Angela Graham

Angela Graham

People often say it's expensive to eat healthily, but this is not always the case. In fact, fruit and vegetables are much cheaper than processed foods.

Investing in health often involves simply spending less. At R30 for a cheap bottle of wine and more than R20 for a pack of cigarettes, it boils down to a lot of expensive damage.

Nutritional therapist Heidi du Preez said although there was no perfect diet applicable to everyone, there was a simple, pleasant and more cost-effective way to eat better.

A natural wholefood diet should comprise fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, whole grains, legumes and filtered water. Lean organic meat, eggs and limited dairy should also be included.

"Although animal products should form part of the diet, plants must comprise the foundation of your meals. Vegetables should therefore be our main source of carbohydrates. However, pasta, bread, cereal and sweets are most likely the primary sources. They are all processed and lacking the natural nutrition of wholefoods," said Du Preez.