Congratulations, you’ve just graduated and secured a job. You have to learn how to balance working 40+ hours a week with: washing clothes; cooking healthy meals; cleaning your house; taking showers; being active in your community; donating to charities; supporting local organizations; being ecologically responsible; recycling and reducing your personal footprint; and finding time to exercise and socialize, all while trying to meet the sparkling Prince Charming you were promised… and this is made all the more challenging because you are in.But cleaning house is no more going to be a challenging one, Neat Cleaning Brisbane experts can also help you out in cleaning…Shreveport, Louisiana.
About a third of what you make goes to rent and another third goes to paying back the astronomical student loans you’ve accumulated. You have various other bills and need to survive in a semi-post-apocalyptic-feeling downtown area that lacks necessary amenities with no money in your pocket. Don’t fret! Hopefully you got through college on more than good looks because you are going to have to be smart and budget both your limited funds and time.
I moved downtown because I figured you won’t need a car living in the big city, right? Now I live in a food desert, in a situation that most find undesirable. I feel like Dorothy in Oz most days, but ultimately it’s been a dream. I could talk about how amazing this place is and how much there is to do, but that is a different article – this one is about how to procure healthy food and feed yourself on a budget without the ability to leave the downtown area.
Downtown is a food desert, which means there is no viable, consistent option for fresh food within the area. We have: the Bus Depot and Up in Smoke stores, various bars, a couple restaurants, and only recently, the Family Dollar and Fuller Market (Allendale). Fuller has some fresh produce basics: onions, potatoes, peppers, apples, and bananas. The Family Dollar has dry goods, processed, frozen foods, eggs, and milk. My secrets to survival are: ordering groceries online, ordering healthy meals already prepared, and getting as much as I can from the Farmers’ Market when it’s in season.
I buy all my dry goods from Vitacost.com, which is basically an online Whole Foods and orders over $50 ship free – lifesaver. A typical order includes staples like organic oats, various seeds and nuts, organic peanut butter, coconut milk, quinoa, and lentils. The farmers’ markets are coming back for summer! Fuller Market has offered to order me whatever I need. Another good option is Delta Delivered, which will bring fresh, local produce to your door. I won’t lie, I’ve gone to Family Dollar for eggs and ice cream, but overall, I find it useless for anyone trying to live any semblance of a healthy lifestyle. There are some great, inexpensive meal delivery services here too. Check into Healthy Chef Meals, Prepared Nutrition, or GoGreenly. My dreams for future Downtown Shreveport are a juice bar and small health foods store–think Sunshine downtown. Also, a nice European-style corner store with wine, cheese, and a deli would be great–think Cuban with more meat. Wishes made to the universe. #Dreamport.