Shoppin healthy on a buget for.......

I eat my chili dogs with no buns and when making spaghetti I don't use noodles I use zucchini or squash and some times green beans. My family will not eat whole wheat and when I try to hide it they know. I wrap my sandwiches , tacos , burgers or chicken in lettuce. If I have to have something with whole wheat I make it from scratch. Tortilla's and so on...

try the website poorgirleatswell. it has lots of suggestions for cheap food that tastes great...and as a picky eater i can tell you that it is not all freaky food (just some )

My husband did the same thing with whole wheat pasta at first. Now he doesn't mind because that's what he had eaten so much before knowing what it was LOL My trick is to not tell anyone anything is different until after dinner LOL

I tend to search for recipes that are healthy and yummy. There are tons out there that do not taste like "healthy: food and my family doesn't know it is good for them. LOL

It's hard when they don't want to switch over. I refuse to cook 2 dinners etc. If I am making something higher in calories then I would normally have then I watch my calories the rest of the day so I have it. If you can only afford 1 type of bread, plan for it in your calories (do you have a bread thrift store near you? You could buy both cheaper than 1 at the regular store).

I know that wasn't much help. Good luck! You can do this. Don't let a tight budget become an excuse for not doing this (not saying you will - I have done that before)

The way that I look at it is that you don't really have to spend a ton of money to get healthy foods.
Chicken is a pretty staple "diet" food and you can find that on sale or buy it in bulk at Sam's Club. We are a family of four and the chicken packs last us for a long while. It can be marinated and grilled or cooked in the oven. Chicken really lends itself well to flavors. Another is pork loin trimmed of all visible fat. If you have a freezer, it can be butchered at home into chops, cubes and roasts.
Dried beans are cheap, filling and very versatile! Though they are higher calorie they are fiber dense and are just an all around terrific food to keep in your pantry.
Fruits and veggies are always great! Fresh and frozen preferably but if you have to do canned it's alright too! Fruit can get expensive if you buy exotic or fruit that is out of season. I never, ever buy strawberries in the winter months...it's crazy 8 dollars for 2 pounds...I'll wait for summer.
Eggs are something that we eat a ton of! I eat a minimum of 4 eggs whites a day. They can be boiled and eaten also. Plus you could always make low cal egg salad
Greek yogurt is also another staple in my fridge, oh and carbmaster "yogurt". I buy Fage at Walmart in the huge tubs. It's a little pricey but it keeps me full and when I get those really bad sweets cravings I'd rather have it than the cereal in the pantry.
For a long time my husband wasn't on the dieting bandwagon. I still cooked what he enjoyed but I ate smaller portions with huge salads that filled me up. You're doing this for you and it's fantastic!

I just buy and cook what I am gonna cook...I don't give my husband a choice...

I was just thinking: How much broccoli can you buy for the same price as pop tarts? I still buy my hubby and kids pop tarts, but that is about all of the junk around here. Glad to hear I am not alone. I just try to stick to what is on sale, and yes, if I have to do the shopping, then any one who complains is welcome to take over and make the budget last a week.

personally this is what i do. go to a health food place, like whole foods market, veggies, buy frozen, get their whole foods brand/365 brand. ive found there is actually some healthy cereal and pastas that are cheaper and healthier, def healthier, than other stores that dont have natural ingredients in them. you can shop just as cheap at these kind of stores if you get their brands, as shopping at other stores, i found a multi-grain cereal for 2.00, which is way cheaper than the local grocery store. good luck, and you can do it.

I don't know if anyone else mentioned it but coupons is the way to go. You aren't going to really be able to use them for healthy stuff. The best you can do is buy what is on sale or in season. Coupons are great for other things. I would try to steer clear of processed foods, even though most coupons are for that, but you can still get cereals, soups and whatnot with it. What you save can be used towards getting milks, produce and meats. Also shop locally rather in supermarkets for your produce. You can also try to grow certain vegetables and there are certain farms that let you (and some friends) buy an animal. They do all the work for you, all you do is take your portion of the meat home.

I don't know how tight your budget is but I feed my family of 2 adults and 2 kids for 500$ a month. You can make crock pot meals for cheap with beans, rice, veggies (canned or whatever cheapest) and lower cost cuts of meat like chicken thighs, hamburger, drumsticks etc. Make sure leftovers become lunches. Stock up on soups when they go on sale. Sandwiches and pastas may have to be eaten more often. Don't buy convience food like fruit roll ups and cheese strings. Buy in bulk and package into individual sizes yourself. Use coupons whenever possible........buy store brand instead of name brand.

as for hubby........I'd tell he has 2 choices, eat what you make or don't. If you are on a tight budget no one can be picky. As long as there is food on the table it's all good.