5 Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget

 Eating Healthy on a Budget is not at all impossible.

And No, you do not need to eat salad all week to eat healthy on a budget.

Nor do you have to cut out eating any of your favorite things.

Here are 5 Tips for eating healthy on a budget that you can make use of the next time you go shopping for food.

1

Decide on your meals for the week

Plan, Plan, Plan!

This is the only way to make sure that you are shopping within your budget.

Sure, selecting a menu does not guarantee the price of the ingredients but if you plan on spending $10, you will know that you need to find a recipe that only requires the use of 3 to 4 main ingredients.

So, start off your meals for the week with knowledge of at least your main meal for the day. With the leftover food and ingredients, you already have in your pantry, you can come up with ideas for the remaining meals of the day. 

2

Plan New Recipes only once or twice a month

When working with a budget, too many new recipes too often can lead to a lot of waste. Something I am hoping you are trying to avoid.

New recipes can often require lots of foreign ingredients that just sit around after you are done making the recipe. If you did not like the food, chances are you would not make it again and if you did like it, you probably still would not make it as often as you imagine.

If you wish to try out new recipes more often, try to find some that calls for ingredients you use often or that can be used in a few other recipes that month.

3

Make a list

Once you have your meals planned out, the next thing to do is to start putting together your shopping list.

The meal plan you have in place will help you to stay on track with buying only what you will need to use for the week. I cannot emphasize how many times I went to the supermarket and pick out ingredients only because I like them and not because I planned on using it for the week. It sits in my fridge like an ornament and the next you know; I am dumping it in my garbage.

Those who enter a supermarket without a list are more likely to spend twice the amount of money they would have if they had a list. The same goes for those who have a list but did not follow it.

Having a plan and a list helps me to select foods that are quick and easy to make while also helping me to control my spending.

4

Checking it twice

Yes! I am in the Christmas spirit.

So, we are making a list and then checking it twice 😊

Make sure that before you leave your home to go grocery shopping, you cross off ingredients from your list that you already have at home.

Do not assume either.

Take a minute to look at your fridge and your pantry, then cross off what you have.

There have been so many times when I assumed that I have or do not have something, and it turned out to be the opposite.

Now I only have one day available to go grocery shopping for the week so when this happens, I feel frustrated. 

5

Buy store brand items

When it comes to basic ingredients, take home the store-branded items, also called generic items. Most times, people tend to pick up brands with names that are familiar to them. But this is usually because they are advertised more and not necessarily because they are of better quality.

Most times, when buying popular brands, a good percentage of your money is going towards the label and packaging.

If you are buying a precooked item or a special seasoning, yes, it is okay to go for your favorite brand names.

But, when it comes down to basic ingredients such as rice, beans, sugar, etc., pick up the store brand or buy loose items that can be bought in bulk and store in your own reusable packaging at home.

Pin me ↓