So we don’t seem to be getting through one crisis before another begins – Covid-19 and now Monkey Pox on the viral front and war in Ukraine. Now war in Europe. (and let no one pretend this isn’t anything but an old fashioned land grab and in no way a ‘Special Military Operation’ – That Russia is going in to “save the Russian speaking population” is no different from the Canadians going over the BC:Washington border with all guns blazing and flattening Seattle!) 

Ukraine may be the largest country no one has paid much heed of since the second world war and then the break up of the USSR but it is was until recently major exporter of commodities that much of the rest of the world has become dependant on. Without these exports the economy suffers and that’s the people of Ukraine as well as their partners who are now not receiving cereal grains and oils etc. for human and animal consumption which together with Russia cutting off oil and gas supplies and some countries boycotting what they are willing to export has lead to what is being described as a ‘Cost of Living Crisis’ with not only electricity and gas price hikes like never before but food shortages leading to dramatic increases in the cost of a basket of food for the family etc. OK That’s enough politics – Let’s move on but before we do consider this https://www.unicef.org/ukraine/en

So planning your meals has become a bit trickier with costs spiralling but this may be an opportunity for some of us to change the way we eat not only to save money but also for health benefits too. Planning a weeks worth of meals at home (NOT in the supermarket where we all get tempted by things we don’t need but find ourselves suddenly wanting! – OK there are some special offers but take care!!) can help us budget not only our purse but our health as well as time. That’s time preparing as well as time on the stove and oven that now costs so much more that food banks are reporting that clients are requesting food to be eating cold and declining fresh vegetables that need cooking and thus the expense of gas or electricity – This is now a first world problem, who would ever have thought it? 

If you plan your meals throughout the week, buy and prepare in bulk you will be less likely to stop following your plan which may now include healthier eating habits. 

I could go on but Healthline has done a fine job so visit 19 ways to eat healthy on a budget where number one is ‘Plan Your Meals’ !!