Consuming healthy food with a tight budget is not impossible, especially if you get creative and shop wisely. Here are some tips that you can use that will help you buy healthy food on the cheap.
Avoid Processed “Healthy Food”
Processed food, even if it is labeled “whole” or made with organic ingredients isn’t necessarily healthy, and the more processed something is, the more expensive it tends to be. For example, organic fruit snacks cost more per pound than does fresh fruit, and it isn’t as good for you.
Baby or pre-cut carrots are more expensive compared to typical large carrots that you have to peel and cut yourself.
Don’t Buy Everything Fresh
Lack of availability is what tends to drive up price, so fresh foods may be more expensive if they aren’t in season. While you can get strawberries in the winter, you will pay a premium for them. Look to frozen food instead. It is just as healthy, but it often costs less. Some of the best healthy frozen food includes cherries, green beans, broccoli, corn, and green beans.
Canned food can be good, but look for glass containers when possible to avoid possible BPA contamination (it is the in lining of many cans), and steer clear of vegetables in salt or fruit in heavy syrup. Canned tomatoes is one of your best bets.
Another strategy is to buy fresh items when they are in season and then freeze or can them so you can enjoy them all year long.
Learn to Cook
Learn to cook and process food, and you’ll automatically save money. Homemade granola bars are healthier and cheaper than store bought ones, for example, and meals made with basic ingredients usually score high on nutrition and low on cost.
If you don’t seem to have time to cook every night, simple cook in bulk and freeze the extra portions for future meals.