15 Tips to Eat Healthy Without Blowing Your Budget

Are you looking for a healthier life, but think you can’t afford it? It seems like everyone wants to eat healthy, get in better shape, and save money. It is a myth that it is expensive to eat healthier. There are many options that are affordable on your grocery store shelves. Here are tips to eat healthy without blowing your budget. 

1. 1. 1. Research produce delivery near you– Imperfect foods is a great delivery option and can be very affordable. They can even deliver meats, fish, and other grocery items. Click here to get $10 off your first order. 
      2. Try growing some of your own food- If you have the time and the space, start a garden. You can grow things like tomatoes, onions, and even potatoes and carrots. Now, if you live in an apartment or don’t have the space to grow a garden outside, you can grow a window box garden. You can still grow many good vegetables and cooking herbs inside your home.
      3. Avoid high priced markets– Some grocery stores can be more expensive. To help budget make sure you are shopping at stores that are more affordable. 
      4. Watch how you prepare meals- By changing some of your cooking and baking habits, you can eliminate some unnecessary expenses at the grocery store. For example: frying foods in oil can get costly due to the amount of oil you need to use. Cutting out fried foods will be healthier for you and also save you a little money. Cutting down on the amount of butter/margarine you use can do the same as well. 
          

         
         

      5. Avoid diet traps– Do not get sucked into the latest and greatest celebrity diet meal plan. Buying the meals, snacks, drinks and supplement bars really adds up quick. People who want to eat healthy get taken in by these diet plans, one after the other. All you are really doing is putting money into their pockets for foods you can easily, and cheaply make at home. 
      6. Shop smart- Look for sales on the items you eat the most. Look for coupons available online. There are many websites that can help you identify the best deals and coupons each week.
      7. Only buy what you can use within a week- Buying too much of these items can result in you throwing your money in garbage when you have to toss out what went bad, especially with fresh fruits and vegetables.
      8. Limit junk food- Obviously, if you are trying to eat healthier foods, you do not want to waste money on temptations like cookies and ice cream. These are not exactly items high on the healthy food list. Try alternative snacks like fresh or dried fruit to cure your next sweet tooth and this can also help you save money.
      9. Smaller portions- You do not have to starve yourself, just cut down on the amount you are eating per meal. Eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to choke down twigs and seaweed. Eat more fruits and vegetables and smaller servings of lean proteins, for example.
      10. Buy in bulk- This is a smart way to purchase dry goods like beans, rice, oatmeal and pastas. These items will stay fresh, if stored in airtight containers, for a long time. Buying these kinds of items in bulk packages will also save you money by not having to replace them as often.
      11. Do not eat out- It does not matter if you purchase the healthiest things on the menu, going out to eat is not good for your wallet. You may think you are saving money by not having to stock up your kitchen, but you are only fooling yourself. For example: say you eat out twice a day, five days a week. On average you spend ten dollars per meal. That adds up to one hundred dollars a week to eat at a restaurant/deli/fast food place. To furtheradd it up, that is four hundred dollars a month. Think about purchasing groceries, you can save at least a hundred dollars a month just by eating at home. Most people like to go out for dinner once in awhile, as a special treat for themselves. There is nothing wrong in dining out once or twice a month, but it isn’t cheaper or healthier than cooking at home. 
           

          
          

      12. Fix meals from scratch-  In other words, avoid purchasing pre-packaged meals like Weight Watchers. These are supposed to be good for you, but apparently not for your pocketbook. Many times, for the price you pay for one pre-packaged meal, you can fix at least two homemade meals. Plus cooking from scratch eliminates a lot of preservatives from your diet that processed foods are heavy in.
      13. Meal plan- Making a list and meal planning can help you go to the grocery store and just buy what you need. Without this, you are likely to hit the grocery store and over buy foods that can be throwing money down the drain when it goes bad. 
      14. Shops sales and freeze– If an item you eat regularly is on sale, don’t be afraid to buy some extra and freeze. For example, when salmon, chicken breast or ground turkey is on sale I always buy extra and freeze it. This means less trips to the store later too!
      15. Find budget friendly produce- Some produce can be really expensive. You can avoid those and go for the more affordable options. Example, you can get a large bag of carrots for cheap. Peel, slice, and roast the carrots for a delicious vegetable side. Bananas are also a great budget option. 
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   Healthy eating is not something you can master overnight. It helps to adopt a healthier lifestyle, and healthy eating will become second nature. Shop smart, and eat out less often. Above all, avoid the diet meal plans, these things can drain your bank account real fast. Stick to whole fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Add in whole grains and you will notice a difference in your health and bank account. 
   

    

   
   
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