Weight Loss on a Budget Tip #1: Frozen is your Friend

It’s day 1 of our October 2013 Challenge.  Each day I will share a tip for weight loss on a budget!  My first tip, frozen food is your friend.  If you are budget conscious, the frozen isle holds a lot of possibility for you.  Here are some reasons why.

Foods that are out of season – Frozen foods are great because you can access out of season foods like mango or peaches all year around from sources where the foods are in season.  Variety is key when losing weight so you want to have access to all of your favorite healthy options as much as possible.

100% Main Ingredient – You want to look at the ingredient list on the package and see ONE ingredient as much as possible.  No fillers, no preservatives is Ideal!!

Look for Flash Freezing – Foods that are flash frozen may have better taste because they were frozen quickly and all the flavor and nutrients are sealed in.

Steam-in-bag– There are tons of steam-in-bag options in the frozen section that will help you to make healthy meals quickly.  This is a big issue for those who a used to “fast food”.  We are talking pasta dishes, vegetables, meat dishes, etc with the help of your trusty microwave.  (Or…You can also buy a traditional steamer and you don’t even need the bag.)

Buy generic – Go for the store brand or generic brands for the lowest prices in most cases.  This is not clothing or shoes…labels are less important.

Buy in bulk – If you have a separate freezer, consider buying frozen items in bulk.  Just remember, frozen foods DO have an expiration date.   A good tip is to use masking tape and a permanent marker to label foods in the freezer so that you see the expiration dates clearly.

Healthy Frozen Meals – I get asked about healthy frozen diet meals all the time.  While I don’t usually recommend them because of high sodium content, many brands have scaled back on sodium and preservatives.  If you don’t have time to cook your meals and you can find ones with quality, healthy ingredients for a good price or on sale…go for it.  Just make sure that you READ the nutrition label and are aware of what is really in the meal.

List of foods to consider buying in the frozen isle:

• Mango
• Peaches
• Berries (various)
• Spinach
• Broccoli
• Corn
• Peas
• Edemame
• Fish
• Shredded potatoes
• Chicken breast in bulk
• Bell Peppers
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Squash
• Veggie Burgers
• Vegetarian Options
• Green Beans
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cherries