Eating Healthy On a Budget
Eating healthy on a budget can often be a challenge. Organic foods tend to cost more than the basic grocery version, and fresh produce in general are more expensive then packaged, processed foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables also go bad fast so buying in bulk is not always an option if you live alone.
How do you eat healthy without breaking the bank, and give your body the foods it needs without straining your finances? Here are some money saving tips for eating healthy on a budget!
Know WHAT to buy organic and what not to. Certain foods are important to buy organic to avoid pesticides and other harmful additives, but with other foods it is not as necessary.
Buy in bulk when possible. Meat can be frozen and kept for months so take advantage of this opportunity to buy larger quantities at once and save money. Invest in a Sam’s Club or Costco membership and buy packs of chicken breasts that you can package individually and freeze. Then each morning take one of the freezer and by the time you are ready to cook dinner it will be ready to go. Other healthy foods you can buy in bulk include protein bars for the morning, herbal or detox teas, no sugar added apple sauce, healthy whole grain cereal, brown rice, nuts and dried fruit. Buying in bulk when possible will save you money you can then use for the fresh produce you will have to buy weekly.
Apples are a healthy and affordable fruit at most grocery stores, as are bananas. Stock up on these for the week and then buy other more expensive fruits such as berries, cherries and melon more sparingly. Opt for the whole head of lettuce versus the more expensive pre-washed or pre bagged lettuce to save money. Kale is also a great lettuce option because it does not go bad as fast and can be eaten towards the end of the week when your other lettuce has started to turn brown.
For breakfast I like to eat a low fat yogurt with a teaspoon of chia seeds and a teaspoon of hemp seeds. One bag of hemp seeds and chia seeds will last a long time, and low fat yogurts are usually around $1 each. This breakfast has protein from the hemp seeds, calcium from the yogurt and minerals and vitamins from the chia seeds making it super healthy for under a dollar a day. Who said it was expensive to be healthy? I also buy frozen fruit in bulk and mix this with a yogurt or some coconut water and protein powder for a healthy snack or breakfast option as well.
Another tip to help stay on budget is to avoid eating out and cut out expensive sugary Starbucks drinks and vending machine snacks. Eliminate these unhealthy habits from your daily routine and you will have more money to spend on your fresh organic foods.
Make a list every week before you go to the grocery and buy exactly what you need for your meals each day. Planning ahead assures success and helps you stay in your budget and buy only the good foods you want to put in your body.
Follow these tips and you will stay healthy and have money left over for that new dress you’ve been wanting!