How To Eat Healthy on a Budget

Most people really do want to eat healthy, but feel like it’s cost prohibitive. Luckily, there are a few simple ways to maintain a healthy diet without putting strain on your wallet. Here’s how to keep your kitchen stocked with satisfying and nutritious foods:

1. Never set out without a plan.

One of the quickest ways to over-spend at the grocery store is by going there without any idea of what you want to buy. You’ll end up tossing anything and everything in your cart, only to find that you’ve added too many unhealthy snacks. Plus, you’ll spend a lot more than you intended to. Always make a list before heading to the market.

2. Stick with seasonal foods.

When fruits and veggies are in season, they’re less expensive than when they’re not in season. Plus, eating in-season foods means you’ll be supporting local farms and industry! When you shop local, you end up getting food with fewer preservatives and chemicals because it doesn’t have to go through an extensive shipping process. When in doubt, ask your local farm market which foods are in season.

3. Buy in bulk.

If you’re only feeding yourself, buying in bulk may feel like an unnecessary expense. However, if you buy non-perishable foods in bulk, you’ll end up spending less money in the long run. Even perishable foods can be bought in bulk so long as you have the storage space. Split up meat into portions and store it in your freezer. Cook a huge batch of soup on the weekend, divide it into servings and store the excess in the freezer.

4. Keep your kitchen full.

When your fridge and pantry are stocked with healthy foods, you’ll be less likely to eat meals out or grab unhealthy snacks when you’re on-the-go. The more healthy foods you have on hand, the less tempted you’ll be to reach for junk food. An easy way to always keep your food storage filled to the brim is to shop sales. When something healthy is on sale, like lentils or brown rice, scoop up a few extra packages.

When your refrigerator and pantry are stocked with delicious, healthy foods, you’ll have an easier time keeping your health on track. With some smart shopping tricks, you can load up your cart with plenty of nutritious food without breaking the bank.

What Do Experts Recommend ?

For starters, don’t be afraid to buy frozen vegetables in the freezer section of your local grocery store (or even canned vegetables).  Sure, I love fresh veggies, but since frozen veggies are picked and then frozen at peak ripeness (and thus most nutritionally dense), they are often a better value while being edible for months longer.”  Steve Lamb from Nerdfitness.com

“If you are trying to eat healthy, hopefully you’ve already cut out things like soda, canned drinks, and processed juices from your food budget. If not, do it now! This alone is a big step in improving overall health.” Katie from Wellnessmama.com

“When food is in season, it’s much cheaper and tastes better. It also encourages you to try fruits and vegetables you might not go for normally adding variety (and different types of nutrients!) to your diet. Stock up on your favorites and freeze them for months when they’re no longer readily available.” Dr Josh Draxe from Draxe.com

Cooking Tips:

  1. Cook Large Portions and Use Your Leftovers.
  2. Drink water instead of juice or sweetened drinks, it’s free and has no kilojoules.
  3. Embrace whole grains and beans – They are usually cheap.
  4. Buy and Cook a whole chicken  – This the quickest and cheapest way to cook and eat chicken
  5. Make your own desserts

Peter Paterson is a biohacker, a blogger aficionado, and a husband. I enjoy writing, reading, traveling, and testing diets.


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