8 Ways To Eat Healthy On A Budget

Some ingredients can be expensive, but following a healthy diet doesn’t always depend on food prices. There are many ways to eat healthy while spending less money.

Meal planning and grocery shopping can be a challenge to eat healthy on a budget. Unfortunately, the rising food price means that it is not always possible to eat well. Chances are your salary won’t rise as fast as food prices. At worst, you’re a student, which makes it all the more difficult.

Here are 8 tips for eating healthy on a budget

1. Buy seasonal products

Fresh produce is always great but they can really put a dent in your limited budget. Buy seasonal products and stock up when you find good prices.

Seasonal food tastes better and is cheaper. Root crops in winter. Apples and pumpkin in the fall. Broccoli and berries in summer.

2. Go to a Farmer’s Market

Eating healthy on a budget by going to the market

Depending on where you live, you may or may not be able to save money at a farmers market during regular hours. Consider going to the market at the end of the day, when you’re more likely to get good deals.

Go to the public/farmer’s market an hour before closing and you will sometimes be able to get some great discounts. This is because the market vendors want to sell as much as possible before the end of the day.

3. Broaden your culinary horizons

Kitchens like those from Mexico, Asia, and India use a number of cheaper ingredients, such as beans and noodles. Rice is also an inexpensive ingredient in these culinary traditions.

For example, if you like Mexican food, you can make burritos filled with whatever you want. Or you can make a version without the tortilla. It is filling and full of protein and fiber.

Think about going to a local ethnic market. Not only are you likely to find bargains on certain products here, but you’re also likely to find very interesting ingredients. For example, you can buy a variety of noodles for little money at an Asian market or in the grocery store.

The same can be said for condiments/sauces for Asian food. Ethnic supermarkets (Chinese, Greek, Lebanese, etc.) are a great source of interesting ingredients that are good value for money. So it is not difficult to eat healthy with a limited budget.

4. Buy cheaper types of meat

You can still enjoy meat even on a budget. Look for inexpensive meats, such as chicken thighs instead of chicken breast.

Learn to appreciate cheaper varieties. Organ meats and pieces of meat with bones, but also the tougher pieces are all very cheap, nutritious and delicious! Conversely, skinless and boneless chicken breast is expensive.

Look for pieces such as:

lamb neck fillet
pork belly and pork belly
pork and veal chops
chicken liver and gizzard
whole chickens that provide a lot of leftovers

Keep the fillets and salmon for special occasions. Buy eggs, milk, buttermilk, tuna, veal liver and cottage cheese.

5. Buy beans and whole grains

Beans and whole grains are an inexpensive way to expand your meals and eat healthily. They can even be a meal in themselves. Black beans are ideal to combine with a portion of meat. Mix cooked black beans with ground beef and make burgers.

Buy a packet of wheat grains, cook and freeze them in individual portions to add to soups or salads when needed. In addition, whole grains make you feel full for longer.

6. Buy in bulk

Eat healthy on a budget by buying in bulk

Buy in bulk, especially when items are on sale. Foods such as pasta, rice and oatmeal are easy to store. When they are on sale, buy as much as you can and stock up.

Sometimes you can also get free shipping and discounts for buying in bulk. You can order enough for 4 months, for yourself, your family and friends and share the costs.

Supermarkets often give discounts of up to 70% if the food comes close to the expiration date. Buy a few pounds and keep it in the freezer.

7. Reuse Leftovers

If you don’t want to eat the same food over and over, consider using leftovers to make a new and delicious meal. Ingredients of a meal can later be used in, for example, a sandwich (chicken, meatballs, meatloaf, pork, etc.).

If whole chickens are on sale, buy two and cook them both. Make grilled chicken the first night. Then you can make soup, a savory pie with chicken, fried rice, sandwiches, etc., for example.

You have so many options with a few prepared chickens to still eat healthy on a budget.

8. Keep your fridge and pantry organized

Healthy eating on a budget with leftovers

Leftovers are always handy but are completely useless if you lose them in the back of the fridge. Label them and keep your fridge organized to minimize food waste.

Use masking tape and a permanent marker to write down the name and date of the food.

Store and freeze foods in quantities you are likely to use, such as two pieces of chicken and individually wrapped burgers.

When you freeze food, it is important that you regularly check your freezer and eat what you have stored.