggs are also a great option, as well as buying chicken with the skin on and removing the skin yourself before cooking it. I also try to add more ingredients to my salad, but in smaller portions, so it lasts longer (eg. A small piece of seasonal fruit, lettuce, tuna or canned chicken, cucumber etc and no avo). Wholewheat crackers also tend to keep me full for longer 

I’m also on a super tight budget! My diet has been consisting of cheap protein sources like eggs, pilchards, chicken livers, chicken pieces and mince. Low carb veggies that are relatively inexpensive such as broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, cucumber, aubergine, tomatoes and onions. Potatoes and sweet potatoes are great options if you’re not doing low carb. I splurge on a good mayonnaise and occasionally cheese when it’s on special but usually I’ll have eggs in the morning, salad/veggies/protein shake for lunch and then a protein source and veggies for dinner. I also buy milk in 6 per box for my coffee and it works out cheaper that way. Oranges are always on special in winter if you like fruits for snacks and Dischem has plenty of protein shake options that are on the cheaper side :) 

A medley of roast vegetables, sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, onions and mushrooms, salt and peppers with some herbs. Protein of choice  

Try intermittent fasting start with overnight twelve hours. Search doctor Jason Fung and doctor Stephen Cabral. I Lost 8kilos in two months. Healthy weight loss 

Similar to Nickyalberts- at the beginning of the month I look for the cheap packs of 30-60 eggs and buy a few of those. I stock up on the pilchards in chilli sauce. I will roast a whole bird if I can get for under R40/kg and shred and eat those pieces for days, then the carcass and everything left I turn into a lovely soup. I buy an olive oil every second month on special at Food lovers. For me for veg I have found that I never have a veggies list, I only buy what’s dirt cheap. At the moment I am getting green veg from food lovers again but if I go to spar or pick n pay etc And also checkers I often look for their ‘in store veg’ which is repackaged and cut up. Or if they have a random special of spinach or tomatoes for cheap I’ll buy it all. If you eat carbs - brown lentils, orange lentils, brown rice, these are all nice and cheap. As are sweet potatoes, onions etc. 

Look out for “reduced to clear” specials at Pick n Pay, Checkers & Shoprite. Mostly on veggies. I buy them, then chop and freeze for use over a few days. I also look out for 10 bucks Tuesdays at Food Lover & buy anything that I can use for meals, especially chicken livers - those with spinach are a great meal. It is possible to eat better on a budget just be smart about it. Good luck hun 🤗