Food and Diet

Habits of going out to coffee shops, pubs and/or restaurants for coffee and a bagel, going for 'a beer with the boys' or eating out is always expensive. Some might argue that 'fast food' restaurants are inexpensive, which they are; albeit less nutritious.

High carbohidrates, chloresterol, fat, starches, sodium and sugars do not make for healthy eating. The American Cancer Society ... > estimates that one third of all cancer deaths might be diet-related (2002). ... The Cancer Cure Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to researching and providing information about alternative cancer treatments and therapies since 1976. Anyone on a poor diet, if combined with a sedentary lifestyle, will likely suffer from obesity and an early death.

Of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States, 4—including the top 3—are associated with diets that are too high in calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, or too low in fiber-containing foods.*

These conditions:

1. coronary heart disease

2. cancer

3. stroke, and

4. diabetes—

account for over half (53.5 percent) of the deaths occurring each year in the United States.

Source: Elizabeth Frazão, the author is an agricultural economist with the Food and Consumer Economics Division, Economic Research Service, USDA.

Most often it is best to shop for yourself and eat at home; it is simply less expensive to stay at home.

My budget was always stretched when I was eating out. I've found that preparing my meals at home allows me to:

Become more knowledge about dietary and food choices.

Become more knowledge about baking and cooking. This has also become an inexpensive 'hobby' for me. It is especially gratifying to be able to invite guests to diner, having prepared all of the meal myself. Another businessman I know travels the world, and as he is planning his trips he explains to the people that he is going to meet that he would like to cook diner for them at their home. He gives his customers a shopping list of the raw ingredients that they are to purchase, and a list of utensils that he will require. However, but does not tell them how is is going prepare the meal. All that he brings is a small suitcase of herbs and spices. He gets a great opportunity to build great bonds with his customers while they 'show off' their own homes, and whilst at the same time they all have a wonderful and inexpensive 'home-cooked' meal.

On occasion, I add decorative and edible flowers to the presentation.

Prepare meals ahead of time, in bulk, for freezing or refrigerator storage: my own 'frozen diners'.

Think about and carefully make a weekly 'Meal Plan', well ahead of time.

Do the shopping frugally and inexpensively to that 'Meal Plan'. I do allow some flexibility in shopping, to purchase the less expensive items that are 'in season', but in line with our tastes, and the nutritive value of the overall 'Meal Plan'.

Shopping has also become an enjoyable 'hobby' for me. I only frequent stores that are consistently lower in price, but do not stint on quality; and I go to the weekly 'farmers market' in this city to purchase fresh organic food. This is usually more expensive an organic – but not when things are 'in season'.

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