I did a small experiment this week and bought about 100 euros worth of food. Pure unadulterated grub.
There was one rule. It had to be from its original source.
We are talking meats, veggies, a little bit of fruit (but not too much), poultry, rice, sweet potato, tonnes of herbs.
Then spent the best part of 90 minutes cooking up a storm.
My wife was cursing me for the mess but hey she wasn’t cursing me when she sampled the moussaka and other delights.
Anyhow, 90 minutes and I reckon I got about a week’s worth of meals for me and my other half.
WHAT an investment.
I see shakes, diets, fads, drift and go but the one thing that stays consistent is you willing the invest the time in yourself and do this.
If you do then you reap the rewards.
If you don’t then get ready to battle the weight. Guaranteed.
And yes I will call it. It is laziness. What makes you think that you can defy basic laws of physiology? Put junk in the engine, get junk out.
It is not about finding your way around the kitchen. It is about finding the hard way to do something, grinding the sword, practice and then for it to become second nature.
Take the easy way my friend and you will see a life of frustration and drifting from one fad to the next.
14 years of seeing this first hand I can categorically say this is the truth.
I ask folks what puts people off from healthy eating. Cost is one factor. Convenience another. Time. All valid excuses if you like making excuses.
So what can you do to a) eat healthier foods b) save time in the kitchen and c) save pennies.
Here are few tried and tested strategies that work really well to cover your nutritional bases and also allow you to eat right on a budget.
- Eating a diet rich in vegetables, oils, fruits is a lot cheaper! I probably eat twice as much as the average punter yet spend half. The more life in your food, the more life in you and your wallet.
- Buy your meat from a local butcher – this goes without saying. I love going into my butcher. Fresh, traceable meat that is far richer in nutrients and more economical.
- Buy your meat, fish and poultry in bulk and try and negotiate a discount. You will always need fresh protein on hand any way to keep up with your healthy eating strategies. Why not buy a few days worth and freeze the rest?
- Stick to the outside aisles of your supermarket will mean that you save a huge amount on costly boxed, packaged and wrapped items. In general these tend to be foods that will scupper your plans to keep fit and healthy over the Winter Months.
- Buy In Season will mean that you are working with nature rather than against it. Ever wondered why your Strawberries from Columbia are three times the size of a normal Strawberry and looking more like a peach devoid of all colour?
- Stick to buying loose items too rather than packs of items. This is a cheaper option and will mean that you waste less.
- It is also funny how a simple Bolognese or chilli sauce can cost three times as much when you choose the jars. Not only are these ladened with hidden sugar but also a Bolognese sauce is so easy and cheap to make.
Simply get a tin of chopped tomatoes, some mixed herbs, garlic, salt and pepper and hey presto. For a chilli sauce add in chilli. A trained chimp could knock that up.
- Cook More Veggie Based Dishes at this time of year. Veggies are nutrition power houses and lets face it, we don’t eat anywhere near enough of these. Stir Fries, casseroles, bowls of salad ready made in the fridge are great for this.
Cooking is a basic human skill. So if you burn water maybe it is time to invest in learning in how to do it. Or you can continue to eat Pot Noodles and those meal in a packet.
John Lark is owner of Sphere Fitness. Visit his website today to learn more about healthy eating and to receive daily tips and motivation. http://spherefitness.ie
John Lark is a Fat Loss Specialist – Download ‘5 Fat Loss Tips’ at www.spherefitness studio.com or call 01-5052131
