According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Obesity is common, serious and costly. According to them, more than one-third (36.5%) of US adults have obesity, and while childhood obesity is declining it is still high and affects close to 13 million children in the United States.
What does that mean for your family?
According to them, low-income families are more in danger of having a child suffering from obesity, and also among adults, especially Blacks and Hispanics.
Obesity means a health issue problem that costs the United States government close to $150 million dollars a year. If that is not something very troubling to consider, consider the health of your children and your spouse or partner and the health risks associated with obesity:
- Heart Disease
- Stroke
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Certain types of Cancer
All those diseases are preventable diseases that can be combated by exercising and having a diet that is reasonable. There seems to be a misconception between a healthy diet and the high cost of acquiring it. Contrary to many of these misconceptions, there are many healthy foods you can find at your grocery store that do not cost a lot of money, for example:
Lentils – A 1 lb. of Lentils at the local grocery cost can cost you around $1.50. Half a cup of cooked lentils can give you around 9 grams of protein, iron, and potassium with 115 calories. You can cook the lentils in soups or side dishes with other vegetables that can give you many nutrients your body needs.
Beans – A 1 lb. of beans at your local grocery store can cost you as little as $1.39. Beans are full of fiber, potassium, and magnesium. They are a great source of healthy carbohydrates that can fight off hunger and keeps you feeling full longer. Beans and lentils are two cheap alternatives to meat and the recipes you can do with beans and lentils range from salads to soups and everything in between. Hint: soaking beans and lentils overnight can make it easy and quick for you to cook the next day.
Oats – Who said cereals are the only breakfast in the United States? Replacing cereal with oatmeal is not only cheaper but healthier too. The sugars that are included in every serving of cereal will show in a bigger belly in your child. Oatmeal will keep your child feeling full longer, and your wallet will show the difference.
Sweet Potatoes – sweet potatoes are full of vitamin A and vitamin C. A 3lb. bag of sweet potatoes at your grocery store can cost you around $2.94. If you cook the potatoes in the oven with a teaspoon of oil and a dash of salt, you will have a dish that is filling, cheap and is good for you.
Regular Potatoes – Regular potatoes are full of fiber but also full of vitamin C and Potassium. The bad rep they get as a fatty, unhealthy food is because we think we need to eat them fried, full of butter and cheese, or accompanied by a big hamburger. This cheap food will certainly keep your child full and happy after they eat it for dinner.
Having a healthy diet does not have to be expensive. You do have to adjust your thinking and your stomach to these new foods and to prepare them in a way that seem appetizing to you and your family. But, the benefits associated with these foods are too many for you to ignore, and the cost associated with them is too little for you not to try.
Recipes with these items are abundant, and the steps to follow to get a great result are all over the internet.
Making these items part of your family meal planning can keep costs low and bellies full of healthy goodness.