Eat Nutritiously on $25 a Week

Low on cash? Try this inexpensive, but nutritious diet. Just follow these suggestions:

1. Search for bargains, of course.
2. Buy items in bulk, if possible.
3. Eat a simple breakfast, such as a bowl of oatmeal cooked just in water. Believe it or not, the taste without milk, butter or sugar is quite palatable and better for you.
4. Eat a simple lunch, such as a peanut butter sandwich. Do not include jelly or jam.
5. Eat a simple supper, such as brown rice, legumes and veggies alternating with homemade vegetable soup:

* Saute’ sliced cabbage and onions. Mix them with the brown rice for a sweetened flavor.
* Steam or saute’ veggies with a small amount of water to retain nutrients.
* Add lentils, brown rice, legumes and veggies to your pot of soup.
* Try beets, beet greens, spinach or swish chard in your soup.
* Experiment with different vegetable ingredients each week.
* Use only sea salt and garlic for seasoning. These are cleansing and purifying.
6. Buy the cheapest and freshest vegetables, such as squash, carrots, onions, frozen green peas or green beans.

* Include a bigger variety of veggies or other whole grains only if you have a little extra money.
* Occasionally splurge on a head of broccoli, cauliflower or brussel sprouts.
7. Omit all animal products from your diet including dairy, cheese, eggs and meats. The small amounts of protein found in peanut butter, grains and legumes are sufficient, healthier and more easily digested.

* Choose a light grilled cheese, tuna salad or egg salad sandwich for lunch if animal products are desired. Animal products are very expensive. Eat them sparingly and purchase them only if you have a little extra money.
8. Drink only water. Omit all other beverages including coffee, tea, soda, fruit juice and alcohol.


Tips:
* Cook a large pot of soup and rewarm for two other meals.
* Cook a large amount of rice, legumes and veggies and rewarm for two other meals.
* Cook and rewarm your food at a low temperature to retain nutrients.
* Mix the rice, legumes and veggies together or place each item separately on your plate to create a variety in flavor.
* While at work or overnight, cook legumes in a slow cooker or crockpot for extra savings.
* Occasionally, replace brown rice with whole grain pasta, adding cabbage, onions, legumes and veggies to your dish as before.
* Choose veggies that are rich and deep in color, such as the dark orange of a carrot, the deep green of swiss chard or the dark purple of a red cabbage as they are richer in nutrients.
* Preferably, omit nightshades, such as eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, green peppers, zucchini, etc as these create an unhealthy acidic PH.
* Preferably, eat bread three days after it has been baked with yeast. Live yeast creates an unhealthy acidic PH.
* Wean to this simple diet gradually to help shrink your stomach and grow accustomed to a smaller intake.
* Gradually eat two meals a day or half a sandwich at lunch, if desired.
* If hungry between meals, eat a piece of whole grain toast with a small amount of margarine.
* Eat fruits sparingly and purchase them only if you have a little extra money.
* Choose organic when possible.
* It's healthy, satisfying and easier than you think! It can be a new way in life.