CHEAP but healthy

determined2lose89 · January 2013

I had this problem at the very beginning of my weight loss journey. I had about a $40/week food budget for 2 people but I made it work so, here's my tips:

#1) FLYER SALES! So important! If something is on for a good price, buy a few. You'll commonly find that whole wheat pastas, rice, low fat yogurt, cheese strings, whole grain crackers and canned beans (try to get the no sodium added or rinse them thoroughly...canned beans commonly go on sale for $0.88-$0.99/per can.....when they do, I buy at least 12 cans) all go on sale for cheap.
#2) Buy in season fresh veggies/fruit only and get the rest frozen. Frozen vegetables taste pretty much the same after cooking them.
#3) Don't waste money on "100 calorie" packages of crackers. Buy a box and some little baggies and measure it out yourself.
#4) COUPON! I'm not sure where you live, but research online where you can get coupons for your area. I save about $15 a week on my grocery bill by couponing.

Hoping this helps you!

PS: Feel free to add me as a friend if you'd like some cheap recipes too

DoomCakes · January 2013

I had this problem at the very beginning of my weight loss journey. I had about a $40/week food budget for 2 people but I made it work so, here's my tips:

#1) FLYER SALES! So important! If something is on for a good price, buy a few. You'll commonly find that whole wheat pastas, rice, low fat yogurt, cheese strings, whole grain crackers and canned beans (try to get the no sodium added or rinse them thoroughly...canned beans commonly go on sale for $0.88-$0.99/per can.....when they do, I buy at least 12 cans) all go on sale for cheap.
#2) Buy in season fresh veggies/fruit only and get the rest frozen. Frozen vegetables taste pretty much the same after cooking them.
#3) Don't waste money on "100 calorie" packages of crackers. Buy a box and some little baggies and measure it out yourself.
#4) COUPON! I'm not sure where you live, but research online where you can get coupons for your area. I save about $15 a week on my grocery bill by couponing.

Hoping this helps you!

PS: Feel free to add me as a friend if you'd like some cheap recipes too

^ This, I was just about to type something similar when I saw this.

ALWAYS look for sales. Sometimes frozen veggies are on sale cheaper than fresh. Always aim for whats in season (I LOVE strawberries, but I will not buy them out of season, almost 2 dollars more!!) Something I heard, and it's pretty true, most of the healthy stuff is on the outter edge of the store, not the inner aisles. Also, don't fall for gimmicky foods with the "low fat" and "low cal" titles. They usually have extra stuff or trick you in serving sizes. Eating good does not have to be hard or expensive ^_^

atrebor18 · January 2013

Not sure if you have an Aldi around you, but you could save some money by buying some items there.

I totally agree! I alway's go to Aldi's first because they carry staples for super cheap like brown rice and frozen veggies. They also have been having more "healthy foods" I want like almond milk. I got a cart full of stuff there for 20 bucks but then went to my local whole foods and got two things for that much, granted they were specialty items so I justified it. I read somewhere that frozen veggies can actually be healthier then fresh sometimes because they are frozen at their peak. I agree with farmer markets though, super fresh and shopping local are both great things.

heatherk72 · January 2013

Thanks for this link!

starfish475 · January 2013

Hey ..Lentil beans are a great source of protien and very easy to cook...

Katie320 · January 2013

Hey ..Lentil beans are a great source of protien and very easy to cook...

Agreed! I just made a great lentil soup this week in the crock pot (if you don't have a crock pot, get one) that fed me and my husband for at least 3 meals. It was delicious, low-calorie and super filling! Here's the recipe: http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2012/12/lentil-minestrone-soup-recipe.html. You could make a batch and freeze it so that you have quick, healthy lunches.

sbrooks0387 · January 2013

frozen veggies can be found for about $1 a bag for the basic store brand ones.
Tuna
Chicken (if you can buy in bulk and freeze. where i am thats a $3 difference a pound, you could re-do your budget to include some bulk buying. an item or two a week in bulk)
fruit in season. check out an Aldi's or save-a-lot or other discount store that tend to have fruit that is in season so it's cheaper.
brown rice
dried beans (just have to plan ahead if you soak them over night)

SteveJWatson · January 2013

This won't help you if you live in the town but...

I find animal protein is the most expensive thing to buy so, I take a day off every two weeks in winter to beat on my local shoot - I get paid (not much) and as many pheasants as I can carry away ( will take maybe 4 brace per shoot). Rabbits are a pain - if you can find someone who shoots them in the fur they probably wont charge you more than 50p. Its amazing what venison costs if you know the right gamekeepers in the right pubs I have been known to return on a friday night with the back end of a deer over my shoulder......

Other than that; look for when the supermarkets reduce whole salmon because its due out of date the next day. Take it home, fillet it off and freeze in portions. Lesser known fish are often cheap - Morrisons used to sell dabs (small flatfish) and they were never expensive and they are tastier than plaice, IMO.

You can get dead cheap nuts, rice etc if you buy in bulk from the 'ethnic' isle of your supermarket or find a chinese/indian grocers.

jessready · January 2013

http://www.ebfarm.com/user/register?destination=node/3657

sign up for coupons....I've gotten free carrots at walmart before with them. Every bit of savings help

CHEAP but healthy

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