Eating healthy is important for everyone, but it can be especially tricky for those on healthy eating on a budget. The good news is that eating well doesn’t have to break the bank—with some smart shopping and cooking strategies in place. You can balance your wallet and your waistline. Here are my best tips for saving money while eating healthy:
Eat seasonal produce.
The produce aisle is a great place to start when you’re trying to save money on your grocery bill for healthy eating on a budget. When you buy produce that’s in season. You’ll have access to the freshest and best-tasting fruits and vegetables at prices that are often considerably lower than those of out-of-season produce. The same goes for other foods like dairy and meat products (if you eat them).
What does “in season” mean? It simply refers to when various crops are harvested during their growing cycle–for example. If it’s falling now in your part of the country and apples are being harvested from trees. However, then apples would be considered an “in-season” item because they’ve just been picked from trees recently or may still be available locally at farmers markets or grocery stores near where they were grown.
Buy in bulk when you can, especially when it comes to items like beans and rice.
Buy in bulk when you can, especially when it comes to items like beans and rice. You’ll save money by buying large quantities of these budget-friendly staples and using them for meals throughout the week.
If your grocery store has a bulk section, go there first! It’s one of the best places for buying healthy foods on a budget because most products come in larger packages at a lower cost per pound (or ounce). Plus, if you’re not sure how much of an item you’ll need for a recipe later down the line–like flour or nuts–you can just buy as much as feels right at the time without having to worry about storing leftovers or throwing away unused food later on down the road.
If your local grocer doesn’t offer a bulk section but does sell some items individually (like bagged salad greens), check out its freezer section instead: Many stores allow customers to purchase frozen veggies in bulk alongside their fresh counterparts at reduced prices per pound than what they’d pay if they bought each individual vegetable separately off shelves upstairs!
Don’t be afraid of frozen foods.
Frozen foods can be just as nutritious, if not more so, than fresh. Frozen fruits and vegetables are sometimes cheaper than their fresh counterparts. And it’s not just about the price: frozen foods are often better for your health and the environment too.
Frozen fruits and veggies gets pick at peak ripeness and flash-frozen immediately after harvesting. They have more nutrients than their fresh counterparts since they’re not left sitting around on shelves or trucks during transit time (usually days). You also won’t find any nasty pesticides on them as grow organically. To be sold at lower prices at supermarkets like Walmart or Target. You’ll get more bang for your buck when buying them frozen instead of fresh!
In addition, many people prefer cooking with frozen vegetables because they don’t require any prep work before being cooked (just throw ’em into whatever dish you’re making). Also makes them ideal for busy schedules where cooking isn’t always possible due an unexpected work event happening last minute etc…
Try to shop at local farmers’ markets first.
- Try to shop at local farmers’ markets first.
- Support your local farmers by going to their stands and talking with them about their work, how they grow food, and what’s in season.
- Eat seasonally. This will help you save money on food because produce costs less during certain times of year than others (for example, it’s cheaper now than during summer).
- Know where your food is coming from–and support those who care about providing healthy options for people like you!
Batch cook your meals to save time and money.
Batch cooking is a great way to save time and money for healthy eating on a budget. It’s okay if you don’t use all of the food you cook as long as it gets eaten within a reasonable amount of time (a few days at most).
You can batch-cook any meal that freezes well; here are some examples:
- Soup or stew
- Pasta sauce
- Baked sweet potatoes with toppings
Check the unit price on food items instead of just buying based on the price per pound.
Unit prices are usually displayed on the shelf tags of grocery stores and other retail outlets, although you may have to look for them. They’re designed to help shoppers compare prices of different brands of the same item by showing how much each brand costs per unit–usually per pound or ounce.
Choose fruit and veggies over processed foods whenever possible.
When it comes to eating healthy, there are two main things that you should be looking for: affordability and nutritional value. When it comes to affordability, fruits and vegetables are the way to go. While processed foods might seem like a good deal (they’re often cheaper than fresh produce). They don’t have nearly as many nutrients or vitamins as their natural counterparts- even when they’re organic!
Regarding nutritional value, fruits and vegetables tend to be far more nutritious than processed foods because they contain less salt, sugar or fat. Plus, they’re easier on your wallet!
Eating healthy is important, but it doesn’t have to be expensive.
It’s easy to think that healthy eating is expensive. Especially if you’re used to buying your food at the grocery store. But it doesn’t have to be! Here are some tips for saving money on healthy food:
- Buy in bulk. If you shop at stores like Costco or BJ’s Wholesale Club, you can buy large amounts of certain foods in bulk–and save a lot of money in the process! Buying things like whole grains and nuts in bulk can help keep costs down while also providing more variety (and better nutrition) than packaged products. Also, consider joining a local co-op; these organizations often offer discounted prices on organic produce as well as other items like bread, eggs and meat from local farms.
- Grow your own vegetables at home or join an urban garden share program where people tend community gardens together so everyone gets access to fresh vegetables without having all those plants taking up space inside their homes.
Also read: The Benefits of Healthy Meal Delivery Services: How to Make the Right Choice
Conclusion
So there you have it! We hope you’ve found these tips for healthy eating on a budget helpful. They help you save some money on your next grocery run. Remember, eating healthy doesn’t have to be expensive if you stick to the basics and plan ahead.
