Eat Well
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Recipes
Stay In for Savings
Balance Your Budget, Budget Your Calories
Want to know a great budgeting secret? Stay in. Rather than spend the money on an expensive, high-calorie dish, you can stay in and enjoy your family—and you may find it easier to keep your calories in check, too. And just because you don't go out doesn't mean it can't be a special occasion. Break out the wedding china, light some candles, and cook a balanced and healthy meal for a fraction of the restaurant price.
Shop Smart
Plan your meal ahead of time, and make a list accordingly. That can save you quite a few impulse buys at the grocery store. Plus, take advantage of coupons and special offers by planning ahead.
Cooking Creatively
One of the benefits of going out is eating great-tasting food. But the big trade-off is not knowing which ingredients they use or your dish's calorie content. Unlike going to a restaurant, you know exactly what's going in your meal when you prepare it yourself. And if you cook with packaged foods, the Nutrition Facts panel tells you the nutritional value of what you're preparing. Who knows how many calories are in a Chinese takeout container. But you know that the new Healthy Choice® Café Steamers™ Grilled Chicken Marinara has only 250 calories. Talk about keeping your budget balanced—that's an entree for less than $5!
Dining In vs. Eating Out
At a middle-of-the-road neighborhood restaurant, you'd be lucky to get by for less than $20 for two people. Not only is there a price difference, but there's a nutritional difference, too. Here's a restaurant-inspired meal you can easily make for less than $20. Spicy Spaghetti with Beef and Vegetables It makes 6 servings and has only 243 calories per serving and 4 grams of fat. If you still want that restaurant feel, you can buy some candles, lay out a nice tablecloth, and give your child or nephew a couple of bucks to wait on you.
Five $5 Meal Ideas in Less than 10 Minutes:
Breakfast Burritos with Tomato-Basil Topping Mediterranean Salad Pasta with Summer Squash Saute Star Fruit Dessert Western Omelet
Dish It
Restaurants often appeal to our demand for large portions, and use large plates to showcase their meals. That's a fun indulgence, but at home, using large plates can make right-size portions look tiny and out of place. Use smaller plates so that normal-sized portions look satisfying. You'll feel better knowing that you saved money and ate less with an easy portion-control strategy.
One Plate, Two Forks
If you do decide to dine out, one great way to cut your bill (and portion) in half is to split the entree. Most restaurants have generously sized portions, so splitting it is easy. You won't feel that regretful dread of, "I can't believe I ate the whole thing," and you can share your meal with your sweetie.
Wine into Water
Wine, beer, and liquor costs can rapidly add to your bill. Save yourself the empty calories (one margarita has as many calories as most entrees) and lower your bill instantly by sticking to a glass of water with a twist of lemon. |
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