On a tight budget? Eating healthy can seem impossible, but it doesn’t have to be. You just need to know where to look for cost-effective ways to trim calories and reduce waste—and we’ve got you covered.
Trying to eat healthy while on a tight budget can be difficult. But with some strategic shopping and planning, you can still stick to your budget while meeting your nutrition goals.
- Cooking at home. If cooking and shopping at home sounds like too much work, remember that meal planning is essential to eating right, so try starting there first. This will save you time and money in the long run, plus it may allow you to cook more complex meals instead of resorting to fast food or takeout every night of the week.
- Hit up the farmers market. Farmers’ markets offer some of the freshest food around, and they are also generally much cheaper than grocery stores. If you have local access to a farmers market, consider making trips their part of your regular grocery-shopping routine: You’ll be able to get more bang for your buck at the grocery store thanks to all the sales that come from stocking inventory for two different locations.
- Make a meal plan and stick to it. Yes, sticking to your grocery list can seem tedious, but it’s a crucial part of staying within budget while eating healthy — which means you can’t buy whatever looks good at the store each week.
- Read food labels. Nutrition information is mandated by law so it’s available for almost every packaged product. By making smart choices about what you buy, you can control how much you spend on groceries overall. Take the time to read labels and compare different brands of the same type of food. When choosing between two brands of canned soup, for example, choose the one with fewer calories or less added sugar or salt.
