help! healthy food on a budget?

Flyntiggr

Maybe it is just my area, but Trader Joes is waaaay more expensive here...

SaraTonin

My farmer's market is crazy expensive too.

I always say if you think healthy food is more expensive than unhealthy food you're not shopping right. I've been unemployed for a year now and I eat healthier than I ever did when I had money to buy "better" food.

emaybe

I have the same problem... My boyfriend and I are on a very strict grocery budget (<$50/week for two adults), and it's made harder by the fact that I can't eat meat and he can't not eat meat...

We've found that making a weekly meal plan makes it much easier to shop, because you know exactly what you need for that week and can spread it out. There are some weeks we've spent less than $30 on groceries for both of us because of it... It may get boring after the week, but then you can pick something new next week.

This is one of my typical plans, if that helps (I'm only including my side for the sake of brevity):

Breakfast: dry cereal, soymilk, banana, orange juice
Lunch: veggie burger w/thin bun or big garbage salad
dinner: fish w/roasted veggies or big garbage salad
snacks: pretzels w/mustard, baby carrots w/lemon, granola bars

Cost breakdown

Bananas (7) - $3 (i buy organic)
Box of cereal - $5 (hippie organic kind)
soymilk (quart) - $2
veggie burgers - $4 (the ones i buy are 4 to a box)
buns - $4 (6 to a package)
head of romaine - $1
frozen fish - $4 (4-8 pieces depending on type)
assorted veggies - $5
nuts for salad (whatever's on sale) - $2
pretzels - $2
carrots - $1
granola bars - $4 (again, hippie organic kind)

That's about $35 total, and the box of cereal, bag of pretzels, nuts, etc will usually last longer than a week so you won't need to buy them the next week.

The hardest thing about shopping healthy within a budget is reminding yourself that if you're ONLY BUYING FOR THIS WEEK, you do not need to buy more -- buy smaller packages, less produce that will go bad by the end of the week, etc... I splurge and buy the premade veggie burgers, but you could totally make them at home for relatively cheap, or substitute them with chicken... if you have a Hispanic grocery near you and eat meat or dairy, check out the deli counter -- they often have ends of the deli cheese for sale, mixed bags of chicken pieces, and some fantastically random seafood on a huge discount (this is how Boyfriend feeds his meat and cheese obsession on the cheap).

Good luck!!

CuteAndCurvy83

#1 Tip plan your meals, or atleast dinners and shop for the week.

I do my shopping once a week to avoid fresh foods going bad, however I also have a list and stick to the list. I plan my meals out and try to mix and match meals that week that share some ingredients, So I may have 2-3 meals that need cream cheese instead of just one, yet they may be totally diff tastes.

riley711

Hi!! If you have Aldi's in your area, your money goes very far there. Also, shop local markets rather than the large chain supermarkets. The smal local market will typically have better/fresher/ fruits, veggies and meats, at much better, less expensive prices.

callipygianchronicle

Maybe it is just my area, but Trader Joes is waaaay more expensive here...

I agree. I would not consider Trader Joe’s affordable. It’s pricing is more like Whole Foods. For quality and pricing you cannot beat Costco, but storage is an issue. We have a deep freezer, which makes storing meat and 5lb bags of frozen vegetables a lot easier.

As for approaching healthy eating on a budget, I strongly suggest homemade soups. It stretches your dollar, are as healthy as you make them, and they freeze and reheat well.

And another second for bulk bins. Start buying all of your staples: flour, sugar, rice, grains (oatmeal, bulgur, quinoa), spices, dried beans, dried fruits, coffee, and popcorn from bulk bins. The product is fresher and you will save about 40% versus buying it packaged in the grocery ailse.

And finally, my major advice—buy bone in chicken breast, never boneless skinless. It’s not worth the premium price. Buying a whole chicken is an even better deal, roast it in the oven and turn that meat into multiple dishes.

MakingAChoice

OK everyone, I need your help.
One of my biggest problems is that I really have to stick to a somewhat limited budget when it comes to food shopping. This tends to push me towards food that isn't really the greatest to be buying for constant eating. I buy pastas and stuff like that mostly because it's cheaper and goes farther (if you know what I mean). I'm sure many people are in the same boat.

This being said, can anyone help by recomending healthy, somewhat affordable foods that won't make me cringe when I check out??

Thanks so much, any advice is welcome!

I have found brown rice, pinto beans, and and fruit/veggies that are on sale to work well within a budget. Add some salsa to the brown rice/beans and chow down. I toss some chicken in most times too. I have actually found it cheaper to buy healthy food than the non-healthy because it goes a lot farther toward me feeling full. So I eat less overall.

Dauntlessness

(I am going to create a new thread with these coupon sights for everyone too)

I buy my meat at Sam's club, separate it into portion size then freeze it. During the off season, I buy my fruit and veggies as Sams too. It is better quality at cheaper prices.
This week at Sams club I got a 2-2.5 quart of strawberries for $5.00 on sale, 3lb container of good looking big grapes for $6.00, 3lbs dole bananas for $1.89 and a fresh pineapple for $2.00 on sale. The boneless chicken breast was $1.99 lb. (6lbs of chicken)

When I buy veg and fruit at regular grocery store, they must be "in season" or on sale or it is not worth my money. For instance, sweet potatoes have been under $1.00 a lb for months now. This week I got it on sale for 79 cents a lb. But your certainly not going to get a great price on zuchinni right now because they have it shipped half way a crossed the world. hehe

My couponing secrets:

Coupon Websites

The Krazy Coupon Lady-FB updates
http://thekrazycouponlady.com/
Make sure you use the coupon database and Krazy this week.

General Mills coupons
http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/clip/Coupons.aspx

Red Plum
http://www.redplum.com/

Coupons.com
http://print.coupons.com/couponweb/offers.aspx?pid=14997&zid=iq55&nid=10&varb=cd5713&bid=alk100204100032ae6aea83815

Eat Better America
http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/coupons/

Pillbury
http://www.pillsbury.com/coupons-promotions

Betty Crocker
http://www.bettycrocker.com/coupons-promotions/coupons/default?WT.ac=homepage_05-01-2008

Target
http://coupons.target.com/mcp/pd.cfm?encp=bw3Edh8NsU3vzmfu+Cqxk1gE5kAdfbx6dC45DH8m6FuvNQDwYVl3xOH31DkRj79yzb+SNmiA401J NysiRHTm5y2uP9IrrJ2MyjEPK1aqBFXdYV860KOhCQ==

CouponGal -FB updates
http://networkedblogs.com/8ygk2

All You
http://www.allyou.com/coupons-deals/

If you have certain product brands you use, sign up on their websites because many of them will send samples and coupons via email or post mail.

Shaws doubles coupons up to .99 cents. Use coupons that are over $1.00 at other stores such as Wal-Mart and Target. Look at the grocery flyers to pair sales/coupons.

They key is to pair coupons with amazing sales. Between the buy one get one deals, free items and “save money on 2 items” you will develop a stock of food and eventually you will only have to buy only sale items each week and spend a lot less.

For instance, I had a coupon for .75 off granola Bars. I also had a coupon .75 cents off GM cereal. Shaws had a deal buy 4 cereal or granola for 7.00 plus doubled coupons. I only paid 4.00 for 2 boxes of granola bars and 2 boxes of general mills cereal. (3.00 savings in doubled coupons, 5.00-6.00 savings from the sale)

http://www.couponcabin.com/free-samples/index.htm for freebies