Food Revolution Network

10 Secrets for Eating Healthy On A Budget (Yes, It Is Possible!)

brown grocery bag with various vegetables in it

I love cooking. I also love my job, walking my dog, and having adventures. With so much life to live, it can seem like there’s not enough time to do it all. Or enough money.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t eat healthy on a budget and save time, too. I’ve learned from and helped my friends and community find and improve their paths to fresh and healthy eating and budgeting.

I’ve discovered that learning how to eat healthy on a budget takes some effort, but it is possible (and totally worth it!).

Here are 10 secrets that will help you eat healthy on a budget.

Secret #1 — Plan Ahead and Stick to Your Plan

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Learning how to make planning work for your life may be the most powerful, life-changing step you can take to eat well and save money. But it’s definitely not the easiest.

Creating a weekly meal plan and developing your grocery list before you shop takes time and effort. But the difference it makes is incredible!

Learning how to make planning work for your life may be the most powerful, life-changing step you can take to eat well and save money.

You can also cook meals days ahead, so you’ll have food ready within minutes.

Daily or multiple trips to the grocery store can be costly — in time, gas, and in increased impulse buying. But planning allows you to take fewer trips.

And when you don’t have snacks, ingredients, and prepared meals on hand, you’ll be more likely to make expensive, unhealthy choices.

Secret #2 — Eat More Whole Plants and Fewer Animal Foods and Junk Foods

Highly processed foods with plentiful packaging and meat products can get pricey.

On the other hand, consuming a plant-strong diet can lead to considerable savings. Think low in meat and abundant in fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains.

Andrée Pagès and her husband went plant-based for six months and wound up saving more than $2,800 in grocery bills. They used this money to pay for a two-week vacation in Greece.

You might be thinking: Can plant foods really be cheaper?

Consider these two studies:

The researchers in the second study compared the prices of foods and beverages at two leading supermarkets:

Junk food and beverages offer little to no nutritional value. And highly processed foods typically have ingredient lists that look more like lab reports.

Remember: The longer the list of ingredients on a package, the more likely it is to be unhealthy.

Foods like soda, crackers, cookies, frozen entrees, and other fast foods come with a variety of health risks.

And here’s a point many people forget to consider about healthy food:

Not only are healthy foods more economical at the grocery store, but in the long run, they can help you save massive amounts on medical bills.

Secret #3 — Shop Local And In Season As Much As Possible

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Produce is cheapest (and also freshest, tastiest, and most nutritious) when you buy it in season. Getting fresh produce in its off-season requires higher costs to produce and ship. And stores pass these costs on to customers.

Americans can use this seasonal food guide to find out what’s in season nearby before planning a grocery list.

Buying fresh produce when it’s in season and freezing or preserving it for later can save you a lot of money.

Choosing local food has many benefits, including saving money.

Ways you may be able to find local food in your area:

Secret #4 — Choose The Healthiest Inexpensive Foods

Rather than waste money on low-nutrient foods, choose more inexpensive, nutrient-rich alternatives.

13 Affordable, Nutritious Foods to Help You Eat Healthy on A Budget

As you learn how to eat healthy on a budget, try consuming more of these foods, which are packed with good-for-you nutrients:

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Secret #5 — Buy in Bulk and Remember Frozen Foods

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The next time you go shopping for dried goods, such as lentils, oats, millet, and nutritional yeast, stop by the bulk aisle.

Buying in bulk is usually less expensive than pre-packaged portions.

But don’t assume the foods in the bulk section are always cheaper. You can compare the bulk price per ounce or pound with the packaged price per ounce.

And then, store your dried goods in glass jars so you can easily see what’s in them.

You can also buy in bulk at a farmers market and freeze what you don’t need right away.

Freezing Fresh Food Secures Maximum Nutrition

Don’t get me wrong. Local, fresh produce is typically your most nutritious option — and the best way to eat healthy on a budget.

But you can’t always buy local. And when you don’t, you may end up buying fruits and vegetables whose nutritional value has been diminishing daily since it was harvested.

Flash-frozen produce is frozen shortly after being collected, which halts the deterioration process and locks in the nutrients.

A 2015 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry compared the nutritional value of fresh and frozen produce.

Overall, the vitamin content of the frozen fruits and vegetables was comparable to and occasionally higher than the fresh versions.

In addition to being good for you, frozen produce is affordable and convenient and has a much longer shelf life.

One downside, however, is the texture of frozen vegetables, which does suffer and turn some people away from them.

Secret #6 — Cook Often and Learn to Love Leftovers

Cooking at home is a cornerstone of the healthy kitchen.

Home cooking means:

Restaurants have high overhead and service costs. When you eat out (or get takeout or delivery), you are paying for much more than the food you’re getting.

Think about how much of the cost of your meal goes to restaurant rent, staffing, insurance, tipping, and delivery costs.

Eating out can be enjoyable. But by making eating out a treat and preparing most meals at home, you can spend thousands less each year on food than those who eat out regularly.

For example, Rachel Morgan Cautero and her husband reported saving $10,000 per year by cooking at home.

Home cooking also makes the ultimate leftovers. And while leftovers have a negative reputation for many people, the truth is:

“Leftovers are a beautiful, caring investment in the future.” — Ocean Robbins

Leftovers are a beautiful, caring investment in the future.

Ocean Robbins

Making extra food and refrigerating or freezing it for later gives you a quick, delicious, nutritious meal when you need it. And taking leftovers instead of going out for lunch is an easy way to save money.

Plus, did you know there’s a scientific reason why cooked foods often taste better the next day?

Chemical reactions continue after the food is cooked. More amino acids are released over time, which enhances the savory umami flavor of a dish.

