Eating healthy on a budget?

Where do you shop? Do you have a choice of grocery stores to choose from? You could look through their fliers and see which store has the best deal. Also, you should do a little recipe research to find dishes that don't take much ingredients, but are good for you. Plus if you cook something say chili, you can freeze it for future meals. There are also various websites that offer coupons. That might help with finding healthier options and not breaking the bank.

Try this website for inexpensive dinners www.5dollardinners.com she has some great meals and she lists recipes on her site as well as recently releasing her new book. Have you checked into WIC, Woman, Infant and Children, assistance? You may qualify and that would help with the cost of formula and basics. Best of luck.

Is the $40 for you or for the family? I know that formula is anywhere from $15-$30 per cannister.
The easiest thing to do is to shop the outside edges of the store. No processed foods. It can be cheaper to eat healthy than to eat junk....it just depends on what is in season.
Right now clementines and bananas are pretty cheap.
Always keep several boxes of whole wheat pasta on hand (just in case...my hubby and I have about 6 boxes in the pantry, should we go broke).
Buy oatmeal by the large store brand canister (it's all pretty much the same)...just make it on the stove in large batches and put single servings in containers to reheat later.
Buy meat when it's on sale in bulk and freeze some (this is what my mom did while I was growing up-I'm a vegetarian so I couldn't tell you how much meat costs now).
I know how you feel...my hubby lost his job almost a year ago...we've been living off my income alone (that's two adults, one 6 yr old, and 3 dogs).

Hello!

Have you thought about buying bulk legumes (various beans, peas, lentils) and rice? These tend to be fairly inexpensive. Also, try to incorporate more vegetarian meals into your meal planning. You can get your protein from the beans. Going meatless more often will definitely save you money.

A few more ideas: Watch sales and use coupons. You can buy frozen vegetables and fruit (no sugar added). These are just as healthy as the fresher, higher-priced versions. Buy the store brand versus name brand foods. Stock up when the stores have mega sales, e.g. 10 for $10, buy one, get one. I always look for the reduced sections in the produce, meats, dairy, and bakery. Many times you can get something for more than half-off just because it is nearing its sell by/expiration date. You can buy foods in larger portions and then divide them up at home and freeze for later use. Also, look for breads/rolls in the store's bakery section. You can usually find healthy versions at a lower cost.

Finally, if you have the room, grow it yourself! I plant beans, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and more. I have an abundance of fresh vegetables all season long, and I freeze/preserve whatever we don't eat and share with friends. This saves me a ton of money of vegetables throughout the late fall, winter, and spring. (I live in Michigan; growing season isn't too long.) If you can't grow your own, find someone who does and hope they share with you!

Try this website for inexpensive dinners www.5dollardinners.com she has some great meals and she lists recipes on her site as well as recently releasing her new book. Have you checked into WIC, Woman, Infant and Children, assistance? You may qualify and that would help with the cost of formula and basics. Best of luck.

Great website! Thanks for the link! My husband just started back to school full time so we will be surviving off of my income for the next few years. We have always shopped at Aldi, if you have that where you live I recommend it. We're trying to think of more ways to cut costs... We have cancelled our cable and home phone service, I dropped my gym membership and ordered P90X, and we will be cutting back on our meal costs (which is a huge deal because we really enjoy quality foods). Fortunately, it's just me and him that we have to worry about. For you, I would definitely look into assistance such as WIC, shopping at discount grocery stores such as Aldi, and buying in bulk. Best of luck to you and your family. :flowerforyou:

i was really able to stock up at sams this past week. found 6lbs of boneless skinless chicken breast for $9 and bought a whole 12 pound pork loin for $17 which i then brought home and trimmed and broke down to lean chops. there should be enough meat around here to keep me going for awhile.

because of my schedule i am not able to keep fresh veggies around that often, but i have found that some frozen (like peas, corn, and lima beans) taste pretty decent and are cheap (i go with store brand)

You should see if you have food banks in your area.

Good luck.

I know it's hard and takes a lot of work, first of all check into any programs that may help you. They are there for people to use while getting on their feet. Secondly, price match, coupons and plan menues. I run a daycare and have 8 children plus my family of 4 to feed 3 times a day, I do this for around $600/mo, my sister spends three times that fro her fam of 5 because she doesnt price shop. Walmart will match most ads. Plan menues so you can use some of the previous nights dinner for the next nights, liek chilie on spagettie noodle, buy the whole wheat.

Also, if you have to overdraft your account(and I've been there) make sure you get everything you need at once, formula diapers what ever it may be and only pay one fee. If I had to do that I would sometimes write the check for 20 over so I had cash if I neededit and wouldnt pay a second fee. If I didn't need it I put it back.

Look into WIC that is a great program and you can get what baby needs food wise so it should free up some more $$$.

Good luck,

Here are some great tips that should help you out.

Only thing i can add to the other things like

wic- coupons, defenetely price match- and stuff like that is

cook your own food !

Buying processed food is not only slowing our progress on weight loss but - it's not healthy and it's not cheap- it may seem cheap but it's not.
One small example.

