52 Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget: Ultimate Guide

Eating nutritious food is important, but it can be tricky to do without spending a lot of money. Study these 52 tips for eating healthy on a budget!

Tips for Starting

1. Create a Budget

Stop procrastinating, be realistic, and practice some self-control. It can be tough to kick a free-spending habit, but you'll be happy once you do.

 

2. Make a Grocery List and Stick to It

You'll save a ton of money and time when you make a shopping list and stick to it. Otherwise, you'll find yourself wandering the aisles aimlessly and buying on impulse neither of which are conducive to saving money while shopping.

 

3. Eat Before You Shop

If you're hungry when you head to the grocery store, you'll be far more likely to toss junk food and impulsive items into the cart. Make eating healthy on a budget easy by eating before you shop and eliminating cravings.

 

4. Sign Up for Rewards

Grocery store loyalty points (or credit cards that offer cash back) are a great way to rack up the savings on your bill.

 

5. Clip Coupons

Many coupons are now available right in your grocery store's online app (including Kroger), making it less cumbersome to use them.

 

6. Consider Price per Nutrient

Rather than focusing on how much food you get for the price, shift your thinking to how many nutrients you're buying and which ones are worth your dollars. This will make learning how to eat healthy on a budget a fun game of finding the most bang for your buck.

 

7. Shop Alone

Your spouse and kids will likely always convince you to buy something you don't really need. Leave them at home when you shop.

Tips for Shopping

8. Calculate as You Spend

You'll be surprised to see how fast the little things add up. Awareness of your spending is half the battle in sticking with your budget.

 

9. Take Advantage of Online Shopping

Online retailers such as Amazon Pantry and Walmart are changing the way we grocery shop for the better. Now you can opt for recurring deliveries or curbside pickup, which is not only convenient, but your cart's running total will help you stay on track.

 

10. Shop at Farmers Markets

How to eat healthy on a budget 101: support local farmers. This is a healthy and often affordable food resource that will be a great advantage to you and your family.

 

11. Buy In-Season Produce

Produce that is out of season has been transported halfway around the world to reach your supermarket and the cost is passed on to you.

 

12. Buy Frozen Fruits and Veggies

You'll find that eating healthy on a budget is easier when you buy fruits and vegetables in season. But there is one way to get around this when you're craving something out of season. Frozen produce is flash-frozen while at the peak of ripeness, so it's an affordable year-round option.

 

13. Buy Less Expensive Fruits

Berries, for example, can be quite expensive, but watermelon, bananas, plums, pears, and apricots are usually not.

 

14. Buy Unprocessed Foods

The less your food is handled before it reaches the store, the less expensive it will be. The truth is, unprocessed foods taste better, too. Buy blocks of cheese instead of pre-grated, and rolled oats instead of instant.

 

15. Use Cheaper Cuts of Meat

Some of the most affordable cuts of meat are stew meat, flank steak, bone-in chicken legs and thighs, ground turkey, and Italian sausage links.

 

16. Look for Alternative Proteins

Compared to other proteins, meat is very expensive. Expand your protein repertoire with legumes, quinoa, eggs, hemp, cottage cheese, canned tuna, and tofu.

 

17. Buy Generics

Most stores offer equal-quality alternatives to name brands. If you're nervous, compare the ingredients list and see for yourself.

 

18. Buy in Bulk

Yes, you can shop at Costco Wholesale and put the extra stock in your food storage, but also remember the bulk bins at your regular grocery store.

 

19. Read food labels

Check the number of servings and note the calorie and fat content per serving. Also, check the ingredients list for high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and preservatives. Generally, the longer the list, the less healthy the food. And oftentimes, all those preservatives add to the price.

 

20. Check the Unit Price

Compare unit prices between sizes and brands to ensure you're getting the best deal.

 

21. Use Supplements

Whey protein, fish oil, and multivitamins are a cheap way to add more nutrients to your diet.

 

22. Buy Items with a Long Shelf Life

Don't be afraid to stock up during a sale, because canned foods and packaged ingredients will last a long time. These extra food items will come in handy during weeks when you are strapped for cash. Just be sure to actually use them before they expire!

 

23. Buy Low-Fat Dairy Options

Yogurt, ice cream, and milk all come in tasty low-fat versions study your store's selection to find the most economical brands, and give them a try.

Tips for When You're at Home

24. Grow Your Own Food

In addition to being a fraction of the cost, garden-grown produce tastes far superior to store bought. Easy-to-grow varieties include basil and thyme, green onions and peppers, carrots and pumpkins, and raspberries and blackberries. Once you taste the fruits of your labor, you'll find eating healthy on a budget to be much more enjoyable.

 

25. Learn How to Preserve

Canned peaches, pickled cabbage, strawberry jam, and many other foods can be canned right at home.

 

26. Meal Prep Ahead of Time

Scan of the contents of your fridge and pantry, wrap your head around your weekly calendar, and decide what you are going to cook on each night. With those details decided, dinnertime will become less frantic, more routine, and actually enjoyable.

 

27. Learn How to Cook

Like most things in life, cutting out the middleman can be a great way to reduce costs when eating healthy on a budget. Not many things are more satisfying than cooking delicious meals for yourself and your family. Plus, homemade meals can easily cost a third of what you would spend eating out. Peruse cookbooks at the bookstore, choose one with plenty of pictures for guidance, study the recipes (along with any tips and advice), and get cooking. The time spent will be well worthwhile.

