Six Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget

6 TIPS FOR EATING HEALTHY ON A BUDGET
 
I frequently hear people complain that eating healthy is too expensive.  It can certainly appear that way at first glance – but after some evaluating you soon realize that eating healthy is absolutely possible on a budget.  In fact, once you get the hang of it, it can be quite simple!  These tried-and-true tips will help you discover how to eat healthy without breaking the bank.  Take these tips and make them habits in your life, and you'll soon find you can successfully have a healthier kitchen without sacrificing your bank account.
 
Shop the perimeter.  Think about it – all of the healthy items are on the outside perimeter of the store.  For the most part, the inside aisles are the pre-packaged, boxed foods that typically aren't ideal for a healthy lifestyle. – and they’re more expensive per serving.  There are certainly some items you'll need from the inside aisles, but the majority of the cart can be filled with items from the perimeter.  So always start by shopping the perimeter of the store before you venture into the inside aisles. 
 
Don't purchase pre-cut items.  Yes, it takes extra time, but buying diced onions or pre-chopped fruit costs a significant amount more than buying a full cantaloupe and cutting it yourself. 
 
Shop at different places.  Wholesale stores such as Costco or Sam’s Club may be most beneficial for some healthy items, but probably not your entire grocery list.  Investigate where you can get your staple items weekly.  Are your veggies most affordable at the Farmers Market or local grocery store?  Is it most economical to get your grains and beans in the bulk aisle at the Amish store?  Shop around and find the best deals for your weekly basics.
 
Grow it at home.  Are there some items you frequently eat that you can grow in your backyard or on your patio?  There are a tremendous amount of foods that you can easily grow at home, many of them you can even grow from scraps.  Free is always great, right?!  And when you grow it yourself, you know your food isn't covered with harmful chemicals.   
 
Buy in season.  In-season fruits and vegetables are far less expensive, more nutritious and easier to find.  Fruits are almost always on sale at local grocery stores – so check online to see where you can get berries half off or where you can stock up on fruit for the week.
 
Some produce costs more than others.  Keep your weekly grocery bill low by choosing the least-expensive produce items for most of your grocery choices.  Greens, carrots, apples, bananas and celery are among a few very inexpensive options.  Balance those out with some more expensive broccoli, Brussels sprouts or berries, and you're well on your way to eating healthy on a budget.
 
Learn how to prepare simple, summer meals with seasonal ingredients when you sign-up for my free 5-day Summer Meals Challenge. Email me at sarawolfsen@gmail.com to register.

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Sara Wolfsen is a Certified Health & Lifestyle Coach who specializes in helping people make their own healthy changes by providing private health coaching, nutrition education and wellness classes, and gentle weight-loss guidance and support.  Schedule your complimentary coaching session and learn more online at www.sarawolfsen.com.