Heathly on a budget?! Need Help

yourfitnessenemy

The ibotta (various stores) and Cartwheel (Target, if yours sells food) apps has a lot of deals if you have a smart phone or access to one for shopping.

Dee_84

Check out www.BountifulBaskets.com. They are a co-op and i know there are several pick up areas in Kentucky. For $15 you get about $50 of produce (fruit and veggies). It's an awesome way to get your fresh veggies without breaking the bank. And if you have a small family you could always split with a neighbor or co-worker. Plus you get what's being harvested in your area at the time. It's a great way for you to try new things that you would not think of trying otherwise. They have these all over the US so check it out.

I second Bountiful Baskets. Even with the surcharge for each order you pay less than $20 for a lot of produce.
My husband and I eat A LOT of fruit and veggies and depending on how much I have left from the previous pick up I will get an order every 1-2 weeks.
When I compare it to the grocery store prices here I pay about half for the basket than what it would cost me at the store and the quality is really good.

vanessalkl

I swear by bananas and oatmeal! Healthy, delicious and satisfying! They also don't cause a dent in your bank account

ElizabethIrish

There are ways to make delicous and cheap salads. I focus on the fresh veggies that are much less expensive then find delicous and creative recipes for them. Go to allrecipes.com, type in the ingredient then go with the one or two with the highest rating. I've never gone wrong with this!

I have used this formula with the following very cheap veggies that I would not normally buy or prepares: sweet potatoes, radishes, rutabegas, squash, green beans, fresh spinach, carrots, parsnips, potatotes, green peppers. All of these are super cheap and can be SO delicious.

kellyskitties

My biggest weapon is Aldi's. If my money got too tight - it would be the only place I went.
I just got:
10 pounds russet potatoes 1.49
3 pounds yellow onion .59
celery .59
3 pounds sweet potatoes .89
1 pound cranberries .79
1 fresh pineapple .99

I always hit their produce - cheapest around here. If my money was tighter it would be my only store.
I also get apples, eggs, cereal, cocoa, butter, yogurt (they have pumpkin pie right now - OMG), cheese (1.49/8oz right now), canned goods, turkey polish sausage, low calorie wraps and such. If there is one near you - start there! (They take cash and debit only BTW)

My other trick is Kroger - they do a give away on your Kroger card nearly every Friday (you have to download the coupon onto your card). It's random - but free is free. Then I hit them for Natural PB (store brand), cheap produce, meat sales, clearance (meat, produce, bakery and a small shelf clearance section).

Meal planning is a big help - look for ways to turn those leftovers into another meal. One of my favorite things to do is eat last nights leftovers today in a giant salad - that salad gets pretty weird, er, um, creative sometimes. I've found I'll eat almost anything on a salad.

kellyskitties

I have used this formula with the following very cheap veggies that I would not normally buy or prepares: sweet potatoes, radishes, rutabegas, squash, green beans, fresh spinach, carrots, parsnips, potatotes, green peppers. All of these are super cheap and can be SO delicious.

You can fry radishes like potatoes - and they don't even taste very radishy afterwards - tastes much better than it sounds I promise!

I also bake potatoes - a crock pot full at a time for the week. I wash potatoes good, oil my hands, rub each with oil on my hands, drop into crockpot, salt the skins - tossing them around some, set on high a few hours or low for the day. Store in fridge - use for potato salad, baked potato, potato soup, fried potato etc. Such a timesaver for potato use through the week.

I also crockpot some meat for the week often. Meat of the week (chicken, beef - whatever was under $3/pound) - then develop recipe ideas around the meat I already have cooked.

kellyskitties

Check out www.BountifulBaskets.com. They are a co-op and i know there are several pick up areas in Kentucky. For $15 you get about $50 of produce (fruit and veggies). It's an awesome way to get your fresh veggies without breaking the bank. And if you have a small family you could always split with a neighbor or co-worker. Plus you get what's being harvested in your area at the time. It's a great way for you to try new things that you would not think of trying otherwise. They have these all over the US so check it out.

I second Bountiful Baskets. Even with the surcharge for each order you pay less than $20 for a lot of produce.
My husband and I eat A LOT of fruit and veggies and depending on how much I have left from the previous pick up I will get an order every 1-2 weeks.
When I compare it to the grocery store prices here I pay about half for the basket than what it would cost me at the store and the quality is really good.

That link is for gourmet overpriced gift baskets with themes - I'm not sure that's what you guys meant?

pittsjg

I just started using mygrocerydeals.com to help pick up things on sale, meats vegetables are the base of my diet and can be expensive or cheap depending on if its a sale price, and using buy one get one free deals can add up. Plus the site is free and easy to use. The more fun stuff I just pay for on an as craved basis.

Dee_84

Check out www.BountifulBaskets.com. They are a co-op and i know there are several pick up areas in Kentucky. For $15 you get about $50 of produce (fruit and veggies). It's an awesome way to get your fresh veggies without breaking the bank. And if you have a small family you could always split with a neighbor or co-worker. Plus you get what's being harvested in your area at the time. It's a great way for you to try new things that you would not think of trying otherwise. They have these all over the US so check it out.

I second Bountiful Baskets. Even with the surcharge for each order you pay less than $20 for a lot of produce.
My husband and I eat A LOT of fruit and veggies and depending on how much I have left from the previous pick up I will get an order every 1-2 weeks.
When I compare it to the grocery store prices here I pay about half for the basket than what it would cost me at the store and the quality is really good.

That link is for gourmet overpriced gift baskets with themes - I'm not sure that's what you guys meant?

Their website is www.bountifulbaskets.org

Read their new participant instructions for all information.

jimmmer

English farmhouse style cooking can be very cheap.

You use cheaper cuts of meat like chuck steak, pork shoulder, etc.

Cooked low and slow in a casserole with root vegi's like potato, carrot, parsnip, swede.

Make in large quantities. Divide into containers and freeze. Quick to re-heat, nutritious and delicious.

Another great make is chilli con carne from scratch with mince meat. Make, divide freeze. Can then be eaten multiple days in a row by changing what you serve it with, rice, jacket potatoes, etc. A good ragu is similar and portions can be eaten with pasta, jacket potatoes or made into a lasagne.

It's easy to eat cheap nutritious fare by using the cheaper meats and making large quantities. Then being flexible with the ways you serve it.

AleciaG724

Look up "Plant based on a budget" on facebook. They just started it last week and have meal plans and grocery lists for 1,2 or 4 people. If you join the group they will e-mail you the menu plan. The recipes are for pretty simple meals at $20-25/week per person (so far, actually less). I've had to spice things up a little for my taste, but I like really bold flavors, and they are still good ideas to get you started. It's based on a vegetarian diet, but you can always add meat if you find it on sale.

kellyskitties

Look up "Plant based on a budget" on facebook. They just started it last week and have meal plans and grocery lists for 1,2 or 4 people. If you join the group they will e-mail you the menu plan. The recipes are for pretty simple meals at $20-25/week per person (so far, actually less). I've had to spice things up a little for my taste, but I like really bold flavors, and they are still good ideas to get you started. It's based on a vegetarian diet, but you can always add meat if you find it on sale.

I looked them up - and I'm not plant based - but I liked them anyway. That's some delicious looking recipes! I like my meat, but I'm good with it being beans or lentils now and then - and they have some tasty looking stuff! (or as you said - might through in a little meat or use it for a side sometimes too!!)

Thanks for sharing that one!