So I realize that I suck. It has been over a month since I started my blog, and what have I contributed to it since I started? NOTHING. So I have a spare bit of time now to go over what has happened in the past...35 days or so.
I moved. Not as in "move to college", no, I moved out of my house, out of the nest, away from Mommy and Daddy moved. That was BIG.
Not only did I move, but I moved to the heart of Buckeye Country, a few miles north of OSU's campus! Talk about sweet. My two roommates are pretty awesome too. They are sisters and I like them a lot.
I also started both of my jobs. I work for a healthcare consulting firm full time, as well as serving part time at a swanky Italian restaurant (SO...MANY CARBS). The last two weeks I have worked an average of about 75 hours a week, which stops soon and I will only be working around 50 hours or so starting next week. So it's definitely been a struggle trying to balance my work, my life, working out, and eating healthy (don't even get me started on my wardrobe - a MAJOR work in progress).
And being a broke, recently moved graduate of an extremely expensive private liberal-arts school, I thought I was going to struggle with keeping my diet in check. I thought working so many hours as well as keeping my grocery bill under a certain number every week was going to be one of my biggest challenges. That's what so many people use as an excuse, "Oh, I can't eat healthy, it's too expensive"
That is a giant load of steaming, smelly, BULL CRAP. You just have to know where to buy your food. Walmart? Kroger? Nope. Aldi.
Seriously, Aldi! It is a wholesale retail type of grocery store. No bells and whistles, you have to bring your own bags (I bought 4 giant bags at TJ Maxx for .99 that work great for me), and it seems kind of sketch, but it really isn't. In fact, I got all of this food (top left)for about $50. It lasted me roughly about a week. I also bought some food from Arena Produce and Mosely's Meat Market. Both places are ok, but in terms of being cost-efficient, Aldi has been the way for me to go.
I moved. Not as in "move to college", no, I moved out of my house, out of the nest, away from Mommy and Daddy moved. That was BIG.
Not only did I move, but I moved to the heart of Buckeye Country, a few miles north of OSU's campus! Talk about sweet. My two roommates are pretty awesome too. They are sisters and I like them a lot.
I also started both of my jobs. I work for a healthcare consulting firm full time, as well as serving part time at a swanky Italian restaurant (SO...MANY CARBS). The last two weeks I have worked an average of about 75 hours a week, which stops soon and I will only be working around 50 hours or so starting next week. So it's definitely been a struggle trying to balance my work, my life, working out, and eating healthy (don't even get me started on my wardrobe - a MAJOR work in progress).
And being a broke, recently moved graduate of an extremely expensive private liberal-arts school, I thought I was going to struggle with keeping my diet in check. I thought working so many hours as well as keeping my grocery bill under a certain number every week was going to be one of my biggest challenges. That's what so many people use as an excuse, "Oh, I can't eat healthy, it's too expensive"
That is a giant load of steaming, smelly, BULL CRAP. You just have to know where to buy your food. Walmart? Kroger? Nope. Aldi.
Seriously, Aldi! It is a wholesale retail type of grocery store. No bells and whistles, you have to bring your own bags (I bought 4 giant bags at TJ Maxx for .99 that work great for me), and it seems kind of sketch, but it really isn't. In fact, I got all of this food (top left)for about $50. It lasted me roughly about a week. I also bought some food from Arena Produce and Mosely's Meat Market. Both places are ok, but in terms of being cost-efficient, Aldi has been the way for me to go.
I also went to the farmers market today. I bought bison for the first time ever! I don't have a real grill so I am either going to pan-fry the burgers or use a George Forman... that will be an interesting attempt at cooking for sure!
Because I have had more of a hand in what food I am buying, I have found that I am leaning out considerably. That oh-so elusive quad sweep is starting to appear at times! Hallelujah!
I really enjoyed visiting the Farmer's Market. The majority of the foods I found were cheaper to buy than what I have found at a Walmart or Kroger or Giant Eagle. I just wish there were more options, but I can't be too picky when it is late summer harvest season. There are plenty of squashes to go around, but not as much fruit :/
Oh well, I need more veggies in my diet anyway. The meat there though was hella expensive - but it's "organic" or whatever so I'm assuming you pay the price for healthier meat, plus you are supporting local farmers!
So overall, my summary of top grocery options while on a budget: Aldi, good, cheap. Farmer's Market, limited options, cheap. I would really like to check out my local Costco here soon (my roommmate has a membership and I believe I can use hers), and the Whole Foods and Trader Joes. These two options I know I will not be able to routinely choose because of the price, but splurging a little every once in awhile will be nice!
That's all I really have to say on the grocery list for now. My next update will be on maintaining a good balance between a healthy lifestyle, having a social life, and still working enough to get by. Peace out!
Because I have had more of a hand in what food I am buying, I have found that I am leaning out considerably. That oh-so elusive quad sweep is starting to appear at times! Hallelujah!
I really enjoyed visiting the Farmer's Market. The majority of the foods I found were cheaper to buy than what I have found at a Walmart or Kroger or Giant Eagle. I just wish there were more options, but I can't be too picky when it is late summer harvest season. There are plenty of squashes to go around, but not as much fruit :/
Oh well, I need more veggies in my diet anyway. The meat there though was hella expensive - but it's "organic" or whatever so I'm assuming you pay the price for healthier meat, plus you are supporting local farmers!
So overall, my summary of top grocery options while on a budget: Aldi, good, cheap. Farmer's Market, limited options, cheap. I would really like to check out my local Costco here soon (my roommmate has a membership and I believe I can use hers), and the Whole Foods and Trader Joes. These two options I know I will not be able to routinely choose because of the price, but splurging a little every once in awhile will be nice!
That's all I really have to say on the grocery list for now. My next update will be on maintaining a good balance between a healthy lifestyle, having a social life, and still working enough to get by. Peace out!