Eating healthily is an essential component of having good well-being. For one, it helps nourish your body with the right nutrients and boosts your overall health. On the other hand, with a poor diet, your health may start to decline, which can disrupt your daily functions and activities.
As you navigate the journey towards healthy eating, it’s essential to know how important each vitamin and nutrient is in every food group. For instance, protein is one of the crucial nutrients your body needs. It can help in repairing body cells and overall body maintenance. Not to mention protein-rich foods are also known to aid in increasing muscle mass and weight loss.
And given their value, consistently purchasing protein-rich foods might hurt your pockets in the long run. However, before you remove protein from your diet, there are cheaper options you can take instead. These include:
- Supplements
For some people, compared to home-cooked or even a packaged meal from eatpropergood.com and other food sites, taking protein supplements tend to be a dull experience—maybe even unappetizing, depending on its taste. However, to help you regulate your protein intake without going the extra mile of budgeting and preparing meals, protein supplements could be your next best option. In fact, it’s growing in popularity now, with more athletes and fitness enthusiasts taking them.
There are countless protein supplements you can find in the market today. And so, it’s always best to go for reputable brands to ensure you get premium products. Also, know your fitness goal and preferences to find which type of protein powder aligns with your needs. For instance, if you’re after muscle growth, whey protein can be your option. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a vegan-friendly supplement, go for plant-based proteins such as soy.
- Oats
Whereas rice contains high amounts of carbohydrates, oats are high in protein since half a cup of serving already has 5.9 grams of protein. And given their nature, grains are also high in vitamins and minerals, with a type of soluble fiber called beta-glucan, which can help regulate cholesterol and sugar levels
For those who don’t know, this fiber lowers ‘bad’ cholesterol (or LDL), thus, regulating total cholesterol levels. That’s why Proper Good and other reputable diet sites recommend it’s the perfect hearty meal for breakfast and before bed.
- Beans
Costs less than a dollar for a can, and you can already have one of the best sources of proteins on the market: beans. Because despite being completely plant-based, beans are still high in protein and other nutrients, such as fiber. So, if you’re interested in going vegan, beans can serve as a staple in your diet. For one, there are numerous ways to cook it, from slow-cooking them in a casserole to simply having them in a salad.
- Eggs
It’s a no-brainer for eggs to be included on this list and in your diet. After all, even one egg already contains six grams of protein. Therefore, you can already imagine how many proteins a dozen eggs have. What’s more, you can also cook them differently each time. Sunny-side up if you want runny eggs, poached if you want them half-boiled, and hard-boiled if you want a snack.
- Tinned Fish
Fish are often much more expensive in the wet market since they’re sold fresh. And aside from denting your budget, it can also cause inconvenience having to shop regularly for fish to consume. Fortunately, an effective alternative is canned fish.
Whether it’s tuna, salmon, or sardines, what used to be extremely expensive can be more affordable now that they’re preserved in a can. Despite having preservatives, the vitamins and minerals you get from fish stay. Moreover, they can also be cooked plain or put in a sandwich as a snack. Although, if you’re eating canned tuna, always choose canned light tuna. They consist of small types of tuna that are low in mercury, unlike other types of tuna.
- Milk
Once you want to take it easy with the proteins, try something more mellow. After all, as healthy as protein-rich foods are, eating too much protein can still be harmful. Milk is an excellent choice if you want to spoil yourself a little since it can be used for many sweet beverages. Although, this is only applicable to those who can digest it. Otherwise, you might do more harm than good if you’re lactose intolerant, even if dairy products are rich in minerals aside from protein.
Takeaway
Maintaining a healthy diet rich in protein can be challenging, especially with key ingredients being expensive. Fortunately, there are cheaper alternatives you can explore to sustain your dietary needs. For instance, you can check out various supplements available in the market. You can also include oats, beans, eggs, canned fish, and milk in your meals.
