Do you have this notion that eating healthy is more expensive? If yes, then you’re not alone. There are a lot of other people who feel the same way. They think that if you choose healthier ingredients in the grocery, then you will spend more money. The truth is that you are saving more money when you eat healthy.
Even if you are on a tight budget, you can still find ways to eat healthy. You just need to follow these tips so that even if you change your diet plan, you will still not hurt your pocket.
Buy Whole Foods Instead of Processed Foods
Aside from the fact that they are cheaper, they are also more nutritious. Whole foods include ground beef, eggs, milk, chicken breast and yogurt. These are ingredients that are raw and have not gone through a preservation process. It means that you have to avoid anything that is placed on a can or have tons of chemicals in them. You might think that those canned goods are cheaper, but they also come in smaller quantities, and less nutrients. Buying whole foods allow you to have more control over the ingredients in every meal you prepare.
Go for Frozen Fruits and Vegetables
Buying them fresh is recommended, but if you are on a tight budget, frozen veggies and fruits will do. Besides, freezing is a natural process. There are no chemicals added on the food just to make them still edible. The truth is that if they are placed on a freezer, their shelf lives almost become infinite. Preparing them won’t be a big problem too. For instance, you can just place frozen grapes on a microwave for a few seconds and they are ready to be eaten. Also, you save more time as frozen vegetables have been pre-cut and washed. They can go straight to the dish you are cooking.
Prefer Generic Food Products
You are made to believe that store brands are better and of higher quality. The truth is that when you prefer whole foods, they are all the same. Rice, pasta, milk, and eggs pretty much have the same nutritional value and taste, whether you buy them in a regular store or from store brands. Since they don’t spend much on packaging and advertising their products, they are sold at a much lesser price.
Consider Food Supplements
If you are to buy all the foods you need to suffice for your daily dietary nutritional needs, you might have to spend a lot. The other option is to buy food supplements. They will provide the necessary nutrients to your body at half the price or even lower. For instance, a scoop of whey is equivalent to 24-30 g of protein. A bottle of vitamin C supplement will cost you around $18 only. It will last for about a month.
Buy These Items in Bulk
As always, buying items in bulk will give you a much lower price. This is the rule of thumb in just about any other products. Of course, companies get more money if they sell more products to clients buying the items in bulk. There are also other promotions that you can try out. Usually, it is done at the end of the month when people are heading to the grocery store to shop. Besides, you are saving time and effort if you buy everything that you need at once. You don’t have to keep coming back to the store just to buy these items. You save money for transportation cost as well.
Choose Only Fruits and Vegetables in Season
Vegetables and fruits are harvested in season. It means that if they are not in season, the ones that are sold have a very high price tag. As the supply increases, the price decreases. Therefore, you need to know which of the fruits and vegetables are in season and choose them over other fruits and vegetables.
Check Out Local Farmers
Instead of heading to the grocery store, why don’t you just go directly to the source of these products? If you know someone who sells dairy products to big supermarkets, you can just buy from them. They will surely sell these items to you at a lower price. You are also guaranteed that the ingredients are fresh. Besides, this is a way of helping small business owners and local farmers, as they are the backbone of the economy.
These are just some of the most useful tips when you are looking for ways to eat healthy, but are on a budget. Now, you don’t have an excuse for still not eating healthy. Most of all, you won’t have to visit the doctor all the time anymore. Your body is healthy and you are protected against diseases.