How to get in more veggies/fruits budgetwise?

Tuten210

As other people have stated, frozen veggies are affordable and always available. I personally shop at Aldi for produce... they have fresh produce, super cheap and it's really good

jporte

Here is a great way and you dont have to go frozen ---- buy the broccoli slaw or cole slaw vegatables (incl. carrots, broccoli, cabbage). It stays crispy and crunchy for days and its about half the price of bagged lettuce . $1.50 for a bag. Lettuce tends to go bad quickly and you lose out. I have had these go for 2-3 weeks. its has been a mainstay in my eating. I dont have to cut it up or anything.

And also if you check out the Asian markets in your neighbourhood you grocery bill will be cut in half. If i spend about $25 at a regular store I only spend about $10-$15 at the Asian market. Mature meats do really well in the slow cooker and you can normally purchase it for about $1.99/lb (chicken legs, no bone)

Great idea about the broccoli slaw or cole slaw. I eat salad almost everyday and it irritates me that a bag dated for next week will go bad the next day.

trogalicious

farmers markets, international markets, frozen, or.. my newest fun spot for shopping: Aldi. If you have one around, go check it out. Grocery, just a bunch cheaper than the competitors.

NikkiHann17

I feed a family of 6 off of very little a month. We do alot of sales where I can pick up a ton of veggies on the cheap and I freeze what I know we wont eat before it goes bad. For example yesterday I bought 6 fresh green peppers for 88cents. I cut them and put them in a freezer bag and will take them out as needed. It works great for my family. I also do alot of frozen veggies, usually not that expensive depending on where you shop.

AbbyLynne2246

One of the grocery stores I walk to put's almost bad food into large packages for a dollar! I buy a lot of banana's and other fruits that way. Saves a lot. Talk to your local produce and grocery stores, and see what they can do for you.

grassette

Check out the lost leaders in the supermarket flyers and shop accordingly. Newspapers often feature a weekly article on what is cheap this week.

Also check out the ethnic markets. We go to a Lebanese green grocer who runs a veggie only supermarket.

I would look into raised beds in the garden for your back so you don't have to bend over. What a shame to live in Florida and not have a garden! Or see if you can't buy direct from a grower, or from someone who does have a garden. When you are growing your own food, you usually have a surplus to give away.

people have been talking about frozen veggies. Check into the canned. Green beans and corn are pretty good.

HIITMe

Often, I buy "last day" fresh veggies... which means I go to the grocery store daily... I work within a half mile of 3, so I walk there during my lunch hours & get whatever fresh veggie is on sale or on clearance for that day and that is what gets cooked for dinner that night.... so a BAG of FROZEN broccoli was about $1.50 and yet I got enough for last night's dinner for slightly less because fresh broccoli was on sale for 99 cents per pound....

fortunately I also live near a bumch of farms where I can get fresh fruits & veggiesm making a quick pit stop on the way home from work

Itsallbs15

. I found that by shopping the perimeter of the store (nothing in a box is my mantra) I was spending a lot on the grocery bill, but it virtually nothing anywhere else. I end up spending less total for the week, but a bit more at the store than I used to in the past.

Just my two cents. Hope some people can give some other tips/tricks for you.

This is exactly what I do. My husband and I buy limited boxed stuff (pastas and sauce with the occasional unhealthy snack) and ONLY if there is a coupon for it. Fast food or pizza is limited to once a month, if that. I still generally spend the same but now everything is "from the perimeter" of the store and its healthy. One thing that I am proud of myself for is that 95% of my meals come from the fridge or freezer. What I mean by this is that 95% of my meals are fresh or have to be frozen so that it doesn't spoil. Preservatives and artifical flavoring are very limited and threfore I am not spending the money on these things that are not beneficial to me.

Another thing to consider is looking to get your hygiene products at CVS or Walgreens. There are ALWAYS coupons for shampoo, soap, makeup, etc and the drug stores have these products on sale or at a cheaper price then the grocery store. This will save you money use towards healthy fruits and veggies. And is all else fails, go with frozen, as so many have already mentioned.