Can you Eat Healthy and Still Save Money? You betcha!

We all know that to maintain a healthy body you need to eat healthy – fruits, vegetables, and proteins. Eating healthy, however, is not always the least expensive way to eat, and it’s easy to be tempted into purchasing the less expensive, and not as healthy prepared foods. So, how can you eat healthfully without breaking the bank? Below are a few easy strategies that you can try.

1.       PLAN AHEAD– plan your meals ahead of time and use recipes with common ingredients, like chicken fajitas, chicken soup, and chicken Caesar salad all in the same week. 

2.       Shop with a grocery list and stick to it. 

a.       Buy beans, grains, and nuts in bulk to save money.

b.       Buy frozen veggies and fruit; they are just as healthy as fresh.

c.       Use coupons!

d.       Buy store brands especially for milk, canned tomatoes, and olive oil.

3.       Cook at home.

4.       Cook larger portions and use the leftovers.

5.       Don’t shop on an empty stomach or you may buy items not on your list.

6.       Buy whole foods, i.e., a block of cheese is cheaper than shredded cheese, and avoid expensive processed foods like cookies, protein bars, and prepackaged meals.

7.       Stock up on staples when they are on sale.

8.       Buy less expensive cuts of meat like chuck steak, whole chicken or ground meat or poultry.

9.       Replace meat with less expensive proteins such as beans, lentils, and tuna-fish.

10.   Buy produce that is in season, i.e., apples in the fall.

11.   Grow your own produce.

I hope these tips will help you save money at the grocery store. Don’t forget to eat plenty of fruits and veggies. Yours in health, Lisa