Healthy eating on a budget

There is a misconception that eating healthily is always expensive. While some healthy foods can cost more, there are also affordable options available.

If you’re trying to eat a more nutritious diet, but you’re also shopping on a budget, there are plenty of steps that you can take to minimize your expenses. It’s all about having a plan when you head to the grocery store, together with some meal preparation tips.

Below, we’ve listed five top tips for buying healthy foods when you’re shopping and eating on a budget.

Create a shopping list and stick to it

One of the main reasons why eating healthily can seem expensive is because it’s easy to buy lots of different ingredients to make a single healthy dish. You can help cut your expenses by planning your meals for the week ahead to cook meals that use similar ingredients.

Once you’ve decided which meals you’re going to cook, you can create a shopping list that has everything you need to eat healthily. When you arrive at the grocery store, try to stick to the list and avoid making impulse purchases that will increase your shopping bill.

Shop the sales

Grocery stores often have weekly specials. These are promoted in store, in flyers or online. If possible, try to take advantage of sales but be mindful of whether or not you will use the item in question, or in the case of fresh produce, use it in time.

Shop for seasonal produce

Although many of us are accustomed to produce options being available year-round, buying out of season can cost more.  Not only will you save money, but in-season produce can be fresher and tastier, too.

Buy your food in bulk

Buying in bulk tends to be less expensive than buying things individually.  There are a few times, however, when this isn’t a cost-savings strategy.  Avoid doing this for fresh ingredients as they tend to have a much shorter date. Remember to find the balance between cost savings and only buying what you will actually use.

Go for plant-based protein

Often, plant-based protein is less expensive than meat-based protein. Some of the best plant-based sources of protein include tofu, tempeh, beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Try incorporating these proteins into more of your weekly meals and experiment with new, tasty dishes.