Five Tips to Eat Healthy During Tough Economic Times
Barry Bragg, Raleigh nutrition expert and personal trainer, offers five tips to help consumers eat healthy on a tight budget.

RALEIGH, NC, January 13, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- With food and energy costs on the rise and job losses mounting, many families are finding trips to the grocery store a bit more painful. Barry Bragg, nutrition expert, personal trainer and owner of Raleigh fitness and wellness center, Transformation, LLC (www.transformation-nc.com), is offering advice for families to offset the effects of rising costs and tighter budgets while still eating healthy.

"With such a turbulent economy, any way to save a little is helpful, says Bragg. "By making some minor changes, families can still eat nutritiously and cut expenses."

Bragg offers five money-saving tips to eat healthy:

1. Plan out your meals. Most people eat based solely on convenience. This carries a higher price tag and poorer nutrition. Simply buying more fresh foods and planning meals for the week will save a bundle and provide easy access to nutrients needed to live healthier.

2. Substitute healthier protein sources. Meat purchases are often significantly more expensive than protein substitutes like beans, eggs, nuts and seeds. Unlike meats, eggs are easier to digest, and beans provide lots of fiber and aid in the detoxification of the body. Any type of bean - pinto, red, kidney or black - is an inexpensive, nutritional choice that can be added to soups, salads, stir-fries, rice or pasta dishes. Nuts and seeds are a healthy snack the entire family can enjoy.

3. Minimize the purchase of prepared foods. Replace meals such as instant oatmeal and boxed rice meals with less-processed grains including brown rice, wild rice, barley and old-fashioned oatmeal. Most of these can be bought in bulk, improving savings.

4. Eat seasonally. Choosing seasonal fruits and vegetables can help consumers stretch their budgets while maintaining good nutrition. Apples and oranges are at their peak in the winter; buy them by the bag and save even more.

5. Drink healthier. Cutting out the morning latte, sodas and bottled fruit juices, will not only save money, but will lower sugar and sugar substitute levels. Try clean water flavored with a squeeze of lemon or lime. Herbal teas with a touch of honey are another good option.

About Barry Bragg:
Barry Bragg is president of Transformation, LLC, a Raleigh-based personal training, corporate wellness and nutrition counseling company. He has a B.S. in biological sciences and nutrition and holds a certification from the American Council on Exercise (ACE). He has expertise in kettlebells, weight loss, strength training and sports conditioning. Bragg can be reached at (919) 845-6596 or info@transformation-nc.com

About Transformation, LLC:
Raleigh-based Transformation, LLC is committed to enhancing the fitness, wellness and lifestyle of the individual. With locations in Falls River Town Center and inside the Brier Creek location of Anytime Fitness, Transformation offers personal attention that cannot be found in a regular gym with programs customized for individual needs. Transformation's environment is concentrated on education, never intimidation. For more information, call (919) 845-6596 or visit www.transformation-nc.com.

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