Has anyone else watched the price of almond butter just keep going up? I’ve been watching it since like 9th grade .. tear.
Will. It. Ever. Stop. Going. Up?…hehe ?
A couple of things I keep in mind when shopping for groceries:
Sure buying organic and high quality foods may be slightly more expensive than buying packaged junk food (depending on the junk!), but I view food as my prescription for health. If I don’t invest in good food and take care of myself then I will be paying a LOT more money each month on medication to deal with my health issues. So I look at it like, invest now.. in my health, or pay for it later. I hope this resonates with some of ya!
Here are some tips that you can try in order to save some moola and eat healthy on a budget (whatever your budget may be!)
Tips to eat healthy on a budget
Plan ahead:
A little planning can go a long way. Write out which meals you would like to make during the week (dinner tends to be a tough one as we are often busy and tired by the end of the day) so think about your meals and create your grocery list to reflect the plan – This will also help to reduce food waste! (produce going bad in the fridge etc..)
Shop perimeter of grocery store and focus on the essentials:
This can make grocery shopping a helluvah lot faster, just by skipping the middle aisles which contain the packaged food section and junk food. Hit up your produce section, whole grains, healthy fats and organic dry section and you’re pretty much good to go ?
Shop seasonally for best prices and availability:
This also fits nicely with the theme of eating with the seasons. It doesn’t make sense that we eat a pile of tropical fruit in the winter does it? Instead we should try to eat more root vegetables, whole grains, soups etc.. during cooler seasons. Try to eat the foods that fit with the seasons which in turn, will save you money and keep you warm! ?
Shop at farmers markets:
Not so much in the winter but during the summertime especially. The food is often tastier, fresher, local and you’re supporting local farmers! Buy straight from the farmer when you can!
Adventure in the summer and save money:
Consider going on a mini adventure and picking berries or maybe try gardening!- it is SO rewarding to make a dish of food that literally came from your backyard. Your wallet will thank you!
*I went berry picking over the summer and it was super fun! I was pumped to see my buckets full of blueberries and strawberries. I am still making smoothies with all the berries I picked ?
Follow a shopping process:
Start by buying your produce first, then spend some money on nuts/seeds, legumes, whole grains.
Get them from the bulk section and you don’t need a ton!
Grab some canned goods if you prefer and grab your nut or plant based milks -(tetra packs are great). Grab frozen fruit and veggies (great to have on hand) and any protein sources that you like (which could already be the legumes, nuts, seeds, grains too) or grab smaller portions of grass fed organic meat (keep these portions on the smaller side).
Lastly buy any healthy oils/fats that you need ex: hemps seeds (also great source of protein), extra virgin olive oil, and coconut oil – these can be bought in bulk as well.
Try to buy organic:
When buying produce try to buy organic as much as possible, or try to replace the dirty dozen with organic foods if you can! Check out the dirty dozen HERE
I hope that some of these tips help you to save some moola the next time you head out to buy groceries! ?
Let me know what you think!
Keepin it realistic n’ holistic,
