Health, Healthy on the cheap

Healthy on the cheap

December 26, 2014

Since my mission is all about keeping it real, I realize that a very real concern for most of you is money. The majority of us do not have the luxury to spend lots of money on organic foods, supplements and fancy juices (think Whole Foods). I am right there with you because even though I definitely do splurge on the occasional food product, I am very conscious of how much I am spending and I am always looking for cheap and healthy options. 

Healthy on the cheap

I know this is probably the last thing you want to think about during the holiday season, but use this post as a way to plan your healthy lifestyle in 2015. Pin this post on Pinterest, or share it with friends on Facebook as a reminder 🙂

I made a little graphic with some of my favorite foods that are cheap and healthy options, with explanations of why I have chosen this particular food. Before we move on to that, let me just share some tips on ensuring you are able to stay healthy on a budget.

1. Invest in a long-term gym membership

Gyms usually give better deals if you sign up with them for a year or more, and what better way to invest in your health! Try looking for good gym deals around holidays, as many of them do special offers then.

2. Buy in bulk

A lot of supermarkets (in the US at least) have bulk bins where you can stock up on healthy options such as rolled oats and brown rice for much cheaper than if you bought them packaged.

3. Stock up on canned food

Not all processed foods are created equal! I seriously have a problem with this term as it seems to evoke images of ‘evil’ and ‘bad’ foods. But did you know that distilled water is technically processed? Okay, rant aside, stocking up on canned foods such as beans and tins of vegetables (my fave is artichoke hearts) are a cheap and healthy option.

4. Buy small amounts, but frequently

If you can (because I know you are busy people), try and buy smaller amounts of groceries but go more frequently. I have found that this has help me cut down on waste and only buy what I really need. Needless to say, there are still times where my lovely fresh vegetables go bad!!

[Tweet “Healthy is a lifestyle! Cheap and healthy ways to stay fit during the new year #honestlyfitness”]

Cheap and Healthy Food Options

Alright, now that you have that advice to bear in mind, here is a handy dandy graphic of cheap and healthy food options that I personally eat all the time. Also, click here and here for some cheap and easy to make recipes!

 Food options that help you be Healthy on the Cheap

1. High Fiber Crackers: I love these babies! They are a great source of complex carbohydrates and fiber. Pair with some healthy fats to keep you full for hours.
2. Rolled Oats: A great and cheap option. Can be used in so many recipes for breakfast and dessert.
3. Frozen Tilapia Fillets: Seafood can definitely get expensive, which is why choosing frozen fish is a great option. This allows you to eat it whenever you want without fear of it going bad. Oh, and frozen fish is just as healthy and much cheaper than fresh fish.
4. Salad Leaves: Salad leaves are a cheap and easy way to get in loads of veggies; think wraps, simple green salads, sandwiches and etc. My personal favorite are spring mix 🙂
5. Canned Chickpeas: Chickpeas are SO cheap! 1 can is around $1-2 and is a great source of vegetarian protein and fiber. Such a fun addition to pastas, stews and stir-fries.
6. Cauliflower: Cauliflower is in season, and not only is it cheap but it can be used in so many ways. Try roasting it with some olive oil, salt and pepper or make it into a soup or making cauliflower hash.
7. Eggs: The ultimate cheap food in my opinion, eggs are delicious and healthy for you. They are low in carbs and high in protein. Try having some poached for breakfast, on some high fiber crackers and avocado.

What did you think? If you guys liked this post, then please let me know. Should I make a series of ‘healthy on the cheap’? I only want to make posts that are helpful and useful for you. And please do share this post with others if you find it helpful. Thanks for your continued support of Honestly Fitness 🙂

Do you find it hard to be healthy on the cheap? What do you find hardest?

Honestly yours,
Alice

Thank you for always supporting me! For more Honestly Fitness, check out my Instagram, Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest.

Beauty, Products I love

Rocksbox

December 24, 2014

Being a graduate student, the majority of my money goes towards food, rent and my car, leaving little to none to be spent on fun things such as clothes, shoes, and jewelry. So imagine my delight when I find out that San Francisco has its very own jewelry subscription service, Rocksbox!

How does Rocksbox work?

For a small monthly fee, Rocksbox will send you a box with three pieces of designer jewelry, which have been handpicked for you after you take a quick style survey. You can keep the pieces for as long as you like or return them and get a new box with brand new goodies. If you fall in love with a piece and absolutely cannot part with it, Rocksbox offers members 20% off if they decide to purchase anything. Oh, and shipping to your house and then back is free. So cool, right?