Secret #7 — Plug-In and Feel the Power

Let’s face it. Multitasking is mainstream. So, why not rely on plug-in kitchen appliances to do their thing while you do yours.

This means no more choosing between yoga and a home-cooked meal. Handy kitchen appliances can be an essential part of effective food routines.

Trying to crockpot garbanzo beans will show you the boundaries of your patience (trust me, I know!). But here’s what you can do: Try using an electric pressure cooker instead.

Electric pressure cookers are bean time machines.

Dried beans are both affordable and versatile. And electric pressure cookers are bean time machines. In thirty to fifty minutes even dried garbanzo beans soften and are ready to become everything from hummus to chana masala.

These protein-packed, cancer-fighting superstars balance any diet, freeze well (once cooked), and keep in the fridge for a week if you salt them.

Even if your counter space is at a premium, the one appliance that should always have VIP parking is your blender.

Whether you power up with an AM smoothie or believe, like I do, that there is such a thing as “soup season” that lasts from October through March (yes, I live in the Northern hemisphere), your blender can be your best friend.

Electric steamers can be an essential healthy kitchen tool. You can pick one up for under twenty dollars, throw in your veggie of choice, set the timer, and walk away.

Most electric steamers also include a stock tray that collects the nutrient-rich liquid-by-product of steaming that can be frozen and used alongside vegetable scraps to make your own vegetable stock.

And don’t forget about electric rice cookers. You can load them up and turn on your timer in the morning. And then, you’ll come home to perfectly cooked rice piping hot and ready for you in time for supper. (You can also use them to cook quinoa, millet, or other grains, and even legumes.)

Here’s a tip: VitaClay makes a rice cooker out of clay — so you can steer clear of the non-stick options. If you’re interested, get it here.

NOTE: Don’t forget to look at consumer reviews and product specs before purchasing any kitchen appliance. Prices and features vary. Plus, you may find that the most affordable steamer does everything you want it to do and leaves you extra cash for that fancier blender that basically reads your mind. Or vice versa.

Secret #8 — Do More Yourself: Grow Your Own Healthy Food and Make Some of Your Own Food Products

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Gardening is one of the best ways to save money on groceries.

Even if you are not much of a gardener, growing a few herbs or vegetables can save you time and money and help you eat healthy on a budget.

Knowing when to plant what is the is the first step to tasty spring and early summer greens, like chard and spinach, and plentiful tomatoes and zucchini all summer long.

Some of the easiest vegetables to grow are chard, kale, and collards. They don’t require much attention and deliver an amazing amount of nutrients per square foot.

Container gardening and bucket gardening are good alternatives if you have limited outdoor space.

Indoor gardening is another idea. Here’s a guide to help you grow an indoor salad garden year-round.

And if you do have more space, try these tips to start growing your own food.

Even one less ingredient on your grocery list means you’re saving money.

In addition to growing some of your food, making more food items on your own can save you money and be fun.

Fermented foods are great for your gut, but they aren’t always affordable. So why not try making your own?

No-boil quick pickling is a beginner’s best friend. Think refrigerator zucchini pickles, lemony pickled cauliflower, or fermented probiotics made with whatever greens are cheap that week — like this kale kimchi or this beet and red cabbage kraut.

On the other hand, canning takes a little more time and effort. But it can be a great way to save money. This online guide can help you learn how.

Other products you can make yourself to save money are nut and seed milks. These are easier to make than you probably think.

Making your own vegetable broth from food scraps is a great way to save money and reduce food waste at the same time.

And if you want to be a little extra adventurous, you can even buy a starter and make your own homemade soy or nut yogurt.

Secret #9 — Discover Food Rescue and Rejuvenation

Instead of letting your produce go to waste, be sure to store them properly and revive them if needed.

Here are some tips:

For more tips on keeping your perishables from perishing, check out this infographic.

Secret #10 — Learn The Beauty of Batch Cooking

While they may be tempting, choosing meal delivery services means you’re overpaying for portions. In fact, the average monthly cost of such services can rival a monthly car payment!

Instead, buying and preparing reasonable ingredients, such as grains, seeds, and dried beans and fruit in bulk, is a better idea.

And this is where batch cooking comes in. Batch cooking means prepping meals or core ingredients and sauces ahead of time. (Often over the weekend for those who work during the week).

Batch cooking may be the end-all-be-all of affordable and time-efficient healthy home cooking.

Learn more about the specifics of batch cooking.

Batch cooking may be the end-all-be-all of affordable and time-efficient healthy home cooking.

Here’s how batch cooking works. If your core ingredients for the week are:

You could easily make cashew cheese sauce, broccoli cashew bisque, cashew-based salad dressing (leave out the maple syrup if you want to avoid sugar,) and cashew sour cream in one afternoon.

Pre-cooked lentils save time during the week and are the base of many tasty, international dishes.

You can try Indian Dal, Ethiopian Misir Wot (be sure to use organic canola oil), Middle Eastern Mujadara (remember there are plenty of plant-based yogurts), and Lentil salad (leave out the oil to make this an oil-free dish).

Here’s a tip: Try topping Mujadara with sauteed walnuts and raisins for the Persian variety. This dish is very flexible and can easily be adjusted and modified to taste.

Batch cooking isn’t just for meal making. Don’t be afraid to make a gallon or more of your favorite healthy sauces and freeze them in manageable batches.

Homemade sauces, like teriyaki sauce (find a gluten and sugar-free version here), can be made for a fraction of the cost of store-bought varieties.

Feel free to pass along these healthy eating secrets! Some secrets are meant to be shared.

Tell us in the comments:

And if you’re inspired, please LIKE and SHARE this article. Together, we can work for healthy, ethical, sustainable food for all!

Featured Image: iStock.com/seb_ra

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