Eating Healthy on a Budget
Sometimes it’s hard to eat healthy when you’re on a budget. It doesn’t help that healthy ingredients tend to be more expensive than junk food, especially if it’s organic.
Here are some tips to help you stick to your budget AND eat a nutritious meal everyday.
1. Effective Meal Planning
Pick a day, like Sunday evenings, when you plan your meals for the week in advance. For example, you can plan to eat a spinach omelet on Monday morning and chicken and broccoli for dinner on Tuesday. This is a good way to help you know what food prep needs to be done and it keeps you from impulse buying the wrong food at the grocery store.
2. Visit Your Local Farmers Market
Most times, buying produce from a farmers market saves you more money than buying from a grocery store. Another tip is to visit at the end of the day, as you are more likely to get deals when the farmers are about to close shop. For our US readers, click here for a farmers market directory.
3. Substitute The Beef For Chicken
Chicken is generally cheaper than beef and also healthier! On average, chicken contains fewer calories per ounce and less fat than beef. Absolutely love your red meat? Consider purchasing the specific cut of meat that is on sale.
4. In-Season Only
Try to buy fruits and vegetables when they are in season only. For example, watermelon and raspberries are not in season in January so if you buy them then you’ll be paying more than you would if you waited till July. Train yourself to only eat food when it's in season. This is a great guide you can check to see what's in season and what's not.
5. Stick To Tap Water
Leave all the fancy bottled water behind and buy a Brita pitcher to filter your tap water. They don’t cost much and are a great way to save money.
6. Grow Your Own Food
Have a green thumb? Then just go ahead and grow your own food. This is a great way to ensure that your vegetables are chemical free. You can grow your own tomatoes or raise your own chickens for eggs. This is a helpful resource to get you started.
What are some things you have done to eat healthy and save money?
