I am not the best about eating healthy because I am so cheap and health food seems so expensive. Don’t fret though. There are ways to eat healthy and stick to your budget. Mrs. Not Made of Money has a great article on 5 Budget Friendly Tips for Eating Healthy.
5 Budget Friendly Tips For Eating Healthy
By: Mrs. Not Made of Money
We try to eat healthy in our family. Of course our monthly food budget is of concern, but we’ve found that eating healthy does not mean it has to be more expensive. In fact by cooking meals at home and eating less processed foods, we have managed to have healthier diets while keeping the grocery bills down. Here are 5 tips for eating healthy and keeping your food expenses in check:
Skip junk food
Junk food is expensive and unhealthy. Decreasing the amount you buy, or even eliminating it from your family’s diet altogether, will help you save money and ensure that your family is getting the nutrition that that they need. I’ve written before that for occasional snacking I buy the larger size snack bags when they are on sale and divvy the portions up into single serving size bags. I also make cookies and other treats myself. But we do make treats and “junk” food the exception and not the norm.
Incorporate plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
You can purchase produce that is in season to help control the costs. Local farmers markets are also great sources of fresh produce. I love shopping every Saturday at the local farmers market. Vegetables should be a part of every meal, and a piece of fruit makes a great afternoon snack. I even display fruit in bowls in the kitchen to encourage the kids to grab an apple or banana when they are hungry.
Drink water.
Water is great for your health and costs next to nothing. Have your family drink plenty of water in place of expensive soft drinks. We “recycle” our water bottles by washing them out and refilling them. The kids think its an extra treat to get a cold “bottle of water” from the fridge.
Shop in bulk.
Buying large quantities of healthy foods makes them more affordable than buying just enough product for you to use today. Just make sure you know how to store the things you buy so that they last long enough for you to use them. I’ve never tried the Debbie Meyer Greenbags but I think I will be trying those out in the future. It does seem like I can’t keep bananas fresh for very long.
Prepare your own food.
Eating out is sure to introduce more unhealthy foods into your family’s diet. If you make your own meals, though, you can control what goes into them. Cooking at home is always cheaper than eating out, too.
5 Budget Friendly Tips For Eating Healthy was reprinted with permission from NotMadeofMoney.com