Top Tips To Make Nutrition Affordable
As costs continue to rise within our food and living environment, it can become harder to prioritise our nutrition over general day to day needs.
Fruits, vegetables and grocery prices have continued to rise over the last few years, in fact according to a report from the Commerce Commission from the 4th of September 2024, latest data shows that food prices have increased by a whopping 28.9%!!
This can make choosing healthy and nutritious food over cheaper, more processed foods a real struggle.
There are some affordable ways to incorporate more nutrients into our diet, which we will explore today.
At home gardens
This topic does have the internet torn. If you are lucky enough to have a patch of dirt at home, the initial preparation of the ground can be quite expensive, but once you have overcome the initial costs, this can be a cheap and rewarding way to provide your family with vegetables. Seed packets normally contain enough seeds for multiple grows, and with the right nutrients in the soil, yields can be quite fruitful. Seeds can also be taken from store brought vegetables as well, so that one cucumber could see you with your own cucumber vine for years to come. There are also great ways to be able to grow vegetables at home without a garden, that can be good for people living in apartments or complexes. Creators like creative_explained on social media have some really good tips and tricks.
Making meat go further
Meat can be one of the more expensive items to purchase, but you can make it go further by adding extras to your meals. Using lentil or grated carrot in mince dishes can help to add the extra protein you need, while bulking out the meat. These are an inexpensive addition which, when used right, are almost unnoticeable in meals.
Buying meat from a butcher can also be cheaper than purchasing from the supermarket. It is generally also better quality and have less fillers (like extra moisture added) so can go further. Butchers also have a lot of different cuts of meat that you might not get from the supermarket, and some of the cheaper cuts of meat are actually nicer than the more expensive cuts.
Using frozen vegetables
Frozen vegetables are a convenient and inexpensive option when it comes to vegetables, especially out of season vegetables. Stored correctly, frozen vegetables last a long time, and when prepared correctly, can be just as good to fresh. Freezing your own vegetables, either from bulk buying when in season, or from your own garden, not only cuts down on waste, but means that vegetables are at your fingertips all year round!
Powdered fruit and vegetables
While supplements can be expensive to buy, there are some really great cheaper options out there, especially when it comes to powdered fruits and vegetables that can be added to drinks and cooking to add additional nutrients.
Brands like Matakana Superfoods have a variety of powdered fruits and vegetables on their own or in blends that can be added to foods or taken on their own to enrich our nutrient levels. Powdered fruits and vegetables should not be a replacement for fresh or frozen, but can add additional benefits.
While the cost of living crisis might not be ending any time soon, thinking creatively about ways that we can still provide our families with the most nutritious meals possible while sticking to our budget can help to ease the nutrient burden.
If you are still wanting to add supplements to your families nutritional regime, you can shop our range here