It is a common misbelief that eating healthy will cost a fortune or otherwise you would have to buy low quality food if you want to eat healthy on a budget. But in reality, you can do both at the same time. You can eat healthy food without going bankrupt if you have the will to find them at good prices and in good quality. So in order to make it easy for you to eat healthy on a budget, here are some tips;
Never Shop When You Are Hungry
When you are going shopping on an empty stomach you are more likely to make impulsive decisions so try to avoid it as much as possible. Before going shopping eat something and go on a full stomach so you can make more rational decisions and save money avoiding junk food.
Cook in Bulk and Freeze
Try to buy things in bulk because it is cheaper and it can save a large amount of money in the long-term. When you are going shopping for the week make sure to get a few more serves and save it for a night where you are not able to cook. By doing this you can avoid the temptation to get takeaway or to go out which is more expensive.
Prepare Your Own Snacks
We all get that hunger wave at certain times so be prepared by preparing healthy snacks and make them easily accessible or otherwise, you will find yourself getting expensive and unhealthy snacks. Try carrots, grapes, popcorn, or hummus which are way healthier.
Pack Your Lunch
Packing your lunch every day might be hard but it is a great way to save money and eat healthily. Allocating one day to meal prep will allow you to prepare meals for the entire week so it becomes easy for you to take lunch.
Control Yourself When Going Out to Eat
When you go out to eat it is very hard to control your temptation to eat multiple items with different flavors so try to control yourself otherwise you will end up with a pricey bill. So first decide on the items you need and if you still feel hungry then go-ahead for more.
Recycle and Repurpose Leftovers
Try to avoid throwing leftovers to the bin, instead try to recycle or repurpose them. If you are able to add them to a different dish do it so you can reduce wastage and save money. You can have dinner by combing different leftovers to create a dinner filled with different flavor combinations.
Go for Generic Brands
Usually, generic brands are cheaper so try to get them and find out the brands which provide good value for the money. Different brands have small differences in taste in products such as tinned tomatoes, pasta, chips, etc.
Try Multiple Protein Sources
Protein is necessary for every diet and there are many different sources of protein but many people think that meat is the only source that contains high protein content. In reality, there are many other sources including plant-based sources which are healthy and tasty. Almonds, eggs, edamame beans, and Greek yogurt are some great sources of protein.
Freeze Fresh Products
Fresh products are full of nutrients and they are delicious so try to freeze fresh products during the seasons where there is high availability and save them for the months when those become expensive and less available.
Track Your Spending
It is very important to track your spending in order to minimize spending so first have a proper plan on what you need to purchase then stick to it. Do not tryout experiment purchases just buy what you really need and avoid wasting money on unnecessary items.
