How to beat the credit munch...
Don't sacrifice your health for your wealth
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Buying seasonal produce saves on money and carbon emissions.
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By Chrissie Russell
Wednesday Jun 24 2009
As if the endless doom and gloom of the recession wasn't enough now it seems the economic downturn is making us fat. A new study shows three in five people have piled on the pounds since the economy started to plummet 12 months ago.
In tightening our purse strings, we're expanding our waist bands, swapping high quality healthy foods for cheap frozen goods and fast food meal deals high in fat, sugar, hydrogenated oils and salt.
But good food doesn't have to cost a packet.
"It's entirely possible to eat healthily and stay on a budget," says nutritionist Margot Brennan. "There are plenty of quick healthy meals that anyone can make without spending a lot of money."
The most important thing is don't get sucked into slashing vital food groups from your diet for the sake of saving a few quid -- you really can't put a price on your health. Studies show that a healthy, balanced diet including all the food groups can reduce the risks of heart disease, strokes and certain cancers by up to 20pc.
Besides, things like fruit and vegetables aren't as expensive as you think. "Buying fresh fruit and veg every day can be expensive but they don't need to be fresh to be doing you good," explains Margot. "Frozen, tinned and dried fruits will count towards your five-a-day without costing the earth."
Buying seasonal produce saves on money and carbon emissions and, with even President Obama at it, there's never been a better time to start growing your own, with tips at getgrowing.ie.
Red meat is associated with luxury and is another one we're quick to banish from our shopping trolley as an unnecessary expense but Margot insists this needn't be the case.
"There are price myths when it comes to meat. People think a more expensive cut means more nutrition -- that's simply not true." She adds: "There are plenty of great, healthy meat cuts that are very inexpensive just because they've become unfashionable.
"Lamb's liver is a great example of this. It's cheap, it's a great source of iron and protein and a generation ago people would have been eating it on a weekly basis. We just need to be open to trying new foods and getting creative with recipes."
But if you're serious about saving cash and keeping in shape you have to be prepared to put in some effort.
"People need to get into the kitchen and start making dishes themselves," says Margot. "It's the one sure way to save money."
She adds: "It doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming. A baked potato with beans and cheese, vegetable stir fries or omelettes are all healthy dishes that can be served up in minutes and don't cost a lot."
Happily there's plenty of help out there for reluctant chefs.
Frugalireland.com, cheapeats.ie and beyondbaked- beans.com are all sites run by hard-up folk determined to weather out the financial storm with cheap and cheerful recipes.
And according to supermarket chain Lidl, the make-your-own movement is already in full swing. Lidl spokeswoman, Lizzie Lumsden says: "Since the recession, we have noticed a shift of people going back to basics and buying more ingredients for baking and home cooking rather than ready packed dinners."
The discount chain is also just one of Ireland's many stores rolling out frequent price reductions. Supermarket price wars mean it pays to shop around and with many stores making a commitment to healthier eating, cheap deals don't have to mean poor quality meals.
However, it's not a time for wasteful or impulse shopping. We should be planning meals in advance.
"Make sure you know where your money is going," advises Seamus Brady from Thriftypages.ie.
With the help of the thrifty grid on his website, Seamus reckons it's easier to see what areas of your shopping list could be letting you down.
"Once you know what you're spending on, you'll know what non-essentials to get rid of," he says. "You'll be surprised how much you can free up by not spending willy-nilly."
And even if you still find yourself with stale bread and squishy tomatoes there are plenty of websites keen to give you ideas on how to deal with your leftovers like lovefoodhatewaste.com.
Leaving absolutely no reason why you shouldn't emerge from the recession trim, glowing with goodness and with money in the bank.
- Chrissie Russell
