10 Tips: Healthy Eating on a Tight Budget
Meal planning has its challenges when you’re on a tight budget and adding trying to be healthy to that can make it even more complicated. As such, here are my top 10 tips for eating healthily on a limited budget.
- Buy in Season Produce and Freeze
Fresh produce is a must when you’re eating healthily, but it can quickly become expensive. Stick to only buying what in season and freeze the excess in order to avoid waste. Stock up when the price is right and you’ll save in the long run.
- Meal Planning by What on Sale
Many consider what they feel like eating and plan their meals accordingly, but it is more cost effective to plan your meals around what’s on sale. Consult your grocery store circular for what’s on sale and plan your meals around what’s available.
- Trying Inexpensive Cuts of Meat
The good news is that you will still be able to enjoy meat if you’re on a tight budget by simply purchasing less expensive cuts of meat such as chicken thighs as opposed to chicken breasts. Try different cooking methods such as a slow cooker for tougher cuts of meat.
- Including Whole Grains and Beans
Legumes such as beans, peas, and lentils, and wholegrains such as quinoa and brown rice are an inexpensive way to bulk up meals without sacrificing any of the taste, and these can be a meal within themselves.
- Plan and Prep Ahead of Time
Prepping meals in advance is a step in the right direction towards eating more healthily, as it will save you time so you’ll have more time for online blackjack, and is a good way to ensure that you’re eating what’s in the fridge so nothing goes to waste. Consider cooking more than one meal at a time and pre-packaging it for lunch and dinner for a few days.
- Try New Things
Cuisines such as Indian and Mexican rely heavily on inexpensive ingredients such as beans and rice which are both filling and tasty. If you’re not a fan of either cuisine, attempt cherry-picking what you’re happy with from both and adjusting your usual meals accordingly.
- Organise your Fridge and Pantry
Leftovers are always a great way to stretch meals but it’s completely pointless if they get lost in the back of the fridge and go off before you’re able to eat them. Label all leftovers with the contents and the date and keep your fridge organised to minimise the possibility of waste.
- Repurposing Leftovers for another Meal
Some may not like the idea of eating the same meal over and over for days on end, so why not repurpose leftovers in order to create an entirely new and tasty meal. For example, leftover chicken will make a delicious addition to a salad the following day.
- Visit Farmers Markets
Farmers markets may or may not help you save money during regular hours of operation, but many markets will slash the prices of their fresh produce in the final hour before they close up shop. You are very likely to score great deals towards the end of the day.
- Visit Ethnic Markets
Broadening your culinary horizons may require you to find ingredients that aren’t readily available at all grocery stores and ethnic markets will come in handy in such instances. You are more than likely to find bargains on certain products as well as new and interesting additions.
