I used to think that if I wanted to buy healthy stuff for my family, the bill would totally break the bank.
Or, if I wanted to save money on groceries, we’d all end up eating junk.
But, contrary to popular belief, eating healthy on a budget is possible!
And not only is it possible, but it’s arguably even easy to save money on groceries and eat healthy every single week.
Trust me!
You just have to arm yourself with the following tips, and healthy food on a budget is completely achievable.
1. Store DOES matter, choose wisely
Where I live, I elect to drive a few extra miles for massive savings on groceries. The extra drive time is completely worth it for the amount I save. Market Basket is my go-to. The price differences between Market Basket and basically all of the other stores is staggering. And they have everything! I’ve never once needed something that Market Basket didn’t carry.
If you have a few groceries stores in somewhat close proximity to you, the savings of shopping at the most economical choice will add up.
I used to think that I had to shop at the fancy grocery store if I wanted to eat healthy, but that’s simply not true. Most groceries stores sell organic options these days, even if the less expensive store doesn’t market itself as a “health food store.”
Now, if there are a few items on your list that you want to make sure are organic/all natural/super healthy, and you can only get them from one particular store, make a special trip, buy that one item and nothing else. That way you won’t derail your entire grocery budget just for one thing. For the rest of your items, go the economical route.
2. Don’t go hungry
The quickest way to impulse buy when grocery shopping is to do it when you’re ravenous. Do you know what I mean? Go grocery shopping on an empty stomach and everything looks delicious! I’ve come home with things that I would never eat otherwise simply because I was starving as I passed them in the store (hello frozen okra that’s still in my freezer a year later)!
Have yourself a big meal before hitting the store, that way you can stick to your list without being tempted by everything you see.
3. Make a list but be open to alternatives
The quickest way to sabotage your grocery budget is to brave the supermarket without a list. At that point, you leave yourself vulnerable to impulse purchases and fancy displays. Arm yourself with a detailed list of what you need (and want!).
Here’s another tip that has been super helpful at keeping me on track: make your list in the general order of how you’ll be passing the items as you shop through the store. For example, I always start my shopping in the produce section, so the first items on my list are: apples, spinach, sweet potatoes, and onions (or whatever I happen to be buying that week). Then I know the next aisle is where the bread and peanut butter is located, so I list those items next. This keeps me from wandering aimlessly around the store, tempted by things I don’t need.
The above tip might sound a little OCD, but it’s actually not too tough to implement once you get your bearings around the store you frequent the most.
Now, the “alternative” caveat comes into play if there’s a certain category of food that’s sometimes on sale. Produce is a big one, so sometimes my list will say “apples/fruit on sale.” So if apples are full price but pears are on sale that week, I’ll opt for the pears. Leaving this alternative as a possibility opens you up to being able to take advantage of greater savings while still choosing a healthy item on your list.
4. Shop the sales
This is pretty obvious, and is a relevant follow up point to the alternative item tip above.
I know it can be hard to stick to your list but also shop the sales, so here’s the key point: be sure to substitute the sale item for the list item, rather than add the sale item.
This will keep your grocery budget in check, and will keep you from buying too much food which will ultimately lead to food (and money!) waste.
5. Skip the pre-made foods
If you follow tip #2, this shouldn’t be too hard. Put your figurative blinders on as you pass the prepared dinners and packaged sandwiches. These items, while convenient, are a budget killer. Instead, know what you’re going to make for meals for the coming week (if you need help or inspiration on how to even get started, look here) and trust that you don’t need to come home with the pre-made stuff.
Be keenly aware that the pre-made options are usually on the periphery of the supermakret, mening they call to you when you’re first entering the store or when you’re about to check out. It’s easy to grab a container of pre-made chicken noodle soup, for example, when you first walk in the store. But remember that the items to make the soup are already on your list (and for much cheaper).
Alternatively, when you’re heading to the check out line but you see the pasta salads at the deli, don’t be tempted. Just take a peek in your cart and realize that you bought the ingredients necessary to make that dish.
I’m usually tempted by the pre-made stuff if I’ve put the items on my list to make it myself. That’s why it’s tempting – I already made up my mind that I want that meal or dish, and I’ve even taken the time to list out the ingredients to make it!
While there comes a time for pre-made meals (like when you you don’t have enough hours in the day during an insanely busy week to put together something yourself), regularly avoiding these options keep your grocery budget healthy and in tact.
6. Limit meats
Meat just is more expensive than plant-based proteins (think beans!) in general. My family eats meat, but I try to have it make up the minority of our meals rather than the majority. I personally like buying organic meat, which definitely gets expensive, so I stick to one or two meat items per grocery trip and my bill is much smaller compared to if I bought meat for every dinner.
7. Buy in-season produce
This is a simple supply and demand rule: when produce is “in-season,” there’s more of a supply for it. The high supply means more availability at a lower cost.
Not sure what’s in-season? Check out this site next time you’re making your shopping list. You can search by location and time of year and make your shopping list accordingly.
8. Know when to buy organic … and when to not!
You shouldn’t sacrifice your health just to save a few bucks, but you should know when it’s worth the price to buy organic. This list of the “dirty dozen” and “clean fifteen” put out by PBS is an awesome resource if you’re wondering whether buying organic is worth the steep price tag. Simply staying informed puts your mind at ease to know you’re doing everything you can to keep you and your family healthy and in line with your budget.
If buying the organic options is not possible on your budget, don’t hesitate to load up on the non-organic ones. Organic strawberries, apples, and grapes definitely can be cost prohibitive. But non-organic pineapples, mangoes, and kiwis are awesome and arguably more interesting flavors.
9. Say ‘no’ to juice and soda
This is an important one for your health and your budget. Juice and soda, while yummy upon consumption, are full of addictive sugar. I don’t know about you, but my kids get crazy when they’ve had juice. They fill up on it, don’t eat dinner, and just demand more juice. I’ve stopped buying it all together and I notice a direct correlation in how they act based on whether or not they’ve been drinking juice!
Water, on the other hand, is free! And healthy! And great for weight loss/maintenance and overall health.
10. Buy the store brand when available
While the store-brand packaging may not be as fancy as the name brand stuff, lots of times it tastes exactly the same. Saving 50 cents here and $1.29 there adds up, especially over the course of a shopping list and undoubtedly over the course of a month. Store brand options exist for almost everything from cheese to bread to crackers to olive oil to eggs to frozen produce. You don’t have to sacrifice your list at all if you’re buying store brand.
Whew! So there you have it: 10 tips to save money on your groceries while still buying healthy stuff!
What are some of your favorite ways to save on groceries?