Rocksbox-review

You all know that I would not share something with you if I didn’t think it would be useful to you. This is such a great way for all you ladies out there to have jewelry but at an affordable price. And I don’t know about you, but have you seen the price of some of the jewelry out there?? Even the cheap ones are at least $10, and I would much rather pay a small monthly fee and be able to try out and test a bunch of different items of jewelry. Such a good way to keep things fresh and have brand new and gorgeous jewelry for special occasions. 

Rocksbox review

 Clearly, I wear jewelry to very important events haha. This was actually at my housemate’s work party at Madame Tussaud’s. If I had to pick a role model, Audrey Hepburn would win in a heartbeat. I like to think that we do not need someone to model ourselves off of, but I think it is helpful to have a figure to look up to with qualities you admire (as opposed to trying to be their clone).

Honestly Fitness Approved

Rocksbox is 100% Honestly Fitness approved. Wellness is defined as “the state or condition of being in good physical and mental health”, and being able to have nice things can certainly add to that. Who doesn’t like having new things after all, and especially designer pieces that are a reasonable price. I am so supportive of companies that provide a service to young women that help them feel confident and beautiful.

I also looked up some info. on the CEO of Rocksbox, Meaghan Rose, and I am impressed! She holds both an MS in Economics and an MBA; such a fantastic example of a forward thinking and successful lady.

Click here to try Rocksbox and get some gorgeous jewelry for the New Year (not an affiliate link, just my personal referral link).

Tell me what you think! Would you ever try out Rocksbox?

Honestly yours,
Alice
Thank you for always supporting me! For more Honestly Fitness, check out my Instagram, Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest.

Disclaimer: Although I was not financially compensated for this post, I was given a free Rocksbox subscription for 3 months. As always, my thoughts and opinions expressed on Honestly Fitness remain my own.

Gift Guide, Health, Products I love

Gift Guide: Lavender Salt

December 22, 2014

The holiday season has become entwined with the act of giving and receiving gifts and always gives me slight anxiety. I absolutely love giving gifts to my loved ones; the problem comes in choosing a gift that is both suitable and wallet friendly. Once I get out of graduate school and get a real job, my ability to buy more expensive gifts will increase exponentially but for now, let’s just say that the wallet of a graduate student is not particularly healthy! As such, I wanted to show you this cheap and easy gift; lavender salt!

Where did the inspiration come from?

 The lovely Sarah from Snixy Kitchen inspired me with this idea when she talked about how a friend of hers had made rosemary, vanilla and lemon salt as a homemade gift before. So cool right?! I decided to try my hand at making a lavender salt because a) I had some lavender in my cupboard and b) It has such a beautiful smell and taste. Plus the beautiful color of lavender will make the salt look so pretty! For the most part, receiving a homemade gift just seems as if it is so much more meaningful than a store bought one. I love getting ANY gifts (I don’t expect anything), but there is something to be said about knowing that someone has put in the time and effort to create something that will be uniquely yours as opposed to seeing someone else wearing the same exact gift you were given.

Lavender Salt

Homemade Lavender Himalayan Pink Salt

Alice Williams

Lavender Himalayan Salt

A wonderful and flavorful lavender Himalayan pink salt.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup Himalayan pink salt
  • 1 tsp dried lavender

Method
 

  1. Simply mix together the (ground) Himalayan pink salt and the dried lavender.

Notes

I used just under 1/2 cup of Himalayan pink salt, so less salt works too.
 I used Himalayan Pink salt as my salt, but you can also use sea salt. I am biased towards Himalayan pink salt as I think it is a gorgeous color and it has been said to contain a bunch of minerals that are not normally found in your typical table salt. 

[Tweet “An easy to make homemade gift: lavender Himalayan salt! #giftguide”]

Homemade lavender Himalayan pink salt

Homemade Lavender Himalayan Pink Salt

Use this lavender salt on

Chocolate (like a chocolate cake or pudding), any Protein (lamb, steak, fish), and Holiday Cocktails!

One of my friends is crazy about lavender … so I know who I’ll be giving this gift to 🙂 

Do you normally make homemade gifts? What is the best gift you’ve ever received?

For some more gift idea’s, click here to read my health and wellness gift guide.

Honestly yours,
Alice
Thank you for always supporting me! For more Honestly Fitness, check out my Instagram, Facebook, Twitter & Pinterest.

P.S. If you want to print out the same label I used, then right-click on the image below and save it. Then either print it out and just stick it onto your lavender salt container (like I did), or buy some sticky sheet labels from this website and print them onto that 🙂

label to put on homemade salt gifts