How to start eating healthy on a budget

[YojanaFitbit]

How to start eating healthy on a budget

If cost is coming between you and eating healthy, we are here to help with some awesome tips on how to eat healthy on a budget. 🍃

There are websites that can help you plan a food budget. For example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture supports Iowa State University’s Spend Smart-Eat Smart. You will find a lot of great recipes there.😉

Whether you cook for the whole family or live alone, you can find ways to make inexpensive meals more enjoyable and more beneficial to your health and wellness by making them more social experiences. Shop and cook with others: shopping with a friend or roommate can give you a chance to catch up without falling behind on your chores. Splitting the costs can make it cheaper for both of you and being in the company of others can also help you avoid overeating out of boredom or loneliness.

Plan on eating out less: Preparing a simple, healthy beef stew or roast chicken with vegetables, for example, can cost a fraction of that and leave you with leftovers as well.

Create your shopping list: Make a note of food and supplies you need. Check your cupboards, refrigerator, and freezer to see what you already have and make a note of any upcoming expiration dates.

Find cheap and healthy recipes: Once you have a handful of tried and tested meal ideas, you’ll find it easier to plan and shop for the week.

Make smart food choices: Choosing healthy food over processed meals doesn’t have to inflate your weekly budget.

Purchase generic/store brands: When you shop at conventional grocery stores, the store or generic brand will often be cheaper than the name brand for the same quality product.

Compare prices: Shop around for organic items and compare costs at the grocery store, the farmers’ market, online retailers, and food co-ops.

Search out Farmers’ Markets: Many places host weekly farmers’ markets where local farmers sell fresh food directly, often cheaper than the grocery store. Towards the end of the market, some venders sell remaining perishable items at a discount.

Don’t shop when you’re hungry: It’s much harder to stick to your grocery list and avoid impulse or unhealthy buys when you’re hungry. Eat a healthy snack before shopping.

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[YojanaFitbit]

@petrivn Thank you! Very nice of you.🤗 I hope you find other post very useful to you and your family. 

[alexthecat]

One thing that I find helpful is cook large batches over the weekend. Then, during the week, I have leftovers that I can reheat if I feel too tired to cook after work. That way I won't feel tempted to buy take-out or to fix something that is easy but less healthy. 

[YojanaFitbit]

You have a good point there @alexthecat. What do you think about this article? I think that there are a lot to learn in that particular area. 😉

[alexthecat]

I couldn't read that article. I got a message that I have to turn off my ad blocker in order to view it. I'm not willing to do that. 

[YojanaFitbit]

Uppss, sorry I didn't receive any warning. But this is the name of the article: USDA issues reminder about how to safely meal prep. Sorry again.

[BASILCHIVES]

I plan my menu before I shop and make a list from what I need.  If I have a recipe that uses 6 oz of fresh mushrooms I will use another one to use mushrooms as well so I can buy a 12oz package and use it all up.   I make enough at dinner to have several lunches with leftovers.   Buying ingredients like chicken and breadcrumbs vs buying premade breaded frozen chicken is 3 times cheaper and won't contain tons of preservatives and salt.   

[DavideFitbit]

Great article! I can definitely relate to the last one in particular, whenever I buy food when I'm hungry, it's always unhealthy options 😅

[BASILCHIVES]

Shopping and eating healthy is a matter of substitutions, change of habits and often a bit more work and time for prep.     High sugar junk cereals are usually more expensive than the plain, whole grain ones.    I heard a woman in the produce section complaining about the price of oranges being $5.00 for a large bag while she had two large bags of chips that were 2 for $6.00.    Buying fresh produce is healthier than processed but it will take a bit more time to prep. Same for breaded frozen chicken,  you can make your own for 1/3 of the price and it won't be full of salt and preservatives.    Ditch the processed, prepared foods and eat fresh.

[YojanaFitbit]

I agree with you @BASILCHIVES. I think that you can only change if you learn how to replace an unhealthy habit for a healthy one. Same things when you're shopping. You have a great point there. 🙂

[SKMDC]

I need to be more aware of my budget.  I do all of my shopping online and get delivery, which helps me from shopping while hungry, I make a cart throughout the week and just check out on Friday for a Saturday delivery. Since I'm not going through aisles I stick to just what I need. But my problem is that I can't get everything I want from just one store a lot of times, so I have to get delivery from two stores. But I always have my meals planned for the next week. 

[YojanaFitbit]

Welcome to the Community Forums @SKMDC! You're totally right, you've mentioned three of the most mentioned issues that people have when trying to stay on a budget. Have you checked local stores? 

[SKMDC]

Hi, thank you.  My delivery is from local stores, I just eat somethings I can't get at my normal store (Kroger or Walmart), I can only get them from Whole Foods or Sprouts - but WF and Sprouts do not carry, or are too expensive, for all the other items I need.  It is annoying, but for now at least it is unavoidable. 

[YojanaFitbit]

@SKMDC Ups, I looks like you've tried to find the right balance according your possibilities. I hope you can find a better option but you're doing a great job but as you said it is unavoidable for now. 😬

[Whyshoshoni]

@SKMDC, while I do most of my shopping in person (now that Covid is under control), I too do the Sprouts/Whole Foods and King Soopers two step. I get most of my produce (big organic selection) and some of my meat from Sprouts and sometimes WF, but other meats, cat and dog food, frozen food, household goods, specialty items, etc I get at Kings or sometimes at Costco, for items such as olive oil, coffee , etc. 

[DavideFitbit]

That's a great point, @BASILCHIVES! We often have complains about the price of healthier options or the time it takes to prepare them, but we don't hesitate to buy a bag of chips or cookies that may cost the same. 😅