How to Eat Healthy on a Food Stamp Budget

How can you eat healthy if you are living on food stamps, or just living in poverty? It is not easy. Some would say that it is impossible. Many people who can afford to eat healthy aren't even eating healthy. If you are trying to live on a tight budget because you have lost your income or for countless other reasons, it is a real challenge to buy and eat healthy food.

If you have a choice between a head of fresh broccoli for $3.00 or 3 cheeseburgers, which would you choose? It is a very hard choice to make. Most people would prefer to eat cheeseburgers than broccoli that would have to be eaten fresh, or prepared with other food items to make a meal. Fast is easier, and face it, many of us don't have the time or desire to cook, let alone to cook healthy.

There are many websites including this one that will help you to eat healthier on a limited income. Food stamps provide just about $1.00 per meal. That is nearly impossible to live off of, letting alone to eat healthy on.

One food item that is relatively inexpensive comparatively speaking is eggs. Frozen vegetables, especially a cost cutter brand, are usually less expensive than name brand foods. Fruits and vegetables that are losing their freshness are often discounted. Although it is next to impossible to eat healthy on a limited budget it is possible.

Getting a complete protein is important too. Dried beans, pintos and other legumes can be mixed with rice, corn and or grains to make up a complete protein. You don't have to eat meat to be healthy. Many people choose not to eat meat for their health and for other reasons.

Cooking from scratch is a better way to eat healthy. If you are worried about the expense of cooking, using precious natural gas and or electricity, you can find ways to cut down on usage. Soak beans overnight in hot water. It will not take as long to cook them.

Scramble eggs with spinach and or other vegetables and eat with rice or whole grain toast. You will not only be eating a healthier meal but it will cost less than many other things that you may prepare. I buy the 10 for 10 dollar frozen vegetables when I can get them on sale. That is a good bargain for anyone. Prepared in a casserole with eggs and cheese you will have a very healthy, delicious meal.

Bread, rolls, and healthy grain foods are hard to find on a limited income. I have bought bread and buns at very low prices at Aldi's and other grocery stores. If you don't eat it right away you will find that it rarely molds. I have had hot dog buns that we didn't use and after 2 weeks they were still as soft and not moldy as when I purchased them. Is that a good thing? No, it means that they are so chocked full of preservatives that you wouldn't even need to have embalming fluid shot into you to keep you preserved if you die from eating it.

You can find day old bread that is healthier for you at discount stores and In grocery stores often you can find reduced prices on bread as well as other foods that have limited shelf life. Baking your own bread is not always an option, but is a lot healthier and less expensive for you. Unfortunately instant rice is faster to prepare but has a lot less nutritional value than long grain brown rice.

It is very difficult to eat healthy when living on food stamps or in poverty. If you are out of work it is hard enough just to have hope of a brighter future. You don't have to be out of work or on welfare to be living in poverty anymore. Let's all hope and pray for a brighter future and find ways to help ourselves and others to survive and live healthy.