19 Clever Ways to Eat Healthy on a Tight Budget

FOOD

19 Clever Ways to Eat Healthy on a Tight Budget

Healthy food can be expensive. But there are many ways to save money and still eat whole, single-ingredient foods.

By Adda Bjarnadóttir / Authority Nutrition

October 30, 2015

Photo Credit: igor.stevanovic/Shutterstock.com

Healthy food can be expensive.

Therefore, it can be difficult to eat well when you’re on a tight budget.

However, there are many ways to save money and still eat whole, single-ingredient foods.

Here are 19 clever tips that can help you eat healthy on a budget.

1. Plan Your Meals

When it comes to saving money at the grocery store, planning is essential.

Use one day each week to plan your meals for the upcoming week. Then, make a grocery list of what you need.

Also, make sure to scan your fridge and cabinets to see what you already have. There are usually a lot of foods hidden in the back that can be used.

Only plan to purchase what you know you’re going to use, so that you don’t end up throwing away a lot of what you buy.

Bottom Line: Plan your meals for the week and make a grocery list. Only buy what you’re sure you will use, and check out what you already have in your cupboards first.

2. Stick To Your Grocery List

Once you’ve planned your meals and made your grocery list, stick to it.

It’s very easy to get sidetracked at the grocery store, which can lead to unintended, expensive purchases.

As a general rule, try to shop the perimeter of the store first. This will make you more likely to fill your cart with whole foods.

The middle of the store often contains the most processed and unhealthy foods. If you find yourself in these aisles, look to the top or bottom of the shelves rather than straight ahead. The most expensive items are usually placed at eye level.

Additionally, there are now many great grocery list apps to help you shop. Some of them can even save favorite items or share lists between multiple shoppers.

Using an app is also a great way to make sure you don’t forget your list at home.

Bottom Line: Stick to your grocery list when you’re shopping. Shop the perimeter of the store first, as this is where the whole foods are generally located.

3. Cook at Home

Cooking at home is much cheaper than eating out.

Make it a habit to cook at home, rather than eating out at the last minute.

Generally, you can feed an entire family of 4 for the same price as buying food for one or two people at a restaurant.

Some people find it best to cook for the entire week on the weekends, while others cook one meal at a time.

By cooking yourself, you also gain the benefit of knowing exactly what is in your food.

Bottom Line: Cooking at home is way less expensive than eating out. Some find it best to cook for the entire week on weekends, while others like to cook one meal at a time.

4. Cook Large Portions and Use Your Leftovers

Cooking large meals can save you both time and money.

Leftovers can be used for lunches, in other recipes or frozen in single-portion sizes to be enjoyed later on.

Leftovers usually make very good stews, stir-fries, salads and burritos. These types of food are especially great for people on a budget.

Bottom Line: Cook large meals from inexpensive ingredients, and use your leftovers during the following days.

5. Don’t Shop When You’re Hungry

If you go to the grocery store hungry, you are more likely to stray from your grocery list and buy something on impulse.

When you’re hungry, you often crave foods that aren’t good for you or your budget.

Try to grab a piece of fruit, yogurt or other healthy snack before you go to the store.

Bottom Line: Shopping while hungry can lead to cravings and impulsive buying. If you’re hungry, have a snack before you go grocery shopping.

6. 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.

Whole grains, like brown rice and oats, are also cheaper per serving than most processed cereals.

The less processed foods are also often sold in larger quantities, and yield more servings per package.

Bottom Line: Whole foods are often less expensive than their processed counterparts. You can also buy them in larger quantities.

7. Buy Generic Brands

Most stores offer generic brands for nearly any product.

All food manufacturers have to follow standards to provide safe food. The generic brands may be the same quality as other national brands, just less expensive.

However, read the ingredients lists to make sure that you’re not getting a product of lower quality than you’re used to.

Bottom Line: Most stores offer generic brands for many products. These are often of the same quality as more expensive national brands.

8. Stop Buying Junk Food

Cut out some of the junk food from your diet.

You would be surprised to see how much you may be paying for soda, crackers, cookies, prepackaged meals and processed foods.

Despite the fact that they offer very little nutrition and are packed with unhealthy ingredients, they are also very expensive.

By skipping the processed and unhealthy foods, you can spend more of your budget on higher quality, healthy foods.

Bottom Line: Stop buying junk food at the store. It is expensive and packed with unhealthy ingredients. It also offers little or no nutritional value.

9. Stock up on Sales

If you have favorite products or staples that you use frequently, you should stock up on them when they’re on sale.

If you’re sure that it’s something you’ll definitely use, you may as well stock up and save a little money.

Just make sure that it will last for a while and won’t expire in the meantime. It will not save you any money to buy something you’ll end up throwing out later on.

Bottom Line: Stock up on staples and favorite products when they’re on sale. Just make sure that they won’t go bad in the meantime.

10. Buy Cheaper Cuts of Meat

Fresh meat and fish can be quite expensive.

However, you can get many cuts of meat that cost way less.

These are great to use in burritos, casseroles, soups, stews and stir fries.

It may also be helpful to buy a large and inexpensive cut of meat to use in several different meals during the week.

Bottom Line: Less expensive cuts of meat are great to use in casseroles, soups, stews and burritos. These types of recipes usually make big meals and lots of leftovers.

