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Andrea from Mommy Snacks shares a few important secrets from her weight loss journey with us today! Her story is remarkable and encouraging! Be inspired!!
I hear so many people say, “Eating healthy is so expensive. How do you stay on a budget?” Last year, I lost 35 pounds by eating healthy foods and staying on budget. So, eating healthy is possible if you want to lose weight and not break the bank!
Planning is key to so many things and it certainly important with weight loss! Planning makes it easier to spend less when you’re trying to eat healthier. Watching the sales and matching up your coupons accordingly can help you get the items cheap and stockpile for the future. But, meal planning has been one of the biggest benefits to help with my weight loss. Not only am I purchasing the healthier items at a lower price, but I am scheduling what I will eat so I know I won’t be tempted by unhealthy options.
My main goal is to eat a balanced diet, high in nutritional content with yummy treats in moderation. I manage to do that each day, maintaining my weight loss and filling up my family with wholesome meals. There are certainly times when I “splurge.” And, I do have my special food items that are rarely on sale that help with my weight loss (must have Baked Lay’s chips).
I figure I save so much by planning and stockpiling that I can spend a few extra bucks on some of those items to help with my weight loss. Even with those few extras, I still come in within our budget and feel great about the weight loss I have accomplished!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Smoothie – $.34
4 tbsp Peanut Butter ($.18 – purchased on sale for $1.20)
1/2 cup frozen banana slices ($.10 – froze during sale of $.29/pound)
2-3 tbsp Fat Free Chocolate Pudding Mix (FREE)
1/2 cup Skim Milk ($.06 – purchased on sale for $2/gallon)
Add ingredients together in blender until to smoothie consistency. The protein from the peanut butter is filling, and the bananas help with muscle cramping (for my weary runner’s legs). This is so delicious and filling! It always helps with my chocolate fix!
What healthy snack do you go for that hits the spot and is under $1?
Andrea Deckard is a stay-at-home mommy with an amazing husband and three energetic boys. She chronicles her weight loss journey at Mommy Snacks in Fat Burnin’ Friday! You can get other zero-calorie “snacks” to help you Save, Earn, Live and Learn!
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
I get the 1 pound (or more?) bags of baby carrots when they go on sale for a dollar- they are regularly priced at $1 at Aldi, and I see them on sale for that elsewhere. Nibbling on these when I get a mid-afternoon munchie craving has worked for me- I know it’s good for me, and I think just the act of eating something makes the munchie craving go away.
The other thing I’ll munch on is cut-up apples.
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I love peanut butter in smoothies. I usually make a strawberry smoothie with frozen strawberries, a cup of milk, a tablespoon of peanut butter, and a teaspon of sugar free strawberry jello–makes for a sweet strawberry flavor without the sugar.
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Wow, that recipe sounds delicious!
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What an interesting idea to add chocolate pudding mix? Does it add body to the smoothie?
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I love your post. I am on a journey of losing weight on a budget. You definitely need to plan but it is possible.
I love the chocolate pb smoothie. I make them all of the time. I also like to do frozen or fresh strawberries with cheesecake pudding, splenda, milk and ice.
My favorate healthy treat for under $1 (at the moment) is hummus and a grilled Mission tortilla cut into triangles. I love the taste and it is so filling.
Thanks for the great post. I can’t wait to check out your site.
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yea for you Andrea…that is amazing! 35 lbs – you look fabulous. I was 40 lbs heavier than I am now back in college and know all about weight loss. i went back to aerobics just this year after slowly gaining 12 lbs last year. Don’t want to go back.
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Wheat thins and Starkist tuna in sunflower oil with cheese…yum. Wheat thins tomato basil-FREE(from kraft contest or free from cvs)
Kraft cracker cuts $.50(dillons sale and q)
Starkist tuna pouch $.93-vocalpoint q=FREE
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maggie – the pudding gives it more of a thick consistency since there isn’t ice cream added. Plus, it’s an easy and low-cal alternative to add flavoring too!!
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How do u freeze the banana slices? My girls would LOVE these!
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Oooh, that smoothie sounds delicious. I think I’m going to have to try it. Thanks!
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I lost over 25 pounds in 1.5 years by eating heathly and getting a daily walk in.
This year, my husband and I joined the local recreation center gym for $12 a month. They have all the bells and whistles without the pricey gym memberships.
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I love a bowl of plain yogurt, with a little whole fruit jam mixed in! I could actually eat it all day. Delicious.
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I cannot stay away from unhealthy foods without my Popsicle molds! Since I got these I have made all kinds of tasty frozen treats easily that can be healthy and cheap. Here are some of my favorite things to put in the pops:
Chocolate pudding
Strawberry cheesecake yogurt
Any can of fruit in natural juice, blended until smooth (my favorite is mangoes).
Bananas with a little cocoa and coconut blended together
Pomegranate juice
Pretty much any leftover fruity items blended together!
I am ashamed to admit that I sometimes hide the Popsicles from my kids!
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I love smoothies! I always have bananas in my freezer just for smoothies
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Vegetables are usually pretty cheap, if you eat at least one serving at each meal, YES, THIS MEANS BREAKFAST TOO! Then, the pounds will not only come off, you’ll be getting extra vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber! Vegetables also stable your blood sugar so you don’t go mad with desire to eat bags of chips or Oreo’s. Another thing to keep in mind is protein. Beans and rice are usually pretty cheap. There are a gajillion different kinds of beans out there, find a few you like, mix them with rice and you’ve got a complete protein. 10grams of protein at each meal helps to stable blood sugar.
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A great idea for my diet, starting next week! Thanks
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I’ll have to try that recipe, it sounds so good!
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Laura – to freeze banana slices, just cut up the banana (into slices
and lay them flat on a cookie sheet. Place that into the freezer. When they are frozen, just put them into a freezer-safe bag. So simple!!
Rona – WAY TO GO!!!! THat is awesome. What a great gym rate too!
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Sounds great trying this morning.
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That smoothie sounds YUMMY! I am the least creative person I know when it comes to cooking and the kitchen. I am glad I have creative friends like you gals!
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wow, I just found your blog tonight and its awesome! I am enjoying reading it and learning new things and I am going to send your link out to several of my friends.
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Popcorn….I know it is a grain, but it is a whole grain and you can make it very low in calories and full of flavor!
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I made those smoothies for my teenage girls as a dessert after dinner and topped with fat-free whip. WOW! They loved it! Also made the veggie tacos for myself for dinner and will have enough for a few more dinners and lunch at work. Soooooooooooo yummy! Used brocoli, mushrooms (both $1 at Meijer last week), onion, gr pepper, garlic. Put veggies on low carb shell and topped with melted pepper jack cheese. Toasted in oven and was in HEAVEN! This is a keeper!!!
Laura
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