The Tribune

Health coach Ethan Quant, of Elite Wellness Solutions, has succeeded in his weight loss journey and now wants to share his methods with the Bahamas in an effort to foster a culture of wellness and conquer the obesity epidemic.

I remember one of my common cries before successfully losing 110 pounds and transforming my body and my life, was that eating healthy was expensive. It felt like a common thought to believe that the only way that you could afford to eat healthy foods, was to be wealthy. I later found out that it was just an excuse and that you could eat healthy on a budget if you really wanted to. I also found out that by preparing my meals at home, I was able to have healthier food more often and I saved a ton of money….and I didn’t have to switch to Geico.

See, the trick was that you had to plan and be organised. You had to look for the deals or ‘specials of the week’ and plan accordingly. Another way to find healthier, inexpensive options is to look for what I call the ‘stuff in the back’. These are the items that are very close to their expiration date; products that you will have to cook right away. Now I would be lying if I said I didn’t get caught with some bad goods. However, my point is, if you are on a budget there are ways to keep your cost down. Here are some ways to keep costs down:

1 Before going into the store know what you’d like to eat for the week or at least for a couple of days. You can write out your grocery list based on what you are cooking, then pick a day to go to the grocery store. Sundays are cool if the store you go to gives you double stamps.

Pro tip: Save your stamps; it’s like free money! Most stores these days offer coupons, discounts and specials on certain items, so be aware of these in an effort of maximising your savings. While in the grocery store, look for additional specials and discounts that you may have missed before and grab them.

2 Buy in bulk if you can, as this saves you a ton of money. If you can’t afford to buy in bulk yourself, then choose a friend or several friends and pool your resources. This is how I shopped for years. You can get a list of the items your wholesaler sells, pick out the ones you and your friends eat, and split the cost. You would be surprised at how much cheaper chicken breast, ground turkey and salmon are when you do it this way.

3 At home, keep an organised pantry and fridge so your leftovers won’t get lost in the shuffle. I know what some of you are saying, “I ain’t eating the same thing over and over,” Well, you can freeze leftovers and take them out when you are feeling them again, or you can get creative and use them to make a new and exciting meal. Scraps and bones left over are excellent for making broth; let nothing go to waste.

I know it may be challenging to eat healthy, but it’s possible. You just have to plan for it. Make it an adventure and have fun bargain hunting for good healthy foods.

• If you need help navigating any part of your health, wellness and fitness process, you can contact Ethan Quant at ethan@elite-wellnesssolutions.com or on Instagram at @ethanquant.