Eating healthy doesn’t have to be expensive. When you have the right strategies in place you can make a lot of nutritious choices without breaking the bank.
Most people often assume that healthy eating is going to be costly but with careful planning and smart shopping you will be able to maintain a balanced diet and stay on budget. Take a look at how you can make healthy eating a lot more affordable and sustainable.
Plan Your Meals and Make a Grocery List
One of the best ways to save money while you’re trying to get healthy is to plan out all your meals in advance. When you start creating weekly plans it’s going to help to push you to buy only what you need.
This will reduce the food wastage and unnecessary spending in your home. Once you have a plan you should make a detailed grocery list and try to stick to it all the time. This is going to prevent impulse purchases and it’s going to ensure that you only buy foods that are going to align with your tastes.
In addition, planning your meals is going to allow you to create a balanced diet over time. This ensures that you get all the necessary nutrients without having to spend extra money on any unnecessary items.
When you’re planning out your meals you should always consider batch cooking them. When you start preparing your meals in large portions, and storing them in the freezer to use later it’s going to save you a lot of time as well as money.
Batch cooking is going to prevent the temptation to order takeout because you don’t want to cook. You should try making soups, as well as casserole because these can easily be reheated throughout the entire week.
Buy in Bulk
Purchasing your staple foods in bulk is going to save you a significant amount of money. Try to buy items such as oats, nuts, whole grains and rice in larger portions. You should look for bulk beans at your local grocery store and wholesale market so that you can get the best deals at all times.
When you start buying in bulk it’s going to save you money and reduce package waste at the same time. This makes it an eco-friendly choice.
If your storage space is a concern you should consider splitting bill purchases with your friends and your family. This way you will get all the cost saving benefits without having to worry that you’re going to have excess food just laying around.
Bulk buying will allow you to stock up your pantry with essentials so that you can make multiple meals with a lot of ease.
Choose Seasonal and Local Produce
Fresh fruits and vegetables can be very expensive. However, buying seasonal and locally grown produce is going to help cut a lot of cost. Seasonal grown produce is not only affordable but also fresher and more flavourful as well.
If you go to farmers markets at local grocery stores often you will get better prices or on in season fruits and vegetables compared to imported options that are out there. There are some supermarkets that also label their produce seasonally so take advantage of this.
Learn to cook with seasonal ingredients. It’s going to allow you to have a variety of meals while keeping your cost low. Additionally, frozen seasonal produce is one of the best alternatives out there when fresh options are just not available.
Opt for Frozen and Canned Foods
Frozen vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh ones and they come with a lower price tag. It’s a myth that the opposite is true.
They also have a longer shelf life which helps reduce food waste. Don’t be afraid to try out canned vegetables, fish and beans because these are usually budget friendly options. Just be sure that your products have no added salt or sugar so that you have a healthier alternative.
When you start using frozen or canned foods it will make meal prep a lot more convenient for you. You can also quickly thaw out your frozen vegetables and add them into a soup or a stir-fry.
This makes healthy eating easier when you don’t have a lot of time. It will also provides a great backup option for those days when fresh produce is running out or has run out all together.
Cook at Home More Often
Eating out can quickly begin to drain your pocket. This is true if you purchase from restaurants very frequently. It is also true even if you buy pre-packaged meals.
Cooking at home is going to allow you to control the ingredients and portion size that you have while you save money. When you start preparing meals in batches and storing leftovers for later it makes planning a lot more efficient for you.
Home cooking doesn’t have to be very complicated. You should try simple nutritious meals because these can be made with just a few ingredients. Try to learn a few basics cooking techniques such as stir frying, steaming and roasting. This way you can start preparing a variety of healthy and delicious meals without having to put in much effort. Cooking at home is going to allow you to experiment with a lot of different cuisine so you can add up much needed variety to your diet.
Incorporate Affordable Protein Sources
Protein is an essential part of any healthy diet but don’t be deceived into thinking it has to come from some very expensive sources. Eggs, lentils, tofu, beans and can tuna are all excellent and they are great protein options for you. If you follow a plant diet, protein powder suitable for vegans can be a cost-effective supplement to ensure you meet your protein needs.
Other affordable protein sources are going to be, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese and peanut butter. When you start mixing different protein sources throughout the week or you are going to keep a lot of variety in your meal.
This makes them interesting and ensures that you get a variety of nutrients that you need. You can also make protein rich snacks such as homemade energy bars with vegetables and get your protein in.
Avoid Processed and Packaged Foods
Processed and packaged foods are a lot more expensive and less nutritious than other types of whole foods. Items like chocolate bars, sugary cereals and ready-made meals often come with a lot of preservatives. They also have a lot of unhealthy ingredients as well. Sticking to whole foods like fresh produce, legumes and greens are going to benefit your health but also help you to save a lot of money as well.
Many processed foods are also designed to be very addictive so you need to be aware of that. When you start eliminating them from your diet you’re going to save a lot of money and improve your overall health and well-being at the same time. If you need convenience you should try preparing homemade versions of your favourite snacks using a lot of simple ingredients at the same time.
Grow Your Own Herbs and Vegetables
If you have space, growing your own herbs and vegetables can be a great way for you to cut costs and enhance your healthy eating. Even a small balcony and a windowsill garden can produce some wonderful fresh herbs for you.
You can grow parsley, cilantro and basil. All of this can enhance the flavour of your meals without being too expensive. If you have a larger outdoor space you should try growing staples such as zucchini, tomatoes and lettuce because this can significantly cut your grocery bill.
Gardening is also going to provide you with a sense of accomplishment as it ensures that your food is grown without any chemicals or pesticides. This will give you a lot of confidence as you consume it. Your homegrown products are also likely to be more flavourful than the ones that you buy at the store.
Take Advantage of Sales and Discounts
Many grocery stores are going to offer you weekly sales, discounts as well as coupons on the food items that you need. Keep and look out for those deals so you can have healthy staples stocked up. A loyalty program as well as a discount app can also help you to save a lot of money on your groceries.
Many grocery stores offer weekly sales, coupons and discounts on essential food items. Keep an eye out for deals on healthy staples and stock up when prices are lower. Loyalty programs and discount apps can also help you save money on groceries.
Having a lot of options when it comes to healthy eating on a budget is all about making sure that you make the right choices. Pay attention to all the deals and discounts that come your way because this is critical to ensuring that you get all the food that will give you the best nutrients at all times.
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