Clean Eating On a Budget

Eating a healthy, balanced diet can sometimes feel out of reach due to cost, especially with the rising prices at the grocery store. Still, there are many ways you can make nutritious meals without breaking the bank. Check out these four tips for eating well on a budget and reducing your grocery costs.

We are all guilty of going through our pantries or cupboards at some point and finding expired boxes of food pushed to the back. One of the primary ways you can reduce your grocery costs is by avoiding food waste. 

Take inventory of what food you have once or twice a month. With that information, choose a few recipes you can make that will utilize some of ingredients you already have.

Plan a week ahead and jot down a rough idea of what recipes you’ll make each day. Your meal plan doesn’t have to be perfect, but it can help you see where you can use leftovers. Leftover chicken one night might make a great addition to a wrap for lunch the next day. You can also take this time to browse your local store adds. If a certain ingredient is on sale that you like, you can choose a recipe using it. 

Make note of any fresh ingredients on your list. You'll want to use those soonest because they can spoil quickly—another way people often unintentionally let food go to waste. 

Aim to stick to your list as closely as possible but be flexible when it comes to sales. If you notice a great deal on a staple of yours, consider buying extra to store or freeze for later. It is particularly frugal to purchase meat on sale or in larger packs (that often have a lower price per pound). You can then divide it up into smaller portions at home and freeze for later.

Avoid picking up too many foods like chips, candy, and crackers that won’t fill you up or provide much nutritional value. 

Consider doubling recipes to save half of the meal in the freezer for a super quick and easy dinner later. Casseroles, curries, and soups often freeze and re-heat well. If you have leftover fruits or vegetables after preparing a recipe, chop/slice what’s left and freeze in a reusable container.