With the cost-of-living crisis, more and more people are finding that money is tighter than it has ever been before. As a result, many individuals are starting to see their diets suffer as they attempt to cut food costs. In fact, more people than ever are starting to rely on community meals, but a large number of individuals are struggling; however, not to the extent that they feel they require help. Therefore, numerous people are looking to tread the balance between affordable shopping and healthy eating. To that end, detailed below are some of the top tips on how to eat healthily on a budget.
Firstly, you might be used to branded items; however, buying store brands can save you around 20 to 30 percent on your food bill. For instance, frozen fruit and vegetables, olive oil, milk, and canned tomatoes are all typically more affordable when you opt for the store-brand version. Occasionally, big brands will launch sales, so be sure to carry out comparisons between big brands and store brands to assess whether this is the case. Similarly, some store-brand items might contain added ingredients, so be sure to pay attention to what’s in them before you commit to them.
Coupons are ideal for grocery savings, especially when you plan out your shopping list ahead of time. This is because, before you head out on your weekly shop, you can do a Google search for online coupons for the ingredients on your list. What’s more, you might make little compromises to help you reap the benefits of these savings. For example, you might find that you have a coupon that applies to blueberries but not strawberries, which might involve making the switch. Even saving a few cents here and there can make a world of difference to your savings.
It’s always drilled into us that fresh fruit and vegetables are the best for us; however, they’re expensive, and they reach their expiration dates very quickly. As a result, buying canned or frozen fruit and vegetables can be a great alternative. Not only is this the more affordable option, but it also means that you can enjoy fruit and vegetables even when they’re not in season. Just bear in mind that you’re going to want to go for canned fruit and vegetables stored in water rather than syrup. Similarly, regardless of whether you opt for canned or frozen fruit and vegetables, you should avoid the ones that contain added sugar or salt.
Creating a weekly meal plan and using this to create a shopping list is another helpful way of saving money, as it helps you avoid impulse purchases. Meanwhile, it also eradicates the need to return to the grocery store again and again for forgotten items, which can lead to unnecessary purchases. When it comes to grains, beans, nuts, and other dried goods, you might also consider buying in bulk, as this will save you money in the long run and you don’t have to worry about expiration dates.
As previously mentioned, planning your recipes is essential to crafting a simultaneously affordable and healthy meal plan. This allows you to estimate how much your shop is likely to cost, which also gives you the option to adapt recipes to fit your needs, use recipes with common ingredients, and find ways to stretch a recipe. Proper planning is the key to a good diet that won’t break the bank, and you can even look online for some inspiration.
Be the first to post comment!
