Keeping yourself on a healthy diet can be expensive, especially as prices have increased, but if you're careful and sticking to good habits, you can still eat healthier for less money. Here are seven tips to help you.
1. Look for Coupons
Before you go shopping, look for coupons. If you get them in the mail, save them. You can also look online and in your store's smartphone app, if it has one. The more coupons you use, the more your savings will add up. Keep the ones for healthy items and skip the ones for junk food.
2. Skip the Brand Names
Buy more store-brand items. In most cases, they will be significantly cheaper, and usually they taste just as good as their name-brand counterparts. Look for items like 100 percent whole grain bread, whole grain cereals like shredded wheat or oatmeal, store-brand vegetables and fruits, and dairy if it's part of your dietary lifestyle.
3. Stick to a List
Before you set out to the grocery store, make a list of the foods you want to purchase, and make sure a larger percentage of them are healthy. When you are shopping in the store, avoid impulse buying to add other things that look good. The costs will add up, and if you give into desires for junk food, so will the calories. Another idea is to use a delivery or pick-up service offered by your store, so they do the shopping for you, and don't give you a chance to impulse buy. However, this will likely add fees.
4. Eat More Rice and Beans
Rice and beans are two of the more inexpensive food items you can buy, and luckily, they're also among the most nutritious, especially if you use brown, whole grain rice and buy them dry and cook them yourself. Eating more brown rice and beans is a fantastic way to get more protein and heart-healthy grain into your diet at a lower cost.
Jo Bruni at Consumer Reports also suggests swapping the rice for other whole grains sometimes to change things up.*
"To save time, prepare the whole grains and beans on weekends, and store them separately in serving-sized containers in your refrigerator," she says. "Most cooked grains and beans also freeze well. When you’re ready to eat, season the beans and combine with the grains."
5. Buy Frozen or Canned Fruits and Vegetables
Buy fresh fruit and vegetables, especially when they are in season and of high quality. Unfortunately, not all of the produce you buy is likely to meet these expectations. There's also the issue of not having time to eat them before they go bad. You can save money and food waste if you opt for canned and frozen options. They last longer, and you're bound to spend less on them over time because you can store them and eat them at your own pace, instead of throwing out unused items and buying more the next time you go shopping.
6. Grow Your Own
Try growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. If you don't have a green thumb, research and learn how to garden.
"If you can, growing your own fruits and vegetables is a great way to save money and have fresh produce at your fingertips," according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.** "Even if you don’t have a yard to grow a garden, many fruits, vegetables, and herbs can grow in pots on patios or balconies. Having a constant supply of fresh produce at home can save you money at the store. You may not be able to grow a 'money tree' in your garden, but it’ll feel like you did with the extra money you’ll be saving."
7. Shop at Different Stores
You may have noticed that prices of groceries have risen significantly over the past several years. Pay attention to prices at different stores and consider shopping somewhere else if your usual store has higher prices. Some grocery stores make it a point to offer lower prices, but chances are, you'll find that prices vary from item to item depending on which store you visit. For example, one store might have milk cheaper than the other, while offering bread for a higher price. Pay attention to which stores have the best prices on different items. It may be worth it to visit multiple stores to get your savings to add up.
Don't be intimidated by price when it comes to eating healthily. Using the tips above can help you consume a healthier diet, while also saving on expenses.
* https://www.consumerreports.org/health/healthy-eating/is-rice-and-beans-good-for-you-a1152368032/