When you hear the word “budget” and “eating healthy” in the same sentence, you probably picture cutting out all your favorite foods, eating nothing but carrot sticks for days on end, and maybe even locking yourself in your house so you can’t spend money on anything. It sounds more like a prison than a diet plan. But with the right tools, making healthy food affordable is easier than it seems. Here are some easy ways to eat right without breaking the bank.
Plan your meals and shop accordingly
The first step to eating healthy on a budget is to plan your meals. If you’re going to spend less on groceries, you’ll need to buy less. But how do you know how much you need to be buying if you don’t know what you’re wanting to make with those ingredients? When you’re planning meals, it’s important to use some basic math skills. Let’s say you have three people in your household, and you’d like to have leftovers for lunches throughout the week. If each person eats two cups of rice, a pound of chicken breasts, and a pound of broccoli, you’ll need a little more than four pounds of each. Divide that by the number of servings each item is supposed to serve and you’ll have your quantities.
Try store brands
You might have heard that all the top brands are better than the store brands, but that’s not always true. Many times, the store brands are the same as their more expensive counterparts. With that said, not all store brands are created equal. Some are better than others, and they can save you a ton of money. To find out which brands are the best, you’ll want to check out a site like product-discovery.com/top-10-store-brands. This site lists the top 10 store brands, along with the top 10 name-brand products, to help you decide what to buy. That way, you can get the best product for your money no matter the brand.
Replace meat with other proteins
First of all, this isn’t a suggestion that you eliminate meat from your diet. It’s a suggestion that you use less meat, which will save you a ton of cash. You can choose any type of meat, as long as you stay within your budget. For example, if ground beef is $4.50 a pound, but chicken is $3.50 a pound, go with the chicken. That way, you’re spending less money on less meat. As a rule of thumb, you should be eating about two servings of meat a day. One serving is about the size of your palm, so you can use the palm of your hand as a measuring tool to see how much you’re actually eating.
Buy in bulk
One of the best ways to save money, while eating healthy, is to buy in bulk. Not all foods are good candidates for buying in bulk, but many are. For example, if you can find a reliable supplier, you should look into getting grains and legumes in bulk. You can also look into getting spices, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit in bulk, as well as even some canned goods like beans. You can find many of these items at stores like Walmart, which often has bulk bins. Using the bulk bins is a great way to save money, because you can buy only as much as you need.
Look for sales and use coupons
You can often find a ton of great coupons for healthy foods like fresh produce and yogurt, but you have to be on the lookout for them. You can find a bunch of coupon sites online, such as RetailMeNot or CouponSherpa, which will keep you up to date on all the latest offers. You can also buy in-store coupons at places like Target, Walmart, and even your local grocery store. While they do cost money, they’re often a good deal and can save you a lot. Keep in mind that not all coupons are created equal. If you can find a coupon for an item that’s on sale, that’s a double win.
Don’t forget the staples
Staples like rice, beans, oats, and pasta are great for stretching your grocery budget. You can make all kinds of dishes with those ingredients, from rice bowls to spaghetti and even rice casseroles. You can often find great deals on staples at your regular grocery store. For example, during sales at many stores like Walmart, you can sometimes find rice as low as 25 cents per pound. If you can’t find a good deal on staples, you can always look online. Many online grocery stores offer lower prices on staples than your local grocery store.
Don’t be afraid of the dark green leafy stuff
This may come as a shock, but those leafy greens are actually really good for you, and they’re very affordable. You can find huge bags of spinach or other leafy greens for less than $3 at many stores. That’s enough to last you a great deal of time, and you can use them in a ton of different recipes. You can find recipes for everything from pasta to tacos (and everything in between) using greens, so don’t be afraid to try new recipes.
Get creative with your meals
You can save money, and eat healthy, by getting creative with your meals. Instead of going out to eat, try making your own meals at home. Not only will you save money, you’ll know exactly what’s going into your food. When preparing food, try using as many whole foods as possible, like fruits, vegetables, and grains. Many processed foods are not only expensive, they’re also filled with things you don’t need, like added sugars. Eating whole foods is a great way to eat healthy on a budget.
Try growing a garden
If you have the space, growing some of your own vegetables is a great way to eat healthy on a budget. You don’t have to start a massive vegetable garden; even a small herb garden can do the trick. Many herbs are very inexpensive, and they’re great for flavoring up your meals. Even growing a small plot of lettuce can help you eat healthier, as lettuce is an extremely affordable vegetable. Not only that, but gardening has been proven to be good for your mental health, so it’s a win-win.
Bottom line
Eating healthy doesn’t have to cost a fortune, but you do have to be smart about it. Look for sales on fresh produce and other healthy items, and try to buy things in bulk if possible. Don’t be afraid to try new recipes, and don’t be afraid of trying new ingredients. When in doubt, you can use herbs as a garnish, or use them in place of salt in some recipes. Growing your own vegetables is a great way to eat healthy and save money, provided you have the space.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings