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It's Wednesday, and our cheap streak goes on!!
Today, we're going to consider cheap swaps that are not only better for your wallet, but are also the healthier options.
Healthy Swaps!*Making a cake?
Ditch the oil. Just mix up the cake mix as directed, sans oil. You'll never miss it. Cakes may be a little less spongy, but they'll also be hundreds of calories lighter. But you will want to avoid overcooking.
*Making chili or tacos?
Add beans to the burger. I add a can of rinsed black beans and a can of fat free refried beans in my "taco meat".
*Eating out?
Order water instead of the soda to drink. My big family of six can save an average of $12 per check. Another added benefit? My kids have grown to prefer water to sugary drinks.
There you go! That's just a few cheap swaps that are also the healthier options. You know any good tips? Feel free to share, and we'll gladly
I rinse the beans when I use can also, and what a cool idea to add it to the beef! :D
ReplyDeleteCheaper and better for you. My family has become so accustomed to the taste, all meat "meat" tastes peculiar to them.
DeleteI'll have to leave out the oil in my cake next time. We usually replace ground beef in recipes with ground turkey. Cheaper and better for you.
ReplyDeleteI'd add the beans to the ground turkey too. Nothing beats a can of bean for cheap.
DeleteSodas are so NOT good for you anyway.
ReplyDeleteNo, they're not. I'm the biggest soda addict in my house. I get lectured on the health risks all the time. I'm just glad I didn't give them my bad habit!
DeleteI like the beans in the taco meat idea but I cannot condone no sodas with dinner out because my husband works for Coca-Cola!!
ReplyDeleteI forgot about that. I'll add a quick disclaimer- avoid all sodas besides Coke.
DeleteIs that better?
I've never tried leaving the oil out, replacing with applesuace works, but I will give zero oil a try.
ReplyDeleteWe found that most entrees are too large for one person and we split main dishes and order an extra vegetable or get an appetizer.
At burger places we can all share one maybe two fries so only one person gets the meal and the rest of us get water and then we all share the fries.
No one questions me when I order the kids meal/size either and they are usually a better portion size and cheaper.
Those are great ideas too. I will sometimes get the kid's meal when I want the toy (remember the McDonald's Beanie Babies?)
DeleteI started the zero oil when I ran out of the applesauce. I had been doing the applesauce trick for years, then when I had none and was too lazy to drive to the store, I just left it out. It was fine. No one noticed the difference. I do the same thing with my brownie mixes. I just don't add the oil. I think the biggest trick is to time them. They will dry out faster if you allow them to over cook.
I've never tried leaving the oil out, replacing with applesuace works, but I will give zero oil a try.
ReplyDeleteWe found that most entrees are too large for one person and we split main dishes and order an extra vegetable or get an appetizer.
At burger places we can all share one maybe two fries so only one person gets the meal and the rest of us get water and then we all share the fries.
No one questions me when I order the kids meal/size either and they are usually a better portion size and cheaper.