Often, the two biggest concerns most people have with their diets are cost and calories. People want to know they are eating healthily while still staying below budget. This can be difficult sometimes as most healthy foods, like good meat and fruit, can be expensive. For your information, I have included a report on recipes, awesome grocery stores, and tips on saving money and preserving food.

Many classmates are not into having breakfast as time is often cut short in the mornings. Eating breakfast in the morning can cut down on hunger pangs and feeling tired later on in the day. Some suggestions—

Avocado Toast

1 avocado ($1.99) at Grow The Produce Shop

1 piece of toast

Lemon juice and pepper as needed

Avocadoes are loaded with potassium and fiber and are a great source of a healthy fat to keep you energized during the day.

Egg Whites on Toast

Having a full egg everyday for breakfast can cause cholesterol problems (from the yolk), so opt for an egg white for protein and a piece of toast for some carbohydrates in the morning to keep you fueled for your day.

For lunch, packing a light salad or sandwich to bring to school is a lot easier than you think. Follow the recipes below and you’ll be good to go.

Turkey Sandwiches

Martha Stewart has a simple recipe on how to make the best turkey sandwich. From Grow The Produce Shop, a 7 oz. pack of Applegate Farms Antibiotic Free Roasted Chicken Breast is $5.99.

http://www.marthastewart.com/317729/turkey-caesar-sandwich

Caesar Salad (from The Food Network)

Purée minced garlic and anchovies, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and 1 egg yolk; with machine running, slowly add 1/4 cup olive oil. Toss with romaine; top with Parmesan and croutons. For 49 other great salad ideas, click the link below.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/articles/50-simple-salads.html?oc=linkback

Sometimes people also have an issue with snacking. It is best to stay away from carbohydrates and stick to fruits when trying to find healthy snacks. Some ideas—

 Smoothies

Here is a recipe for your average Strawberry Banana smoothie—1 banana,

1 cup strawberries, 1/2 cup each vanilla yogurt and milk, 2 teaspoons honey, a pinch of cinnamon and 1 cup ice. If you’re looking to get a little more creative in your smoothies, either click the link below for awesome recipes, or add in your own favorite ingredients!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/articles/50-smoothies.html?oc=linkback

Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries

A personal favorite. Mix together your favorites for a light and healthy snack. The only problem that comes with this kind of snack is the expense. According to Whole Foods, here are the prices: $5 for a pack of Driscoll’s Organic Raspberries,

A Twist on Apples and Peanut Butter

At first, I was just going to suggest the plain old classic of pairing apples and peanut butter. Then I stumbled upon this recipe from Whole Foods, which incorporates granola and chocolate chips into the equation. Yum.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/apple-sandwiches-granola-and-peanut-butter

Cheese and Crackers

If you are craving carbs, cheese and crackers is the perfect snack. Brie can be purchased at $6, according to Amazon fresh, and it goes well with crackers or even pretzels. This way, you can get in some calcium, vitamin B, and protein along with carbohydrates.

I hope you come away with some new breakfast, lunch and snack ideas to change up your average meals. Happy eating!