Meal planning can be a real challenge especially when you are doing it on a tight budget. And it gets a lot trickier when you are dedicated to eating healthfully. Most of the time, you find many people stress out when facing such situations. But it does not necessarily have to be all bad. You can still manage to eat healthily even when under a tight budget.
Here are some pointers that you can try out and see your life get a lot smoother even as you enjoy your healthy diet.
1. Buy grains and dry goods
You find that whole grains are generally inexpensive compared to the other food products. And they are even cheaper when bought in bulk. So, what you can do is stock up these nonperishable food items when on sale and only take out the amount you need at a time. This will save you a lot of cash. Plus, you will also have foods rich in fiber and protein. Think of it as a win-win scenario.
2. Buy food in bulk
Purchase grains, dried fruits, nuts, pasta, and flours in bulk in your local grocery food store at fair prices. Bulk food sections offer a lower cost per quantity ratios and also save a lot on its packaging. You will be doing both yourself and the seller justice.
3. Reduce waste
After shopping for the food, you need to ensure you cut down on its waste. Only take out and use the highly perishable items first and finish them off. Afterward, you can have the other meals later on. This will help cut back on food spoilage and wastage. You can also train yourself to start taking leftovers for lunch or even create meals using your leftover ingredients.
4. Buy fresh produce when in season and freeze it
You can also buy what is currently in the season then stock it up to use at a later date. Food items like corn are great and can be frozen to serve you and your family for the next coming months. And the same can also be said about some vegetable types. This is one of the most effective ways to ensure you save tons of cash and still manage to eat healthily throughout the entire time.
5. Resist the temptation to buy fast foods
Most of the snacks snack foods and candies are there to serve as impulse buying meals. And if you are not too careful, can really dent your budget in the long run. The best thing to do is to steer clear of them, and you will see even your low-meal budget get you through some tough times. Plus, you will be emptying a lot of calories at the time and saving a lot more too.
6. Always check for amount discounts
You can also save some cash by being active when it comes to checking for discounts at the local grocery stores. Check whether the stores have senior discounts or have a discount or loyalty card. Store coupons pretty much do the same thing and can also come to be quite handy. According to Lend Green experts hunting for discounts should be your number trick when you want to save a few extra dollars in expenses. Even when considering loans and credits it’s good to look at the interest rates and the discounts being offered by the lenders.
7. Buy locally
Head over to your local farmer’s market the moment it opens up during the spring period. While there, you can ask the farmers how most of their foods are grown especially the ones that you intend to buy. The foods that were minimally sprayed while still in the fields are the best and offer better organic certification. These are the food products that you should be looking forward to buying. Plus, the farmers can also sell you the products at a discount if you buy them in bulk.
8. Create a shopping list
You can also use your weekly meal plan make a master grocery shopping list and ensure you stick to it. In the list, you can prioritize your food in terms of the nutrient-rich vegetables, low-fat dairy, whole grains, and even fruits. This grocery shopping list will make your work a lot easier as you shop around for what to take home.
