One concern that you may have when you start a gluten free menu in order to rid yourself of unwanted belly fat or to remove gluten sensitivity symptoms is that following a specialized diet is too expensive. That’s a valid concern. If you’ve been to the grocery store lately you can see that many food costs are on the rise while our income levels are staying, well, level. I’m all for spending the least amount of money you can on food so that you can have the resources for the other important things in your life. However, spending wisely on the right food choices so that you can experience optimal health is not only possible, but crucial to an overall healthy lifestyle.
Let me show you why following a gluten free menu may actually save you some money over what you are eating now.
Many of the foods which contain gluten are packaged and processed. Because they are wheat or grain based they are the types of foods that are easily stored in bulk. This makes them abundant; however, does it make them the best choices for your health?
Back in 1999 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated that a family of four can eat at home at cost of $95.00 to $185.00 per week. Over ten years later you can still do that. The obstacle that most people have is that there are now so many processed and pre-made food choices and our lives are hectic so it’s easiest reach for those more expensive type of meals that do a little planning and cooking on your own.
I would argue that by cooking a few more meals at home you can have better control over a gluten free menu and a full array of healthy choices. Making your own stir-fry rather than purchasing a ready-made frozen variety allows you to be in control of what goes into your food and what goes into your body. Have you ever really considered the amount of sodium that you are ingesting, cumulatively, over the course of a day?
And don’t let the idea of pre-planning or cooking homemade meals scare you off. It’s amazing how much food you can freeze or store with the help of a vacuum sealer. If you are making one pan of spinach lasagna, why not make two and freeze the second one for later. By removing much of the air during storage you can keep your gluten free menu choices fresh. They will be ready to grab and go, just like the stuff that’s in your grocery freezer aisle; however, you know what’s in your gluten free homemade meal and it’s better for your body.
Just consider this one easy example. If you love to have banana bread at breakfast since you no longer need cereal on your gluten free menu, then you can make several loaves at the same time and freeze what you are not eating immediately for future use. If you purchase over ripe bananas at the store they are usually less expensive and perfect for gluten free banana bread. Once they are baked and cooled, you can wrap them in wax paper and then seal in a storage bag or a vacuum sealer. Later, just pull a loaf from the freezer, defrost and enjoy.
There are also gluten free sources that will sell their selections for your gluten free menu in bulk, thus reducing the cost. Be sure to check out the sources for a great banana bread recipe and ideas on where to buy gluten free food.