11. Replace Meat with Other Proteins

Eating less meat may be a good way to save money.

Try having one or two days per week where you use other protein sources, such as legumes, hemp seeds, eggs or canned fish.

These are all very inexpensive, nutritious and easy to prepare. Most of them also have a long shelf life and are therefore less likely to spoil quickly.

Bottom Line: Try replacing meat once or twice a week with beans, legumes, eggs or canned fish. These are all cheap and nutritious sources of protein.

12. Shop For Produce That is in Season

Local produce that is in season is generally cheaper. It is also usually at its peak in both nutrients and flavor.

Produce that is not in season has often been transported halfway around the world to get to your store, which is not good for either the environment or your budget.

Also, buy produce by the bag if you can. That is usually a lot cheaper than buying by the piece.

If you buy more than you need, you can freeze the rest or incorporate it into next week’s meal plans.

Bottom Line: Produce that is in season is typically cheaper and more nutritious. If you buy too much, freeze the rest or incorporate it into future meal plans.

13. Buy Frozen Fruits and Vegetables

Fresh fruits, berries and vegetables are usually in season only a few months per year, and are sometimes rather expensive.

Quick-frozen produce is usually just as nutritious. It is cheaper, available all year and is usually sold in large bags.

Frozen produce is great to use when cooking, making smoothies, or as toppings for oatmeal or yogurt.

Furthermore, you gain the advantage of being able to take out only what you’re about to use. The rest will be kept safe from spoiling in the freezer.

Reducing produce waste is a great way to save money.

Bottom Line: Frozen fruits, berries and vegetables are usually just as nutritious as their fresh counterparts. They are available all year round and are often sold in large bags.

14. Buy in Bulk

Buying some foods in bulk quantities can save you a lot of money.

Grains, such as brown rice, millet, barley and oats, are all available in bulk.

They also keep for a long time, if you store them in airtight containers. This is also true for beans, lentils, some nuts and dried fruit.

These are all staple foods that are relatively inexpensive and can be used in a variety of healthy meals.

Bottom Line: Many foods are available in bulk for a way lower price. They keep for a long time in airtight containers, and can be used in a variety of healthy, inexpensive dishes.

15. Grow Your Own Produce

If you can, it is a great idea to grow your own produce.

Seeds are very cheap to buy. With some time and effort, you may be able to grow your own herbs, sprouts, tomatoes, onions and many more delicious crops.

Having a continuous supply at home saves you money at the store.

Home-grown produce may also taste a lot better than the store-bought varieties. You can also guarantee that it is picked at the peak of ripeness.

Bottom Line: With some time and effort, it is easy to grow your own produce, such as herbs, sprouts, tomatoes and onions.

16. Pack Your Lunch

Eating out is very expensive, especially if done regularly.

Packing your lunch, snacks, drinks and other meals is less expensive and way healthier than eating out.

If you have adapted to cooking large meals at home (see tip #4), you’ll always have a steady lunch to bring with you without any additional effort or cost.

It does require some planning, but it should save you a lot of money at the end of the month.

Bottom Line: Packing your own lunch reduces the expense of eating out. This can save you a lot of money in the long run.

17. Use Coupons Wisely

Coupons are a great way to save some money.

Just be sure to use them wisely. Most coupons are for unhealthy, processed foods.

Sort out the good quality deals from the junk, and stock up on cleaning products, healthy foods and other staples that you’ll definitely use.

By cutting the cost of products needed around the house, you can spend more of your budget on healthy foods.

Bottom Line: Coupons may be a great way to stock up on cleaning products and healthy foods. Just make sure to avoid the ones that involve processed and unhealthy foods.

18. Appreciate Less Expensive Foods

There are a lot of foods available that are both inexpensive and healthy.

By making some adjustments and using ingredients that you may not be used to, you can prepare many delicious and inexpensive meals.

Try increasing your use of eggs, beans, seeds, frozen fruits and vegetables, cheaper cuts of meat and whole grains.

These all taste great, are cheap (especially in bulk) and very nutritious.

Bottom Line: Incorporating more inexpensive yet healthy foods into your daily routine will help you save money and eat well.

19. Buy From Cheap, Online Retailers

There are several online retailers that offer healthy foods for up to 50% cheaper.

By registering, you get access to daily discounts and deals.

What’s more, the products are then delivered straight to your door.

Thrive Market is a very good online retailer that focuses exclusively on healthy and unprocessed foods.

Buying as much as you can from them can save you a lot of money.

Bottom Line: Online retailers sometimes offer healthy foods for up to 50% cheaper, and deliver them all the way to your doorstep.

Take-Home Message

You don’t have to break the bank to eat well.

In fact, there are many ways to eat healthy even on a very tight budget.

These include planning your meals, cooking at home, and making smart choices at the grocery store.

Also, keep in mind that junk food costs you twice.

Bad health comes with medical costs, drugs and even reduced work capacity.

Even if eating healthy was more expensive (which it doesn’t have to be), then it would still be worth it down the line.

You really can’t put a price on good health.

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Adda Bjarnadóttir is a writer for AuthorityNutrition.com, a site that helps people make informed decisions about their health based on the best scientific evidence available. She holds a Masters in Science in Human Nutrition. Follow Adda on Twitter @addabjarna.