How to Eat Healthy on a Budget

If you’re looking to get healthy, the food you put in your body will either help your body or not. We want you to not limit your healthy eating based on your level of finances, because everyone can choose to eat healthier food if they want to. We put together this post to share how to eat healthy on a budget.

Nutrition is such an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Ensuring you’re eating anti-inflammatory foods that help fuel your body is a great start. You can read more about Top 12 Anti-Inflammatory Foods here. You can also read our 7 Tips for Meal Planning post here if you’re in need of preparation tips! From batch cooking to finding easy recipes, we have you covered.

We always recommend buying organic whole foods and pasture-raised and wild meat and seafood. This is because it is the purest form of food, and have more of the probiotics your body needs from the soil. Keep in mind, just because something is labeled organic, does not mean it is healthy for you. The food manufacturers are getting more sneaky by the day! Always check the ingredients for additives, and stick to one-ingredient foods. Sometimes these can be more expensive, especially if purchased in the grocery store. So we made this list of tips for you to eat healthy on a budget.

Tips to Eat Healthy on a Budget

1. Buy food that is on sale: Check out the weekly specials at your grocery stores, and buy when the produce is on sale.
2. Buy food that is seasonal: Check the produce and seafood seasons in your area. Buy food that is only in season- this will save you tons of money.
3. Buy in bulk and freeze. Once you buy in bulk, be sure you separate the food into smaller packages and freeze any food you won’t be using right away. Wrap it well and you will be good to go.
4. Buy dry goods online. Almond flour, protein powder, vitamins, and other goods can be found much cheaper online. Do a search on Amazon fast before you go out to the grocery store to see what items you may be able to save on.
5. Buy locally: Often, you can get amazing prices on local food, especially if you visit the farms themselves. It’s better for the environment and better for your wallet.

How to Save Money to Eat Healthy on a Budget

We put together a list of places and ideas to help you find whole foods (including anti-inflammatory foods) without paying top dollar.

• Local farmer’s markets: The local farmers often participate in market days that allow you to have a direct connection to their goods. This means the food is usually less expensive and fresher.
• Road-side produce stands: Similar to markets, these stands provide a direct connection to the producers themselves, making the cost more reasonable.
• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups: You can find fresh produce directly from the source, at local farms. You can ask around in your circle of family and friends or Google “CSA” with your location.
• Wholesale clubs: You can buy in bulk at these stores, making the cost more reasonable.
• Grocery stores: When stores receive new shipments, their older produce often goes on sale. You can ask them when they get their deliveries and plan your shopping trips accordingly. You can also try asking the produce manager for their leftovers or “seconds” as they call them. This means the product isn’t sellable, but you may still be able to purchase it at a significantly reduced amount. Examples of “seconds” include an oddly shaped strawberry or an apple with a small bruise on it.
• Discount grocery stores: Stores like Aldi and Trader Joe’s sell organic produce and other quality foods for less.
• Online retailers: Imperfect produce purchased from online retailers is another option. We order from Misfits Market, and love it! It isn’t available everywhere, but if it’s available in your area, this is a great way to have it shipped directly to your door at a fraction of the cost.

A lot of people think it’s too expensive to eat this way on a regular basis and within their budget- and I used to be one of them! We’ve learned to be resourceful to eat healthy while saving money.

With a few great tips and a little planning, you’ll not only be eating cleaner food, but you’ll be saving the green in your pocket.

Let us know in the comments how you save money on your groceries!