Eating Healthy on a Budget

Eating healthy on a budget may often feel like an impossible challenge when you start walking through the grocery store. You look at the cost of healthy food, and start to wonder whether or not it’s really worth it. It is worth it, and YOU can eat healthy on a budget. You can fill your shopping cart with food that will fuel your mind and body without breaking the bank. The trick is to know how to do it.

Eating Healthy On A Budget – Yes, It is Possible!

Here are a couple tips to get you headed in the right direction.

1. Have vegetarian meals or days. Reducing the amount of meat you’re eating can have many over-all benefits. Not only is it less expensive it's also more environmentally friendly. The key is to make sure you're still getting good quality protein in your meals, preferably from sources such as organic, pasture raised  local eggs. As someone who considers meat to be an essential part of her diet, I'll never completely cut it out, even for a whole day, but I do like having at least one meal a day that is meat free.

2. Don’t buy pre-packaged food if you can avoid it. The healthiest nutrition is one that consists of natural, whole foods that have been acquired in their original state. That “fat free” or “low fat” packaged foods might be tempting, but they are packed full of artificial colors and flavors, not to mention being high in sodium and high in chemical compositions that you cannot even pronounce. You will be surprised by the budget difference when you pick up the individual ingredients for your favorite healthy treats instead of buying them ready-made for you. A good example is a container of hummus that costs around $4 can be made from a can of beans ($1) and a handful of other ingredients that you may already have sitting around your home. Ready-to-serve oatmeal packets cost twice as much per serving than if you buy a big canister of oatmeal and sweeten it with honey. Plus it is just flat out healthier for you.

3. Eat more fruits and vegetables. The high fiber content of most fruits and vegetables will actually help you feel full longer, which means that you’ll be less likely to come back and snack later. By adding fruits and vegetables to your nutrition, you not only decrease the amount that you’re eating, you also substantially increase your consumption of healthy nutrients that your body needs to function at its optimal level. If you invest in a local vegetable CSA, you are likely to end up saving lots of money in the long run, even if the up-front cost seems higher.

4. Explore alternative sources of protein. Try out nut butters and beans for healthier alternatives to eating large amounts of meat. It's also a good idea to find a vegetarian protein powder that you like the taste of to make smoothies with.

There are plenty of ways to stay within your budget and eat healthy. These are just a few strategies you can use to reduce your total at the grocery store.