Eating Healthy on a Budget
When you have a tight budget, meal planning and grocery shopping has its challenges. And when you’re dedicated to eating healthy, it’s even trickier.
Here are some tips to help you when meal planning on a budget:
Buy fresh produce when it’s in season and freeze it. Different foods can be frozen for up to several months. Research how long and store it in a deep freezer.
Look for sales, stock up and plan meals accordingly.
Try less expensive cuts of meat. You can still enjoy meat when you’re on a tight budget. Look for less expensive cuts of meat, like chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts, and try different cooking methods, like the slow cooker, to make tougher cuts of meat tender and juicy. My Crock-pot does an amazing job of taking cheap cuts of meat and making them tender and juicy.
Embrace whole grains and beans.
Plan and prep meals ahead.
Broaden your culinary horizons. Get creative with your meals and start incorporating more ethnic ingredients that may be found at local markets at a less expensive price.
Keep an organized fridge and pantry. Leftovers are always great, but it totally defeats the purpose if they get lost in the back of the fridge.
Stick to Your Grocery List. Once you've planned your meals and made your grocery list, stick to it.
Cook at Home. Cooking at home is much cheaper than eating out.
Buy Whole Foods. Some foods are way cheaper in less processed form. For example, a block of cheese is cheaper than shredded cheese and canned beans are cheaper than refried ones. Cooking beans from scratch in a bag is an even cheaper option.
Replace Meat With Other Proteins. Eating less meat may be a good way to save money.
Buy Frozen Fruits and Vegetables. Sometimes it may be difficult to buy in bulk, but when you find a good deal on frozen veggies and fruit – stock up!
Use Coupons Wisely. I used to be an extreme couponer and before getting into clipping coupons, I always assumed the best coupons were for highly processed foods, but that isn’t always the truth. Do your research.
Consider store brands—they usually cost less.
Make your own dips, sauces, salad dressings, soups, and spreads for wraps and sandwiches.