You want to lose weight, but not in your wallet, right? A lot of diet plans can be costly requiring specialized foods and let's face it, quality foods like produce and lean protein can be a bit pricey at the market. There are, however, ways around this... read on!

1. Buy Local!

Buy produce at a farmer's market or a grocer that brings in produce from local farmers. Not only will you be helping your community, but you'll likely save a bunch too!

In one light, you are cutting out the middle man by buying directly from the farmer. Even grocers who buy locally cut out something that costs a great deal these days: shipping costs! Saving money while dieting can be quite beneficial to everyone.

Another benefit is that the produce will be extremely fresh having less time in between the field and your kitchen. There will be less spoilage and a lengthier shelf life. Not only that, but buying local means buying what's naturally in season and usually in abundance. If you've ever noticed, seasonal produce is the tastiest when the price is the lowest!

2. Check out the frozen aisle!

Nobody could argue against fresh is best, but we can't always have fresh if it's not in season. Always have some frozen veggies in the freezer. They last a very long time and are a great substitute for those lean weeks that maybe the fresh produce is a bit out of your price range.

Aim for organic if possible, but if not, no flavourings or added sodium. This also helps save money while dieting because opting for the plain old plain old is usually cheaper.

3. Remember to eat less!

Sometimes we get so caught up in the idea that we need to eat healthfully to lose weight that we forget that in order to lose weight, we'll be eating less. When you cut down on portions and realize that you only need a small amount of things like lean protein, you'll really start to save at the market!

You can still buy in bulk which usually saves money while dieting in the long run, but portion things like chicken breast and freeze what you can then use later. A portion of lean protein is around the size of a deck of cards. That's it. Suddenly, that premium cut of lean beef just went a bit further, right?

4. Flavour for less!

If you scan the market shelves in search of flavour for your foods, you'll find that many of the pre-made creamy dressings and sauces are at a premium. Onions, garlic, pepper sauces and vinegars on the other hand are relatively cheap. When you learn to flavour your foods with these items, you'll not only save calories, but pennies as well! This can be a substantial savings when dieting.

5. Plan Ahead!

By planning healthful meals ahead of time, you can save money when dieting as well as time. It's really simple to grill an extra chicken breast or salmon fillet the night before to save for lunch tomorrow. Believe me, you can fix a much more delicious and less costly salad the next day rather than grabbing one of those fast food salads that is usually less than fresh. Saving money while dieting can be done!

Copyright (c) 2008 SCL Health & Fitness

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