If there ever was an oxymoron, this seems to be it. 'Healthy eating' and 'budget' don't seem to fit in the same sentence. I'm not going to tell you that you can eat healthy for less than $2 a day, but I can tell you that I am a working mom of 4 kids. We feed six people on largely whole foods and we do not have an endless amount of cash to spend. Yes, we do make sacrifices in other areas, I won't lie. For me, the thing is that if I don't invest in our wellness, I'll have to pay for our sickness down the road, and that's expensive! It just makes sense for me to invest in our wellness.
And I know, you may be a single mom or a one income family and it just doesn't seem possible to afford to eat healthy. Here are my tips that may help you to save some money.
Eat with the seasons. In season produce is always less expensive and often on sale. Don't be afraid of frozen produce. In the US, visit the Grocery Outlet in your area for bargains on frozen produce as well as fresh.
Shop bulk when you can. Many stores offer a bulk section where there is no limit of quantity you need to buy, but the prices are better than packaged foods. You can find nuts, flours, popcorn, grains, etc...
Plan your week's meals. For me, this is better than taking anti-depressants! I can't believe how planning affects my life so positively. So I sit down on Sundays and plan and then shop. You will be amazed how this brings down your stress levels and your grocery bill!
Processed foods and snacks cost a lot of money because in the end, they make you sick and overweight which ends up causing need for doctors and prescriptions. The 5 foods most damaging to your health are refined flour, refined sugar, table salt, pasteurized dairy and vegetable oils that are not cold pressed. I know, I know, that includes everything, right? Well, not if you make your own food. It can be very fun and fast and enjoyable. Just try it once. Sit down, find some recipes, make a shopping list, get your groceries and see for yourself how much happier you are and how much less money you will have spent when you planned for your week of meals.
Shop Trader Joes and Costco. Both stores have a wide variety of organic and healthy choices.
Download the EWG Dirty Dozen list. This will tell you which produce is heavily sprayed and which isn't so you can choose wisely what foods you purchase organic and which you don't. www.ewg.org/foodnews
Sign up for a CSA delivery. You will pay far less for your produce and it's all organic and comes with recipes while being delivered right to your doorstep!! http://www.localharvest.org/csa/
Buy 1/4 or 1/2 of a cow or pig and stock your freezer with great meat. You can find out how to do this from many CSA farms.
Order food from Azure Standard | Bulk & Organic Food Delivery | Bulk & Organic Food Online Azure Standard sells natural foods for less than you can buy them in the store! There is a once a month delivery to a specific location near you where you will pick up your delivery each month. I've used Azure for years!
Very often meats are marked down when they get close to the expiration date. Make sure you smell it and it smells fresh, but if marked down, you can buy it and freeze it right away. Ask the butcher what day the meats get marked down!
I hope this helps you on your journey to health and thriving! Comment below to tell us how you eat healthy on a budget!
And I know, you may be a single mom or a one income family and it just doesn't seem possible to afford to eat healthy. Here are my tips that may help you to save some money.
Eat with the seasons. In season produce is always less expensive and often on sale. Don't be afraid of frozen produce. In the US, visit the Grocery Outlet in your area for bargains on frozen produce as well as fresh.
Shop bulk when you can. Many stores offer a bulk section where there is no limit of quantity you need to buy, but the prices are better than packaged foods. You can find nuts, flours, popcorn, grains, etc...
Plan your week's meals. For me, this is better than taking anti-depressants! I can't believe how planning affects my life so positively. So I sit down on Sundays and plan and then shop. You will be amazed how this brings down your stress levels and your grocery bill!
Processed foods and snacks cost a lot of money because in the end, they make you sick and overweight which ends up causing need for doctors and prescriptions. The 5 foods most damaging to your health are refined flour, refined sugar, table salt, pasteurized dairy and vegetable oils that are not cold pressed. I know, I know, that includes everything, right? Well, not if you make your own food. It can be very fun and fast and enjoyable. Just try it once. Sit down, find some recipes, make a shopping list, get your groceries and see for yourself how much happier you are and how much less money you will have spent when you planned for your week of meals.
Shop Trader Joes and Costco. Both stores have a wide variety of organic and healthy choices.
Download the EWG Dirty Dozen list. This will tell you which produce is heavily sprayed and which isn't so you can choose wisely what foods you purchase organic and which you don't. www.ewg.org/foodnews
Sign up for a CSA delivery. You will pay far less for your produce and it's all organic and comes with recipes while being delivered right to your doorstep!! http://www.localharvest.org/csa/
Buy 1/4 or 1/2 of a cow or pig and stock your freezer with great meat. You can find out how to do this from many CSA farms.
Order food from Azure Standard | Bulk & Organic Food Delivery | Bulk & Organic Food Online Azure Standard sells natural foods for less than you can buy them in the store! There is a once a month delivery to a specific location near you where you will pick up your delivery each month. I've used Azure for years!
Very often meats are marked down when they get close to the expiration date. Make sure you smell it and it smells fresh, but if marked down, you can buy it and freeze it right away. Ask the butcher what day the meats get marked down!
I hope this helps you on your journey to health and thriving! Comment below to tell us how you eat healthy on a budget!
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