Eating Healthy On A Budget 

The cost of food has increased for several reasons, including inflation, labor shortages, and pandemic-related supply chain issues, but you can still save on healthy food with a little on how and a few simple strategies without breaking the bank.

Whether you choose frozen, organic, or regular blueberries, you still get the same benefits. In other words, buying organic can be a healthy option, but it’s not the only way to eat whole, nutritious foods.

Before we discuss easy ways to save, let’s first consider what healthy grocery shopping looks like.

What is Healthy Eating?

Healthy eating can be defined as fueling your body with nourishing, whole foods, although no one size fits all 

approach to healthy eating, everyone can find a balanced diet that tastes good and feels good for them.

How Do I Eat On A Budget?

Plan Your Meal: Meal planning is a great way to save money at the store. You can pick two to four meals with diverse types of proteins, grains, and vegetables to cook at home each week. Then, decide on which day you will cook each meal. 

Meal planning not only makes it less likely that you’ll resort to pricey takeout food, but it was also  discovered that it may also help to cut down on food waste.

Stick to Your List: The most important aspect of eating healthy on a budget is showing up to the store with a plan in mind. Without a list of budgets, you might eventually find out that you have spent beyond your budget at the end of the day. 

To optimize your budget-friendly grocery list, follow these steps : 

• Decide which meals you want to cook for the week.

• Write out all the ingredients you need for each recipe.

• See which ingredients you can mix and match from your list. For example, if one recipe calls for a cup of spinach and another calls for a cup of baby kale, just choose one of the greens and use it for both meals.

• Condense your list further by seeing which ingredients you may already have or want to substitute. For instance, if a recipe calls for a grain base, such as brown rice, but you have a different grain in your pantry, opt for the one you have instead.

• Lastly, don’t go to the grocery store on an empty stomach. “You are more likely to pick up extra products when you’re hungry. Try planning your next grocery trip after a meal and see how your aisle strolls change when you are full and satisfied.”

Do I Need To Eat Organic Food?

Organic food typically costs more than conventional food, so it’s definitely possible to save some cash if you choose to limit or avoid organic foods. 

Though research tends to go back and forth on the health benefits of organic foods / nonorganic foods, it’s important to note that organic farming often uses insecticides and fungicides with “synthetic substances” that may still be harmful to the human body.  Additionally, conventional foods are no less nutritious than organic foods.

Buy In Bulk

Buying in bulk from a supermarket can help people save a significant chunk on grocery costs. Additionally, low-priced bulk items are an important factor for some families to be able to afford a healthy diet.

Buy Frozen Foods And Vegetables

Buying frozen produce is one of the easiest money-saving options. And it’s an option, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice nutrition. The overall vitamin content of frozen food is often the same and sometimes even higher than that of its fresh produce counterparts.

In some cases, nutrients like beta carotene may decrease in frozen foods, but there is no disadvantage to purchasing frozen produce, especially when it’s a more inexpensive option.

Healthy Eating on a Budget: Your Complete Guide

While eating healthy, nutritious meals on a budget does require a bit of planning and preparation, it does not have to break the bank. In fact, in some instances, such as when it comes to eating beans and other plant-based proteins instead of red meat, eating healthier may actually be better for your wallet than opting for a burger or steak.

 Additionally, the plethora of recipes as well as meal planning resources that exist on the internet can help even the most novice cook start a delicious, healthy, budget-friendly eating plan in no time.