Eating Healthy On a Budget

There is a big misconception out there that eating healthy is expensive. Organic produce is priced higher than the non-organic produce in many supermarkets, but you can still eat farm stand or non-organic produce and not pay a premium. Here are some helpful tips on how to do that.

1. Always shop with a list (and NOT when you’re hungry if possible). This will prevent you from over-buying and from buying junk food by being mindful of your purchases. It’s not just about the money but about the quality of what we’re eating! Also, overbuying organic food because you've lost track of the food you already have is a huge waste of money.

2. This is a tip for all grocery shoppers out there! Take one day a week to plan out your meals. If we take just a few minutes to meal plan it ends up saving time and money when going to the grocery store.

3. Research your recipes and keep it simple. Buying seasonal and local produce is always more cost effective. When you’re feeling more confident and adventurous with your recipes, keep it seasonal to keep the costs down. Veggies and fruit that are not in season or local will cost more due to transportation costs.

4. Buy healthy food items first such as whole grains, produce and the like, while only using excess money for treat foods. With a budget of $50 you can buy the following: brown rice, beans, kale, spinach, chard, romaine lettuce, arugula, herbs, onion and garlic, squash and sweet potatoes, organic pasture raised eggs (Target has the Vital Farms brand now!) tomatoes, avocados, berries and citrus fruit.

5. Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) or food co-op! Here’s a list of where you can find one: https://www.localharvest.org. You’ll be surprised at what you will find right in your neighborhood.

Cooking and grilling at home will also make eating healthy on a budget much easier. You can always use your leftovers to create new meals the very next day! Check out my recipes section for some ideas.

Also, here’s an article about how organic food prices will finally be coming down! https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-why-prices-of-organic-food-are-dropping-2019-01-24