{"id":163576,"date":"2025-03-29T19:18:07","date_gmt":"2025-03-29T19:18:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/recipes\/category-a-b\/budget-food\/what-is-it-a-beginners-guide-to-healthy-eating-cheapskate-cook\/"},"modified":"2025-03-29T19:18:07","modified_gmt":"2025-03-29T19:18:07","slug":"what-is-it-a-beginners-guide-to-healthy-eating-cheapskate-cook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=163576","title":{"rendered":"What is it? A Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Eating \u2022 Cheapskate Cook"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Learn what real food is, why it\u2019s important, and how to eat healthy on a budget. This beginner\u2019s guide helps you save money while eating real food.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Learn<\/figure>\n

This is a fun one.<\/p>\n

The internet is full of conflicting advice about what to eat and what not to eat. It\u2019s overwhelming and confusing. Who even knows how to eat healthy anymore? Should I be vegan<\/a>, carnivore, gluten-free<\/a>, or only eat organic food?<\/p>\n

This week, let\u2019s go back to the basics.<\/p>\n

What is \u201cReal Food\u201d?<\/h2>\n

Real food doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re following a specific diet like Whole30<\/a> or Keto<\/a>. It doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re gluten-free, vegan, or eating only organic food.<\/p>\n

When we talk about \u201creal food,\u201d or \u201cwhole food,\u201d we\u2019re referring to food that\u2019s as close to its natural state as possible.<\/strong> Think about fruits, vegetables, whole grains<\/a>, nuts, seeds, and proteins<\/a> like beans, eggs, and meat \u2014 all of which haven\u2019t been overly processed or packed with artificial additives.<\/p>\n

And here\u2019s my obligatory disclaimer: The information found here is for educational and inspirational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice. Reliance on any information provided here is solely at your own risk. For more information please read our \u200bDisclaimer<\/a>\u200b.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Washing<\/figure>\n

Real Food vs. Processed Food: What\u2019s the Difference?<\/h3>\n

On the other hand, processed foods include sugary snacks, frozen dinners, and boxed meals. These foods often contain added sugars, unhealthy fats, and chemicals that our bodies don\u2019t need.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that there\u2019s a lot of gray area here. <\/strong>Technically, any food you alter from its original state has been processed in some way. That includes basic foods like cooking an egg or turning milk into yogurt<\/a> or butter. But that\u2019s not what I mean by \u201cprocessed foods.\u201d<\/p>\n

Think about it this way: if you can make it in your home kitchen with basic tools, or it\u2019s a food that people have been eating for thousands of years (think yogurt, sourdough bread, butter, cheese, and some fermented foods and drinks), that\u2019s a \u201cwhole food.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

For most of human history, people ate foods from farms, not factories \u2014 and that\u2019s the general standard I use for healthy eating.<\/p>\n

Why Should You Eat More Real Food?<\/h2>\n

Real food is packed with nutrients \u2013 vitamins, minerals, fiber, and healthy fats \u2013 that help keep our bodies strong and our minds sharp. When you eat more whole food, you\u2019re giving your body what it needs to work better.
Eating real food can also mean more energy throughout the day and a better mood overall. It\u2019s not about a perfect diet\u2014it\u2019s about making small, consistent changes.<\/p>\n

\"Slicing<\/figure>\n

The 80\/20 Rule: A Simple Approach to Eating Healthy<\/h2>\n

Personally, I don\u2019t label any food \u201cgood\u201d or \u201cbad.\u201d Most nutrition experts agree that labeling food like that leads to an unhealthy relationship with food. Instead, I\u2019m not afraid to eat Oreos or a bag of my favorite chips (Cheetos, if you want to know \u2013 does that count as a chip?). Instead, I mostly feed my body with food that I know fuels it well. Processed food doesn\u2019t fuel me well, so I eat less of that.<\/p>\n

Try the 80\/20 rule: aim for 80% of your food to be healthy food. Reserve the remaining 20% for parties, treats, your very favorite processed snacks, etc.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Can Healthy Eating Be Affordable? Yes! Here\u2019s How:<\/h2>\n

We\u2019ve been led to believe that healthy eating is expensive. At first glance, that might seem true \u2014 like when you compare the price of a bag of crackers to a tub of yogurt.<\/p>\n

But that\u2019s not the case. Processed food is overpriced, devoid of nutrients, and doesn\u2019t keep you full or fuel your body the way whole food does.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

Remember that $5 bag of chips that\u2019s only half or a third of the way full when you open it? It\u2019s probably made of potatoes or corn: both super cheap ingredients. Depending on where you live, five dollars will buy you multiple pounds of potatoes. <\/p>\n

Do chips make a fun snack? Absolutely. But they aren\u2019t cheap. <\/p>\n

Snack companies have sold us the idea that cooking from scratch is complicated and overrated.<\/p>\n

But I did the math.<\/p>\n

A bag of chips isn\u2019t cheaper than a piece of fruit.<\/p>\n

While healthy eating can cost plenty of money and time, I assume you are reading this post because you want to find ways to save time and money while eating healthy. I can help you with that. <\/p>\n

Sitting in the drive-thru for 30 minutes is more expensive and time-consuming than spending 30 minutes making a simple dinner at home. (Too tired to cook? Don\u2019t worry \u2014 I\u2019ve got solutions for that too<\/a>.)<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you want to dive into my grocery savings and grocery hauls (real food examples in real life!), go here. <\/a><\/p>\n

\"Stephani<\/figure>\n

How to Start Eating More Real Food Today<\/h2>\n

Make a list of your favorite \u201creal foods.\u201d Remember the definition of real food. These kinds of foods should make up about 80% of your diet. <\/p>\n

Here are a few of my favorite real foods:<\/h4>\n