One can of .. whatever soup - is mostly considered to be " 2 servings " .. one small can of soup.. i don't know anyone that can get full of a half can of soup - - you pay for it anywhere between .. what.. 1.50-2.50 $ i don't know don't buy them..
but they are - not fresh- that's a canned soup, it has sodium ' even the " reduced sodium versions " have still to much sodium in it.. and that can - is only good enough for .. you.. one meal..

for almost the same money you can " boil your own water, add your own spices, add a carrot or two ( which is pretty much cheap fresh or frozen ) .. add a bag of frozen veggies - stroe brands alway good options .. and for example " fry's " in my areas- has them almost all the time at 0.75 cents per bag ! of ANY vegtable - washed- cut ready to go..
you can boil a small piece of chicken cut it in small pieces, you can add small amount of noodles or what ever you like
there you go a whole batch of soup for you and few more people - and you can make many servings for the same amount of that " one can " - much better- fresh- healthier..
This is just one example.
I never buy any " potatoe" products.. like frozen potatoes.. or fries etc.. why ?
A bag of " any-thing potatoe frozen in bags ..c osts what .. about 2-3-4 $ p er bag.. and it's abo ut .. 2 lbs..
A bag of potatoes you can get on sale 10 lbs sometimes for 99 cents.. all you need to do is peel them yourself and cut them the way you need them..

So

Potatoes, beans, rice, pasta - help my family out saving money
frozen veggies
seasonal fruits

price match at wal mart- this saves me a ton of money on produce - i get all the " local farmers markets adds and take them to wal mart get the best deals at one place -

i print coupons at home - almost every week - i have them organized by

food
clean supply
cosmetics
etc.. because- every cent you save on .. let's say " cleaning supply " can be a cent more towards your groceries..
so watch for those coupons they are worth it.

plan your meals. I can't plan every meal exactly . But i have at least some " rough " idea of the menu before i go shopping.. Will it be chicken or fish ? turkey or beef ? .. will it be peas and some potatoes .. or broccoli ? .. decide and another thing is don't strictly go by your shopping list- because once you get to the store and see that the item on you list is more expensive that another alternative vegtable- switch to the " on sale ' version and do something with it instead.

I have a family of 5 - one income.. not very big- and a mortgage to pay. Lost my job in february last year..
I know how to live on a budget- this are hard times- but not the hardest i have been through coming from " bosnia ' which has been in the war in the 90's .. going thrugh that " hardship- and hunger " .. you learn to deal with tough situations, but you also learn how to manage on a little..
My biggest " secret " is- just do everything yourself- might be a little more work than you are used to- but it's healthier , cheaper and better for the environment- because we don't give credit to the companies and factories that harm the environment with their business..

Hopes this helps..

check here every coupple days- http://microsite.coupons.com/Couponweb/Offers.aspx?pid=10980&zid=or59&nid=10

print coupons for cereals- and buy them when they are on sale - sometimes i end up buying cereals that are usually like 4-5 $ - with the store sale and my c oupon i end up paying no more that 2 $ per box- and i always get the healthier and more quality..

don't buy anything without at least 3-4 gram of fiber in it ( talking about cereals ) if it doesn't have the fiber in it- will not keep you full so it's like eating empty calories and throwing your money away- so .. watch the fiber content..

laundry detergent- print it - i don't stick to a particular brand- can't affor now-a -days.. so what's on sale i get it.. and try to combine with the coupon.. last week got laundry softener - usual cost more than 4.50 - i ended up paying 1 $ ! .. so defenitely a bargain..

Peanut Butter - this is a GOOD FAT and it's cheap!!! OR EGGS!!! they are cheap too and they are a good fat! Chicken is extremely cheap and it can last you for a long time! You can buy one pack of 6 chicken breats for $6 and that will last you for 6 days (6 dinners)... I am on a pretty tight budget as well and these are the kinds of things i have managed to get that help up my calorie intake and are actually good for the diet process.
Hope this helps

I didn't read all of the other posts, but have to mention southersavers.com - my sister spends $150 a month for her whole family on groceries including their specialty needs like goat milk using "extreme couponing" tactics. Other than that, I highly recommend dried beans (like a dollar for a pound and cook up a huge pot-full), brown rice (just bought organic yesterday for .86/lb and again, cooks up to make a ton), in season produce (bought a 10 pound bag of potatoes for $2 a couple weeks ago and 3 pound bag of onions for $1.50, bunch of bananas for $1.11 - .39/lb.. you get the idea). And forget the packets of oatmeal, buy the canister. It'll come out cheaper by the ounce AND is healthier.

I agree 99 cents only store is great ! i have one in my area and i always check them otu first before any thing else- because they get always different products and have lots' of organic produce and other things. Amazing ! .. Other week got a whole basket full for 42 $.. and there was at least 90$ worht of food.. So if you have one anywhere in your area- defenetely check it out- this is not a regular " dollar " store- i like them cause they seem neat and clean.. and not as dusty as other dollar stores