Need a grocery plan to eat healthy and still save money?

How are you doing on your new eating plan? Or another question...how is your grocery bill doing?

Many times I see people putting off a new, healthy way of life because they think it will cost more money.

I'm on a budget just like anyone else, and if I couldn't buy all my food within the "grocery budget" it would just be too difficult to maintain this way of life.

Here are some of the strategies I recommend for keeping this way of eating affordable:

1. Don't buy junk! It's not on your eating plan, and it isn't healthy for your family. You might be surprised to find out how much of your current grocery bill goes to snacks and "treats" that are NOT treating you well. I'm talking about the processed, preservative-packed stuff like snack bars, juice, frozen dessert treats, microwave snacks and meals, chips, crackers, candy, and other packaged stuff. Stop buying it!

2. Buy bulk. Items like almonds, quinoa, walnuts, oats and even apples can be purchased at bulk prices at stores like Vitamin Cottage, Costco, and even online. Even grass-fed meat can be purchased in bulk from local ranchers, farmer's markets or online stores. I always buy coconut oil in huge tubs online! Thinking BIG is a great way to keep costs under control.

3. Buy from the source. As much as possible, buy from places like farmer's markets, local ranchers, and even butchers, where you can buy direct from the source. This isn't always cheaper, but it gives you a chance to cut out the middle man and that can sometimes yield a significant savings.

4. Only buy organic for the stuff you need to. One word that especially scares people and sometimes gets them running in the opposite direction is the word "organic," as if they might go broke just by saying it. Again, I assure you, I cannot spend heaps of money each week buying luxury grocery items and that includes produce that doesn't even NEED to be organic

Aloe and skin

If  you want to keep looking younger than you are, use aloe vera as a skin toner. It’s a potent moisturizer that’s almost 96 percent water that has soothing qualities and leaves your skin feeling refreshed and beautiful.

But there’s more to the story than just good skin.

What you may not know is that aloe vera is just as good for you on the inside as it is on the outside.

It’s a proven therapy to help calm and relieve an irritated stomach. Aloe gel releases natural pain-relieving salicylates that encourage healing, plus it’s antibacterial and antifungal.

Aloe enhances your immunity, improves your body’s natural defenses,¹ and fights inflammation.

It can even help you improve your blood sugar control. In fact, a new study found that taking aloe vera activates a signal in your body that directs it to store energy in your muscles instead of turning your food into stored fat.²

aging and drugs

Many of the problems associated with growing old – falls, unsteadiness and increased risk of stroke – are the direct consequence of taking a prescription drug, and now the SSRI antidepressants have been added to the list of culprits.
The SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), which include Prozac, are often prescribed to the elderly to help them cope with their depression – but a new study has discovered they are the cause of symptoms that had been blamed on the ageing process.
The drugs quickened death, caused a stroke, a fall or fracture, triggered an epileptic fit and hyponatraemia (high salt levels in the blood), researchers from the University of Nottingham have discovered.
The researchers made the discovery after they analysed the health recods of 60,746 patients aged 65 and older who had recently been diagnosed with depression. Of these, 89 per cent had an antidepressant drug and 57 per ent of these were for an SSRI.
The SSRI drugs most likely to cause an adverse reaction were trazodone, mirtazapine and venlafaxine, and the risks were highest in the first 28 days of starting the drug and the 28 days after finishing drug treatment.