It is a great misconception that healthy eating requires extra spending and drains your wallet. This is simply not true. Healthy eating requires a bit of extra time and energy but your health is worth those expenses.
Here are 5 tips to help you shop healthy while saving money:
One: Take advantage of your local store deals. Your local grocer typically offers sales during PFD season and other holidays. Plan ahead and take advantage of these offers. I have seen sales that amount to up to 20% off regularly priced items at any time of the year when used correctly. Buy items at half price when you find them. You can freeze many items for use later on and prevent them from spoiling before you need them. Stock up on buy-one-get one products or buy in bulk. More often than not, products are typically much cheaper when you buy more at a time.
Two: Buy produce when it is in season or invest in a produce box. Fruits and vegetables are not, and should not, be available at all times of the year. When you buy produce during its peak season you tend to pay significantly less. During the fall and winter months, you can expect to find heartier produce such as root vegetables and apples. The summer months tend to have more fragile items, such as berries and lettuces. If you want don’t want to look up seasonal fruits and vegetables every week, invest in a produce box. Boxes offer foods that are in season at a comparable price to your local store.
Three: Shop online for non-perishable items. With advances in shipping, we can now receive groceries straight to our door or post office box. This allows us to invest in whole grains, legumes, and other non-perishable items that are not stocked in our local stores. If you prefer to buy organic or want to try the latest buckwheat pasta, look online. Many times, you can find a vendor to ship it to you.
Four: Plan ahead. You have heard us preach this before but we'll say it again, you need to meal plan. When you know what you will be making for the week, you don’t have to shop as frequently. This cuts down on last minute trips to the store and buying unnecessary items that add up.
Five: Create a grocery list from your favorite recipes. Pick five to ten recipes that are easy to make. Now, make a list of the grocery items needed for each of these recipes. Put these lists in your back pocket for busy days ahead. When you think don’t have time to shop or cook, pull these out and let them come to your rescue. Better yet, keep most of these ingredients on hand for those times you find yourself in a jam.
Now go and enjoy the free time and energy that will come from investing in your health.
Write a comment