Eating Healthy on a Budget

 

Eating healthy food can get a bit of a bad reputation. Often people think of it as exotic superfoods, expensive supplements, or shopping at expensive grocery stores. But it does not have to be this way! So even though we might realize that we should be eating healthy, we tend to think that we cannot afford it.

You can eat healthy on a budget if you have the right strategy and can get a little creative in the kitchen. So in this blog, I will give you some ideas of how to save some money and still eat healthily!

Cooking at Home & Proper Meal Planning: Having a meal plan is essential to saving money and eating well. First, you can make a plan for healthy meals rather than just rushing through something or grabbing fast food on the way home. It will also help you save money by only purchasing what you need, so you have less waste. Be realistic when you are creating your plan. If you usually eat two lunches at a restaurant a week, then plan for this! It is unrealistic to think that you can completely change your habits to eat every meal at home in one week. Set yourself goals around cooking at home and meal planning based on what your usual week actually looks like.

Have a grocery list & Stick to it: Once you plan your meals, you need a grocery list. Many studies show people spend less money on groceries when they are following their list. Then we need to make sure to follow that meal plan. With a bit of self-discipline, you can save money by only buying what you need. If you can, avoid walking down every aisle that may cause impulse purchases.

Eating out at a restaurant is a treat. You don’t have to think about what will be on the menu, and you don’t have to cook or clean! However, you are paying for the meal, the rent, the salaries of employees, and the mark-up! That is why eating at a restaurant, although you can order healthier or a side dish to cut down costs, it will still negatively affect your budget. Instead, get creative at home! Get some friends who love to cook (or wash dishes 😉) and make a delicious, healthy meal.

Buy Generic Brands: Companies spend a lot of time telling you how their product is different from others. Do tomatoes all taste different when they are added to a soup? Is one trail mix really better than the other? There are definitely swaps that can be made that might seem small in terms of budget but add up over time! Sometimes this is needed, but others, you probably don’t.

Buy Whole Foods: When we process certain foods, we gain the convince, but that often comes at a cost. A great example of this would be single-serve oatmeal packets. I mean, they are so convenient! But buying a bin of plain oats and adding your favorite toppings can definitely cut costs. Do what is right for you and pick and choose which foods you need to buy pre-packaged and what foods you can buy whole.

Replace meat with other proteins: Lean protein is essential in your diet, but that does not mean you need to break the bank a buy a pricey cut of meat. Especially now, when the price of most meat products has skyrocketed. A boiled egg is an excellent source of protein. So are beans! These items can be cheap and provide you with a significant amount of protein that you need in your diet.

Shop Seasonally: Fruits and vegetables are healthy, tasty, and great for weight loss. But they also can be expensive. However, they don’t have to be. Yes, we all have our favorites, and sticking to those can be spendy when they are not in season. So try to purchase produce that is in season. These products are often cheaper and fresher, which means they will have more nutrients in them too!

Buy frozen/canned fruits and veggies: If you can’t get these things in season, this is the next best thing! It is actually better to buy out-of-season produce frozen. When produce is picked, it begins to lose its nutritional value. When a product is frozen, the nutritional value is locked in. Additionally, buying canned or frozen produce can help limit your time spent on that item during meal prep! These are also very cost-saving food options!

Pack a lunch: grabbing lunch at work or around the corner at your favorite deli might be convenient, but it will negatively affect your wallet. Packing a lunch will help add up your savings quickly! Plus, when you pack your lunch, you will know precisely what is in it too.

Grown your own produce: depending on your living situation, growing your own herbs, veggies, and fruit can be so rewarding! You not only can get a better understanding of what it takes to grow food, but it is cheaper too! Fresh herbs can be expensive, but they spoil quickly as well. If you have a little area to grow your own herbs or other products you eat often, give it a try!

Stock your pantry with staples: Certain things are great to buy in bulk and are generally the cheapest shop. Pasta, rice, four, spices, stock, etc. If there is anything you use a lot and have the space to store it, you’ll generally save more money per pound. You will also be less likely to run out of those items too. Stocking your pantry can help keep you on track with your budget and your healthy eating.

Use your leftovers: leftovers are a great way to stay healthy and stay on a budget! I hear a lot of people who have had a past eversion from leftovers, but making the food yourself, storing it, and eating later is such a great way to use extra food, save on time, and save on money!

Take advantage of sales and coupons: There is no shame in this game! Sales are a great way to stock up on things you know you will need that don’t expire soon. I do this with frozen and canned foods quite often. Coupons are also a great way to get a few dollars off of items that you need. With a bit of organization, you cancan save money while still buying things you were going to buy anyway!. But remember, often there are sales on high-calorie snacks and other processed food. Don’t let the discount make you buy something you don’t actually need!

 

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