Don't let munchies gobble your budget!
By littlemoo
@littlemoo (317)
Australia
March 7, 2007 1:56pm CST
Has anyone noticed the price of prepackaged snacks? There are a lot of tempting items on the shelves, and not all of them good for the budget, or the belt.
I've found I have very little self control when it comes to snacks, as I'm a grazer. So to save on the budget, as well as the waistline, I'm going to change my habits. So starting with my favourite snacks, I will...
1. Buy chocolates in bulk, BUT I'll package them into small serves, so I'm not tempted to eat the lot in one go.
2. Make muffins, biscuits, and cakes instead of buying them. I'll make them healthier making sure there is at least one fruit included, such as banana cake, blueberry muffins, etc.
3. Make my own trail mix, by mixing different nuts, dried fruits, etc. and dividing them up into portions.
4. Buy a 6-pack of juice boxes, sturdy plastic bottles with lids, and I will refill those, with juice or soft drink, instead of pouring out of the large container.
5. Avoid the candy aisle!!! There is just nothing healthy down this aisle! lol.
Has anyone any suggestions to help save the waistline as well as the wallet?
3 people like this
7 responses
@ElicBxn (63664)
• United States
8 Mar 07
Pick up a lot of veggies, cut them up and leave them in water in the fridge, then if you get the munchies, grab them. Carrots are low cal, celery is a negative cal food (takes more to digest then are in them.) Also, prep those fruits that you can safely cut up and leave for a few days - pick up a whole watermelon and cube some while leaving the rest covered in fridge for when those are gone. That way too, your fridge is full of watermelon and you can't put those high cal puddings & stuff in it!
1 person likes this
@littlemoo (317)
• Australia
8 Mar 07
I love your suggestions for healthier eating! Mmmm... watermelon! I absolutely adore watermelon, and you've got a great suggestion! I shall have to get a big cleaver, and a few bigger containers to help me store it all!
Thanks for explaining the negative calorie concept. I'll get stuck into the carrots & celery, too!
@littlemoo (317)
• Australia
8 Mar 07
I have a program on my PDA that helps calculate what is the better deal. It helps compare the prices per unit. I've found this very very helpful whilst in the supermarkets. Sometimes items on special aren't actually cheaper than a different brand, or volume-wise. It's a worthwhile exercise, spending the time to work this out!
@Bee1955 (3882)
• United States
9 Mar 07
NIBBLE MIX (make in advance for NOW healthy snacking)
6 c. bite-size shredded corn squares (2 c. each of corn cereal, rice cereal & wheat cereal - CHEX)
3 c. thin pretzel sticks
1 (3 oz.) chow mein noodles
1 can mixed nuts (optional)
1/2 c. melted butter
3/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. Ranch dressing (dry)
Put the first 4 ingredients in a large cake pan or baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.
Remove from oven, pour melted butter over the mix. Sprinkle with cheese and dry seasoning. Mix well. Return to oven and heat for 15 to 20 minutes.
Makes 12 cups. Store in a plastic or glass container with a tight fitting lid in refrigerator when not useing. If desired warm, heat in microwave for 10 seconds on HIGH.
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
7 Mar 07
But they make them to convienient!
We try hard to buy bulk vegies and package them for easier grabbing. I am not a health nut but I would love to be one some day. Id like to think I am saving money and helping my family eat healthier. One day I will find the path to helath nut and we will all live better. For now I am taking baby steps and a few candy bars along the way.
@littlemoo (317)
• Australia
8 Mar 07
I like your philosophy. Mine is very close to yours. Start easy, and work my way up to the healthy stuff. Baby steps is the perfect way of putting it! I too will be working my way up to being a health nut. In the mean time, I will mix a little of the naughty stuff in too, to keep my sanity! lol.
@twilight021 (2059)
• United States
7 Mar 07
I love munchies too! Especially during that time of the month :-)
I find a really affordable place to by snacks is Trader Joes. They also have a lot of healthy options. Like nuts and dried fruits, what are so much more affordable than the supermarket offerings. Also, I love Pirates Booty...and TJ's has thier own version that comes in a bigger bag, for less money.
Famers markets are a great place to find fruit and veggies snacks. Im my climate I have to wait for the spring for those, but I often get some really good finds.
When I am really trying to be good, I like Tea as a "snack", I sweeten it with splenda, and there are some really yummy fruity teas out now. The liquid fills you up, hydrates you, and is diet friendly. Also tea is pretty cheap....I'm tea nut anyway so I think it's good.
1 person likes this
@littlemoo (317)
• Australia
8 Mar 07
Ooh, I'm a tea fanatic also! I swear I am on the can so frequently purely because of my love of tea.
I will have a look at the alternatives to supermarkets! I don't know if we have that in Australia, but I will certainly look into it! Thanks!
@hezoid (2144)
•
7 Mar 07
I've found that raisins are cheaper to buy than something like crisps, are great to nibble on and are soooo much healthier! You can buy them in boxes containing a good portion each, or buy them in a big bag and divide them up into smaller food bags. Great for pack-ups or for snacking when you feel you need to eat something but want to be healthy.
1 person likes this
@littlemoo (317)
• Australia
8 Mar 07
I totally agree that I should make healthy choices in my snacks. I gotta start small! lol. I'm not much of a crisps person, but occasionally, you just get the monster craving that just needs to be satisfied! So I've also decided that I will only satisfy the cravings while I'm at work, and share with my mates. That way, I will enjoy them for longer (because I can't shut up when I'm in company, so it will take me much longer to eat them) and won't be able to scoff the lot myself!
As for raisins, I will pop them into my trail mix! I find having just raisins is too sweet for me. Thanks for the suggestion!
@cipher2004 (1183)
• United States
8 Mar 07
I buy unpopped popcorn and pop it myself.This saves on the munchies.I also slice potatoes thin and deep fry them.Everyones loves them.I also deep fry the left over skin and poor melted cheese on top with bacon bits.
