Healthy Can Be Budget Friendly!

One of the biggest excuses we all hear is that eating healthy is "too expensive". It really isn't! Of course, when eating many processed "healthy" foods like Lean Cuisines (which are not fundamentally bad, but can be loaded with sodium! Always check your labels) are not cheap. Now, the cost of food is definitely rising, which is upsetting. But by shopping smart, you can eat healthy on a budget.

Now, I will admit to you all that I am on food stamps (thankfully this is my last month---and only my 2nd month on them) due to an emergency situation. Having $200 to go food shopping with is more of a challenge than I thought it would be. Last month I seemed to run out early, which seemed insane to me. But it also gave me more of an appreciation for learning how to spend on food for when I am done with them.

Here are some basic tips for healthy eating on a budget!

• DO buy seasonal produce---it will always be cheaper and taste better than non-season!
• DO meal plan ahead of time and try to utilize similar ingredients---If you get a pound of beef, use it for burgers one night, and chili or pasta another. This will cut costs by having to buy less "extra" stuff per meal
• DO shop the end caps! End caps at the grocery store tend to have cheaper/sale items on display
• DO check the different local grocery flyers---you'd be surprised by the differences in prices on similar products
• DO stick to a list. You won't stray as easily and if you're a flyer shopper like I am, you'll keep costs lower by estimating the total cost with the info you have
• DO incorporate more vegetarian meals. I love meat, but it can surely be expensive! Also check out the meat counter sale prices for some good deals on fresher meat!
• DO avoid aisles you don't need to go into (like the ice cream aisle) to avoid craving-splurges
• DO buy cases of beverages (water!!!!) instead of individual bottles at the front---it will be cheaper in the long run.
• DO shop at several places---Walmart's prices on food are amazing, and they're produce is actually really good! ALDI, for getting a bad rep, is amazing for certain items, Trader Joe's is cheap, organic, and delicious, and they always have free samples <3
• DO avoid going in the bakery side of the grocery store if you can. A study showed that people who went in on the other side of the wound up spending less money! Plus the bakery is put up front so that you are enticed by the smells.

I hope these tips help you out! I absolutely swear by "flyer shopping" so that I can estimate totals before going into the store. It's way easier to stick a budget when you know what the majority of it will cost!

Also, I'm in a tiny studio where there is only a half-sized fridge and a barely functioning "freezer" section. So I'm generally buying for a few days to a week at a time TOPS. It's terrible, but it's how I have to do it. I'm much more the type that (when I have a regular sized freezer) makes things ahead and freezes portions for later.

Here are some of my recent favorite treats from my latest Trader Joe's adventure (For my PMS week!):

170 calories for 1/4 cup! Usually only eat 2 or 3 at a time though. They're amazing!

These are amazing. A serving is 2.5 cups for only 140 calories! They're a great alternative to chips, and delicious!

These guys are great for a snack or as dessert. They're the perfect treat as they're salty, crunchy, and decadent. You get 7 of these babies for 190 calories, but I usually only eat a few!

 There you go! I also am in love with TJ's Cranberry Hibiscus juice, as well as their Harvest Peach! Go now!!!


-Whitney