Tips For Eating Healthy On A Budget

I know you have concerns about eating healthy on a budget. You can definitely prepare delicious meals that are nutritious without blowing the budget.

Try these tips and if you have some healthy eating on a budget tips of your own, you can pay it forward by clicking below to share your tips with others.

Start with a list
Nothing can derail your good intentions to save money faster than going to the market without a list. Especially if you've brought the kids with you. When they start picking items to go into the cart you have a ready-made excuse by letting them know that you are only buying the items on your list.

Reminder

Start with a list
Plan ahead
Use coupons
Use your crockpot
Try the 99cent store or ethnic markets
Be creative with leftovers
Buy in bulk
Buy generic brands
Consider vegetarian
Buy produce in season

Plan meals ahead of time
Planning healthy meals ahead of time gives you a tool to keep your shopping list within your budget. When you sit down to plan your meals, you can have the newspaper ads available so you know where to find the best deals. Seeing the food advertised can spark your ideas to add variety to your meals.

Clip coupons
Be careful of this one. Using coupons can be a real money saver but the majority of coupons are for processed foods and foods with lots of sugar and minimal nutrition. Remember the goal is healthy eating and there are some good coupons out there that are for healthy foods. Make sure you know how to read the labels on the foods you choose.

Use your crock pot
You can purchase cheaper cuts of meat if you plan to put them in the crock pot and you can have a home cooked meal on days when you are pressed for time instead of spending more and sacrificing nutrition by eating out.

Plan a second meal from one main dish purchase.

Plan sandwiches (on whole grain bread) or tacos from the leftover roast. How about a stir fry or fajitas? Put on your thinking cap or grab your cookbooks. The possibilities for eating healthy on a budget are endless.

Buy in bulk
Even if you don't go to the big box store (Nothing can undermine a budget like a trip to Costco. You've got to be strong.) you can buy in bulk. I was shocked when I went to Henry's and discovered I could buy oatmeal in bulk. I spent fifty-seven cents on the amount of oatmeal that costs $4.00 in the market.

Shop in ethnic markets
You'll be shocked at the prices for produce. I shopped for salad ingredients at my regular market and then at the local Latin store a couple of blocks from my house. The same onions, celery, carrots, peppers, and lettuce that cost me over $8.00 at the market cost less than $3.00 at the Latin market. These are significant savings. Cereals, grains, and legumes are also inexpensive at Asian markets as well.

Shop the 99 cents store
Believe it or not this is a great help for eating healthy on a budget. More and more of these stores are now carrying fresh produce and dairy. I buy the giant shitake mushrooms here and they are always fresh and delicious. Just be sure to store them properly so that they last.

The best raspberries I ever had in my life came from the 99 cent store. I wanted to cry when the season ended and they stopped carrying them.

Buy generic brands
Most generic brands are manufactured by the same companies that prepare the name brands. They simply have different labels.

Consider occasional vegetarian meals
Just two meatless meals a week can go a long way to help you with eating healthy on a budget. Beans make a great main dish anchor. Meatless chili, hearty soups, and whole wheat pasta dishes all make great main dishes that are delicious and economical.

Buy produce in season
And buy fruits and vegetables by the bag instead of individually. If you have a favorite that is expensive when not in season, check out the frozen foods. They can be just as nutritious as fresh and prevent waste because leftovers can be returned to the freezer instead of hiding in the fridge until they rot.

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