You may notice savings in your family budget by relying on local products and home-cooked foods (Pixels).
Despite the values of asceticism and the feeling of the poor that Ramadan instills in the souls of Muslims, some social customs and traditions associated with the holy month push us to increase spending on food, not to mention falling into some unhealthy practices.
But if you want to adhere to the spirit and values of the holy month, improve your family’s health, and reduce your expenses at the same time, then you should follow the following tips:
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Avoid sweets, processed foods, and carbonated drinks
The Medical Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health published the results of a national Australian trial in which researchers compared the cost of groceries for a family of four, for two weeks, if the family bought healthy foods and if their purchases included unhealthy options.
The healthy purchases account was about $167 less, and included the five main food group items: vegetables, fruits, legumes, lean meats, and vegetable protein sources, such as dairy, cheese, and nuts.
While the cost of the second basket increased due to the addition of candy, packaged and processed foods, and soft drinks.
Clean your kitchen from pathogens
Gradually stop buying the following products:
Canned foods:
The manufacturing process reduces the benefits of food, in addition to the concentration of bisphenol in more than 90% of canned foods, which is a substance that is produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastic, according to an American study from the University of Texas.
A British study linked this substance to heart disease, diabetes, and sexual problems in males.
Canned food may also contain Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which causes food poisoning, according to a World Health Organization report.
The manufacturing process reduces the benefits of canned food (Getty)
Vegetable oils and ghee:
Soybean oil, corn, cottonseed, sunflower, rice bran, sesame, and ghee contain a large percentage of “omega-6” fats that are linked to blood inflammation and the risk of heart disease, according to a warning from the Department of Preventive Cardiology at the Institute St. Luke's American Heart.
Oils can be dispensed with by following healthy cooking methods, such as: steaming, grilling, boiling, and oven casseroles.
Chicken stock cubes:
Chicken stock cubes contain glutamate, a flavoring used to improve taste, and salt represents 50-79% of their ingredients.
Monosodium glutamate can cause a condition known as “Chinese restaurant syndrome,” whose symptoms appear in the form of headaches, joint pressure, and neck stiffness.
Stock cubes also contain saturated fats, and even if they are in small amounts, saturated fats make eating stock cubes unhealthy.
So one cube can be replaced with a cup of natural chicken broth to enhance the flavor of your food
Spices and condiments:
Ground spices and seasonings are easy to adulterate, and you will not easily recognize this, due to the addition of artificial flavors and colors. To ensure the quality of herbs, you can buy them fresh, and dry them in the air at home. As for spices and seasonings, buy them whole, and grind them in small quantities at home, to ensure a strong smell and flavor, and the product Free of heavy metals.
Don't shop before breakfast
We have repeatedly heard the golden advice not to go to the grocery store when we are hungry, and this applies during the day of the month of Ramadan, because seeing food around you is the last thing you need while you are fasting, and you will be tempted by foods rich in calories, and buy more than your family needs.
Do not shop during the day in Ramadan because you may buy more than your family needs (Pixels)
Stick to a shopping list
We acquired the habit of frantic shopping before the month of Ramadan and the holidays from our mothers, until stores began to tempt us by displaying Ramadan products, to provide an emotionally enjoyable purchasing experience, followed by irrational decisions.
Therefore, the Harvard University report advises you to plan meals for the week, then write a grocery list before shopping, set a budget for basic needs, and then set a margin for healthy Ramadan products, such as nuts and a little dried fruit, to protect your family from the harms of added sugars and obesity.
Purchasing from different stores
It is easy to compare product prices between major stores, using purchasing applications, and this protects you from the trap of fake offers, because each outlet has different price advantages from the other, and the discount that cannot be missed in one store may be discovered to be false in another store.
Calculate the cost before trying to save
Homemade products such as yoghurt and bread are certainly foolproof, but they are not always a cheaper option, as cheap products are made from much cheaper ingredients.
Rest assured that the price of ready-made foods will inevitably be more expensive than home-made foods, provided that it uses good ingredients, such as the ones you choose for your family.
Therefore, your decision depends on how much you value your time, health, and money, and how much your family needs that food. Yogurt is indispensable in Ramadan suhoor, while fresh fruit is a healthier and cheaper option than dried.
It is best to buy a small amount of food every once in a while (Pixabay)
Plan before storing
Storing food products is a bad decision if you stock up on perishable foods, buy when prices are turbulent, or keep vegetables outside their harvest season.
You may lose money by storing food as soon as its price rises, for fear of a future increase in prices. It is better to buy a small quantity every once in a while, and monitor the market situation.
If you decide to store vegetables or legumes, buy them in season from wholesale markets and farmers’ outlets, and share the quantity with the family.
Boycott imported food
In the past months, we have become accustomed to buying local products, and you may have noticed saving money that was spent on worthless products.
Therefore, make sure to buy foods that your country is famous for producing, such as cottage cheese instead, yogurt and thyme sauce instead of canned sauce, and cauliflower instead of broccoli.
This economic theory also applies to stores, as you may find better prices and products in small stores than in major shopping chains.
Source: Al Jazeera + websites