5 Budget-friendly Healthy Eating Tips
Nutritious food can be costly, and it can be tough to eat a balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables on a limited budget. Begin by determining how much money you can afford to spend on food. Once you’ve established a budget, look for store ads in the newspaper or grocery store websites to see what’s on sale. Plan some meals around the featured items and stock up on canned goods or staples on sale. Also, look for the expiration or use-by date. A product may be on sale because it is nearing the end of its useful life. Choose items with the farthest-off expiry dates. Use these five budget-friendly tips when you go shopping.
Plan your meals
Preparation is essential when it comes to saving money at the grocery store. Each week set aside one day to plan your meals for the following week. Make a list of everything you’ll need to prepare the meals. Examine your refrigerator and cabinets to see what you already have. You might have foods in the back that you can use, or you might want to plan your meals around foods that must be consumed before they expire. Only plan to buy what you know you’ll use. This way, you won’t end up wasting a lot of what you purchase but don’t use.
Look for grocery store offers
Don’t just throw grocery store leaflets into the bin. They can help you save money on meats, canned beans, canned fish, and fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. Most of these flyers can also be found online at a store’s website. Examine different leaflets to see which one offers the best deals. You should also check online or call local grocery stores to see if they price-match deals.
Buy seasonal produce
Check the food section of your local newspaper for the best deals for the week based on fresh produce in season. Seasonal foods are usually priced to sell. During the summer, corn on the cob can cost as little as 10 cents per ear, but it can cost up to ten times for the rest of the year. Also, visit your local farmers’ market to find great deals on local produce; the prices will not include shipping costs.
Opt for generic brands
You can find almost any product in most stores under a generic brand. To provide safe food, all food manufacturers must adhere to standards. Generic brands may be of the same quality as national brands but are less expensive. However, check the ingredients list to ensure that you are not purchasing a lower-quality product than the national brand or one with any unexpected added ingredients or allergens.
Purchase cheaper cuts of meat
Fresh meat and fish can be rather pricey. There are, however, many less expensive cuts of meat available. You can look for chuck steak, a top sirloin steak from pork, whole chicken, or ground meat or poultry. These are excellent in burritos, casseroles, soups, stews, and stir-fries. It may also be beneficial to purchase a large and inexpensive cut of meat to use in various meals throughout the week.
