Everyone knows that it’s more expensive to eat healthy foods than junk foods. A limited budget contributes to poor eating habits in many ways. Junk food costs less at the grocery store than healthier choices. Even when you’re dining out, it’s cheaper to dash through a greasy hamburger joint than it is to go to a restaurant that offers fresher, healthier options.
Your budget crunch doesn’t have to put a complete lid on healthy eating goals. You’ll just need to pursue some creative solutions and think outside the grocery bag.
Budget Friendly Tips for Healthy Eating
Tip #1 – Farmer’s Markets
You can usually find a local farmer’s market in the summer time and, if you live in a larger city, you can find them operating year round. You’re going to find the best seasonal deals and you’ll often stumble upon amazing items at prices that are easy on your pocket.
If you’re not sure where to look for a farmer’s market, try calling your local chamber of commerce.
Tip #2 – Grocery Store Newspaper Circulars
You can find deals on fresh produce if you’re willing to visit a different store for sales. You can rely on some stores to consistently deliver better prices for some types of foods, but you never know who might be having a killer sale, so shop around.
Tip #3 – Cut Your Own Veggies
Don’t be tempted by convenience. Those ‘baby cut’ carrots aren’t as good for you as a carrot that you clean and cut fresh at home anyways. You’ll get more of the nutrients you’re looking for when you’re willing to do more preparation on your own.
Tip #4 – Cook from Scratch More Often
A homemade soup is healthier than a store bought canned soup. The same is true for a savory rice dish made from scratch. Prepared foods usually have more salt and fat. Learn how to cook your own rice and tackle a couple of basic soup recipes and you’ll have a foundation to build on that will feed your family week after week for less.
The underlying theme here is that you can spend extra time or end up spending extra money. The good news is that time spent in the kitchen as a family will do more than just save money and contribute to a healthier lifestyle; it will contribute to better relationships as well.
