Healthy Eating On a Budget
Eating well shouldn’t be limited to the rich and famous - has this ever happened to you? You go to the grocery store full of excitement and motivation about your new healthy lifestyle, only to nearly faint from the sticker price? It’s no secret that fresh, healthy foods can seem costly compared to their processed, unhealthy counterparts.
However, there are some strategies to help reduce both your waistline and your grocery bill:
- Shop the sales – This might seem obvious, but peruse the local stores’ weekly ads for deals. If chicken breasts are on sale, grab a few extras and freeze them.
- Shop online - Many stores offer online grocery shopping with delivery or pickup. Shopping online allows you to get just what you need and avoid the temptations lurking in the chip and cookie aisles.
- Buy in season - Generally, fresh produce in its peak season is cheaper. Grapefruits are cheaper in winter, tomatoes are cheaper in summer, etc. If not in season, buy frozen! Frozen produce is just as healthy and won’t spoil as quickly. Check out this website to see what’s in season.
- Include lower cost proteins - Meat tends to take up the largest proportion of the grocery bill. Include lower cost proteins such as eggs, tuna, canned chicken, beans, cottage cheese and tofu in your diet to save some cash.
- Buy in bulk - Non-perishables such as canned veggies and dry grains or beans are almost always cheaper when bought in bulk, plus they don’t spoil quickly.
- Don’t pay for convenience - Pre-chopped fresh veggie blends are convenient to just throw on the grill, but you’ll save considerably by purchasing them whole and chopping yourself. On the flip side, if paying for convenience prompts you to eat more veggies, sometimes it’s worth it.
- Use smaller plates - You can save money on groceries just by eating less. Sounds simple, but if you use a small plate you may find you can feel full on less food, which may leave enough for another meal.
- Plan your meals - Success with weight loss doesn’t come without a plan. Without a meal plan and a grocery list, you may find yourself wandering around the chip aisle and spending $200 on junk food that wouldn’t even constitute a meal. Plan for the week, and shop only for those items.
