More is not always better -- and when it comes to food, if you eat less you can probably afford to eat better. By "better" I mean higher-quality foods. Think about when you go to a nice restaurant: often the portion sizes are smaller than if you go to a less expensive restaurant, but the quality of the food makes up for it.
So if you're a type 2 diabetic, or just someone looking to cut back on your intake in order to lose some weight, take comfort in the fact that eating less may also mean eating better. Here are some examples:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables are more expensive than canned, but they have better texture and are more nutritionally dense. About half of a healthy meal volume should come from vegetables, and fruits are packed with antioxidants and fiber. So, fresh produce is where you should splurge when grocery shopping. It's not that there aren't deals out there on fresh produce -- you just need to keep your eyes open for them. You can shop for produce that is in season to cut some of the expense, or hit up local farms and produce stands in the warmer months. In the winter I buy produce at a more expensive grocery store because I've identified the product to be better during the off-season -- and it's worth it to me to buy four crisp and juicy honey crisp apples over a bag of ten old, mushy, mealy ones from my regular grocery store.
- A three-ounce portion of meat is about the size of a deck of cards, and this is an appropriate portion size for a healthy meal. If you're used to buying larger cuts of meat, go smaller in portion but splurge on the fillet -- the smaller portion size should offset the cost of the better cut of meat.
- Would you rather have two slices of stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth white bread, or a slice of a rustic and aromatic whole wheat bread baked fresh today in your grocery store's bakery? It may cost $3 instead of $2 for a loaf, but the quality will make up for it.
