There’s a common misconception that eating healthy is expensive. We get it; exclusive food blogs and luxury health food stores have done their part to fuel the myth. The good news is that you don’t need overpriced superfood powders and a basket load of organic meats and vegetables to make your healthy food goals a reality.
We’ll teach you how to make the best nutritional choices for you without breaking the bank. Yes, even considering inflation.
Buy in-season
One helpful tip when buying produce is keeping a chart of your favorite or most commonly eaten fruits and vegetables and marking times of the year when they are in season. The reason why this makes produce more cost-effective is because of the supply and demand and the supply chain issues that we’re experiencing today.
When blueberries are in season in your area, it costs much less to transport them rather than having them shipped from across the country. Also, the supply is likely to meet the demand or even exceed it. This is when you’ll see the best sales for that particular item.
For example, it’s summer, and in Florida, mangoes and avocados are in season. The mango and avocado bin are much more likely to have a buy one get one deal than, say, peaches and apples.
While exclusively buying in-season produce certainly helps save money, it can be tough to follow for everything. Our solution here is just to keep an eye on the prices and buy what you need only when you know you’ll use it. This avoids the dreaded cleaning of a mushy fridge drawer later.
Fill up your pantry
There is no shortage of ridiculously inexpensive and healthy pantry staples to choose from. From dried beans to canned vegetables (minimal ingredients), the options are endless. A bag of lentils will only cost you $2 or so, and you can have lunch every day for a week by making a simple lentil soup to go with that in–season salad.
Old-fashioned rolled oats are another cost-effective pantry staple that you can do so much with! They’ll cost anywhere from $2-$10 depending on the brand and size that you buy. Grind them up in a coffee grinder to make flour and use it instead of white flour in your Sunday morning pancakes. Prepare overnight oats for a grab-n-go breakfast option. Make oat and peanut butter bars for an easy weekday snack on the go.
Keep an eye on your local grocery store’s coupons and deals because when the price is right, you can fill up your cart and always have a healthy meal option if you forget to shop for one week.
Start meal prepping
There is no faster way to cut back on your spending than to start meal prepping. Dedicate two evenings per week to playing in the kitchen, trying new healthy recipes and flavor combinations. Prepare big batches of sweet potatoes, soups, easy to reheat items, and stack them in your fridge organized by the day.
A big part of meal prep is learning your way around the kitchen. We know that there are people out there who have never turned the stove on, or prefer to use their ovens as storage. If you’re one of those people, it’s time to dust off the old oven mitts and start exploring.
If you have never meal prepped before, check out this blog post for a step-by-step guide and a sample calendar for the week.
It’s easier than you think
Eating healthy on a budget is much easier than you think it is. As long as you keep tabs on your seasonal produce, load up your pantry with some essential staples, meal prep, and check out your local deals, you’ll be eating healthy on a budget in no time.
Want to learn more about healthy habits and how food affects our bodies? Check out our blog for more cool articles just like this one.
