Introduction
Dieting isn’t easy, let’s be honest. It is hard and at times can be extremely hard. But healthy eating doesn’t have to be hard or expensive. Indulgent food is like the red devil on your left shoulder, tempting you to do wrong. While the angel on your right shoulder is holding carrots and celery. Without ranch!
There are health food fads that you could spend your hard earned money on. The catch-22 with those products is that they end up being not that great for you. Here are some key foods that won’t break the bank, scratch the itch of junk food indulgence(when put together) and are delicious alone.
Bananas
They provide essential vitamins and minerals such as potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6, which support heart health, energy production, and immune function. Bananas are easy to digest and satiating. Additionally, they are tremendous toppings atop your nut butter on toast. They are not only one of the most inexpensive fruits but inexpensive foods overall. Ranging from .50 cents to a dollar per pound. Bananas (1) are also a key ingredient in most healthy baked good recipes that we will get to at the end.
Blueberries
They are one of the key superfoods around. The nutritional value of blueberries are endless but let me remind you of a couple of things. Vitamin C Supports the immune system, Vitamin K important for blood clotting and bone health, Vitamin E which acts as an antioxidant and helps protect cells from damage, and Vitamin B6 that supports brain development and function. They cost between 3 to 6 dollars per pound.
Vanilla Greek Yogurt
Alone and flavorless, greek yogurt can be quite boring. Opting to vanilla boosts its deliciousness and almost takes an ice cream or custard-like dessert option without the immense fat and sugar. It is also a great source of protein, calcium and beneficial bacteria for gut health. You could eat it straight up or sacrifice a few calories by adding granola. (Even better, protein granola).
Eggs
The breakfast staple is not just an inexpensive way to start the day. Turns out, it is one of the best things for your body. Eggs contain all essential amino acids, vitamins B12, D, A, and riboflavin. Along with that, they contain minerals such as selenium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. Most of the methods of cooking eggs are fine (just take it easy on the butter).
Quick and Simple Recipe for Healthy Blueberry Muffins
This viral, high-protein recipe is incredibly simple and popular for meal prep. It needs only four core ingredients and is flourless.
- 2 ripe bananas (mashed)
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter (natural preferred)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup fresh blueberries (frozen can be used but may add moisture/time)
Instructions:
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease or line a muffin tin.
- Mix: In a large bowl, mix the mashed bananas, eggs, and peanut butter until smooth.
- Fold: Gently fold in the blueberries.
- Bake: Divide into 9-12 muffins (depending on size) and bake for 12–20 minutes (or up to 25 minutes) until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool: Let them cool completely before removing from the pan, as they are very soft while hot.
Conclusion
Dieting can be and in some ways should be hard. When people make the decision to cut out the normal indulgences of their normal diet, it can be jarring. It is like everywhere you look there’s a fast food restaurant. Avoiding these temptations are what make the change so rewarding. These foods can allow whoever a simple gateway into maintaining a solid diet with tasty choices that won’t kill your progress.
Sources
(1) 11 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Bananas –
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-benefits-of-bananas
(2) [Replace with next]-
Sleep, Snacking, and Weight Gain-