 

28. Repurpose Leftovers

Stretch your food budget and decrease waste by using leftovers. Roast chicken easily transforms into tacos the next night, and chicken noodle soup on night three.

 

29. Keep It Simple

Not every meal needs to be a full affair of appetizers, entrees, and sides. A quick salad or a beautiful spread of cheese, salami, and grapes can be just as satisfying as a full-course meal.

 

30. Get Your Family on Board

You'll have much more success if your family members are supportive and willing to follow along with your goals of eating healthy on a budget.

 

31. Be Adventurous in Trying New Flavors

There is a world of flavor right in your pantry. Add new and exciting tastes to old standbys. For example, turn your standard chicken salad into an Indian-spiced chicken salad feast.

 

32. Correct Portion Distortion

Study and follow correct portion sizes.

 

33. Don't Eat Out of the Bag

Place a single portion size into a bowl or a bag, rather than keeping an entire bag or box of food right in front of you.

 

34. Weigh the Rewards

If you want to splurge, take a moment first to be sure the reward is worth the calories, as well as the expense.

 

35. Substitute Your Carbs

Instead of noodles, try sliced zucchini. Instead of potatoes, substitute mashed cauliflower. The more versatile your cooking becomes, the more you'll be able to opt for healthy, in-season foods that provide nutritional benefits and cost less.

 

36. Always Eat Breakfast

Skip the high-sugar breakfast foods that leave you quickly craving more, and eat satisfying high-fiber cereal, whole-grain baked goods, eggs, and fruits and vegetables instead.

 

37. Try Mini-Meals

Eat smaller meals, more often. Doing this will keep you out of the “famished-and-will-eat-anything” zone.

Tips for When You're at Work

38. Pack Your Own Lunch

Let's say you spend $8 on lunch every weekday. Over the course of a year, those lunches will cost you over $2,000! If, instead, you spend $3 on a packed lunch from home, you'll save an easy $700 annually.

 

39. Don't Stop at the Vending Machine

Just walk on by saving precious money and keeping junk food out of your diet.

 

40. Get Your Co-Workers on Board

Make healthy eating a team effort, and try potluck lunches a few times a month.

 

41. Share

Go halfsies on sandwiches or cut your pizza into more, smaller slices.

 

42. Encourage Healthier Meetings

How about sliced fruit instead of donuts? As a healthy-eating initiative, your company may even foot the bill for nutritious snacks. It's definitely easier to eat healthy on a budget when someone else pays for the healthy stuff.

Tips for When You're On the Go

43. Buy a BlenderBottle® Shaker

Make great-tasting shakes and smoothies to go with a BlenderBottle® Classic™ Shaker, and eliminate the urge to buy pricey, overly-processed snacks.

 

44. Eat Less

Skip the appetizer, side dish, dessert, and midnight snack.

 

45. Stick with Water

For an extra boost, add pineapple, cucumber, or fresh citrus slices. Herbal tea is also a good alternative.

 

46. Stop Buying Snacks

Avoid the concession stands, middle aisles of the grocery store, and stacks of snacks at the convenience store counter. Instead, stash healthy (and lower cost) grab-and-go treats in your laptop bag and in the car.

 

47. Eat Before You Go Out to Eat

Eat something small and healthy at home before going out to dinner with friends. That way, you'll be less hungry and less tempted to spend too much money. The same goes for drinks.

 

48. Slow Down

Enjoy what you're tasting and give yourself time to digest. Sit back and enjoy the dinner conversation. Chances are, when you slow down and savor your food, you'll be less likely to pack too much in.

 

49. Pile on the Veggies

When making pizza, sandwiches, soups, and even tacos, go slim on the meat and load up on the veggies.

 

50. Order Low Carb

Choose thin-crust pizza, open-face sandwiches, and wraps instead of rolls. And just say no to a restaurant's bread basket especially if it costs extra. Eating healthy on a budget requires you to make choices that will keep you satisfied for longer periods than a quick carb fix.

 

51. Don't Refill

Politely pass on seconds of soda, beer, and wine.

 

52. Go Kid-Sized

Many places will let adults order off of the children's menu. You'll save money and calories when you do!

 

By following even just a few of these tips, you may be surprised at how much healthier your body (and bank account) will become. Eating healthy on a budget is so much more within your reach than you realize. Don't worry if you don't tackle all 52 at once; but the more you implement these tips, the faster you will reach your goals.

How to Eat Healthy on a Budget

1. Shop several grocery stores. A little extra time spent grocery shopping can help stretch the budget. While some stores have cheap produce, others may offer cheaper dairy or meats. Plot out which stores have the cheapest options and buy other items on your list somewhere else.
2. Buy what's in season. By planning your meals around what's in season, you'll save a whole lot of money. Eating healthy on a budget is easier when you rely on the items the store is discounting because of the seasonal surplus.
3. Fill up on inexpensive staples. Foods like dried beans, lentils, and brown rice are inexpensive and nutrient-dense foods to help you fill up during a meal without spending a lot of money.
4. Stop buying processed foods. If you really want to know the art of how to eat healthy on a budget, stop shopping for processed foods. Make sauces and dresses and home to cut down on cost and get unwanted additives out of your diet.
5. Avoid expensive drinks. Even so-called “health drinks” can blow your healthy eating budget. Stick to water and cheap, low-calorie options like La Croix if you want to save money.