The main reason I created this blog was to provide my readers with access to correct nutritional information. Previous blog posts like the Eating to Survive series and Planning a days meal and Show me the Nutrition facts, have more than covered the main things you need to know in order to begin to efficiently manage your nutrition. This also allows you to make informed decisions on when and how you spend your hard-earned income on food. I was deliberate in writing these posts with the express intention of empowering you to take control of your nutrition and by extension your finances.
Problem
I recently had a conversation with a young lady who was having a hard time figuring out where her money went every month. She went through the list of things she had to pay for and realized that the greatest expense for her was food. Her daily meals cost between $300-$400 JMD. And in the next breath, she shared that she does not go grocery shopping, nor does she do any meal planning, opting to only purchase some breakfast items and buying the rest on the road.
After sitting down and calculating, we realized that she was spending between $6000-$8000 JMD on food alone per month, not including her groceries. These meals are prepared by someone else, she has no control over what is in these meals and she has little control over portions and therefore may or may not be consuming the right amount of food per day. She might also be wasting the food and money by throwing away the food if the portions are too large. As she was a University student, with other expenses, her food bill was causing her to be stretched to her breaking point.
Being Food Savvy = Money Savvy
We came up with a plan, made a list of foods that if purchased she would definitely eat, and plan her meals around these foods. So instead of having meals from a cookshop or restaurant, and a bottle of juice, her own bottled water or juice with her to school. She would also bring her own food, whether a sandwich or leftovers from the night before, and purchase her fruits and snacks on the campus.
She shared that she now felt more empowered and more in control over her budget. But I also pointed out that she also now has more control over her nutrition. She will know exactly how much oil, salt, and sugar is used to prepare her meals. She will also be able to control her portion sizes and ensure she consumes the amount she needs to keep her full and focused on her school work.
I am sure if everyone were to sit and take account of our spending we may be able to spot similar patterns. It is cheaper to prepare food to take with you to work or school, especially if you are on a specific diet. While it may seem daunting to try to plan your meals, the alternative is not something most of us can afford.
