Saving money doesn’t mean that you have to resort to eating fast food or unhealthy food. Here are the best tips on how to eat healthy while on a budget!
Use Flashfood to buy discounted grocery
Flashfood is a free app that can help you tremendously when you are looking to eat healthy while on a budget. This app gives massive savings on fresh food items like meat and produce that are nearing their best before date at grocery stores across Canada and the U.S.
You can use the app to quickly and easily find discounted food from wherever you are. Then, you can pick up your order at the grocery store.
The app advertises the deals as up to 50% off. While it is true that many deals are like that, I have scored even crazier deals like $0.50 for a dozen of eggs or $0.50 for a carton of fresh baby corn. And the quality is great!
Cook at home
Why not save money for food by cooking at home? That way, you know exactly what ingredients go into the meals, and you don’t have to spend money on restaurant labour and tips!
Use a meal kit delivery program like HelloFresh
Not sure what to cook at home? Meal kit delivery programs come in handy if you want to eat healthy while on a budget. Fresh ingredients are delivered to your door along with recipes so you have no excuse to eat out. It is also great for portion control and maintaining/losing weight, as the recipes list out the exact nutritional values for each meal.
Buy frozen fruit and vegetables instead of fresh
Frozen fruit and vegetables are just as nutritious as their fresh counterparts. They are also a lot cheaper!
Buy canned fruit and vegetables
Canned fruit and vegetables are also a good option if you are trying to save money. Common vegetables such as green beans, corn, carrots and mushrooms are all available in cans. They are also great for storage, so you don’t have to worry about them getting spoiled.
Buy products that are on sale
This is a no-brainer when you are looking to eat healthy when you are on a budget. Grocery stores almost always have items on sale every week. Even better, what’s on sale typically rotates every week, so you can have variety in your diet without breaking the bank.
Make sure you check out the flyers of your local grocery store each time you shop. You can then meal plan accordingly.
Use a cash-back credit card
Using a cash-back credit card while you shop is a great way to save more money. There are so many cash-back credit cards with no annual fees out there; pick one that suits your lifestyle the most so you can get the rewards without the burden of an annual fee!
If you are looking for a Canadian credit card, you may want to consider signing up for the no-fee Tangerine Money-Back credit card. It is my primary card that offers cash-back on every purchase, including 2% for three categories of your choice (and you can pick groceries). I use the card daily, and I cannot recommend it enough.
Grow your own vegetables
If you have a backyard, you may want to try growing your own vegetables. Not only can you save money grocery shopping, but you can also gain a very fun hobby and many valuable skills.
Tomatoes, cucumbers or even leafy greens are all great options to choose from. You can either buy seeds or small plants that have already sprouted.
If you don’t have a backyard, don’t worry. You can still grow herbs and they make great indoor decorations as well. If you have no space, you can grow your own bean sprouts with just a carton!
Join loyalty programs
More than ever, grocery stores have introduced loyalty programs to try to encourage consumers to buy from them continuously.
To retain customers, these loyalty programs typically offer additional benefits for their members. For example, they may offer more loyalty points when you purchase a particular item, or some bonus savings if you hit a minimum spend. Once you accumulate enough loyalty points, you can redeem them for free groceries.
Price match
Some grocery stores have a price match policy. That is, they are willing to give you a discount if you can find a competitive grocer that offers the same product for less.
For the frugal consumers out there, this is your chance to save some money! Identify which grocery stores offer this policy, and check their respective flyers. You may be able to score some fresh food at a nearby grocery store for less!
Use Flipp to compare flyers
Flipp is a great app that lets you compare flyers from different grocery stores. It is super easy to find out where the best deals are. For example, you can simply type in “egg” in the app, and the app will show you all the flyers with eggs on sale. You can then choose the most suitable place to purchase your eggs!
Healthy food can be very expensive at a restaurant. As well, just because a dish is labeled as healthy doesn’t mean that it is actually healthy.
Batch cooking
Batch cooking isn’t just a great way to manage time, it is also an easy hack to help you save money if you are trying to be healthy and saving money at the same time. Purchase whatever protein or root vegetables that are on sale, and roast them in a sheet pan with your desired spices. For under an hour from start to finish, you can have several nutritious meals ready to go for the rest of the week. No more excuses to purchase ready-made food just for the sake of convenience.
Freeze your meals
What goes hand in hand with batch cooking is freezing your meals. Grab a few reusable containers and portion out your food, and you have great lunch boxes to go! This method is a surefire way to eliminate waste and save money. It is also great for portion control too if you are watching your weight.
Buy private brand named food
More and more grocery chains are now selling some of the most common and popular food items under their own private brands. Ketchup, mustard, juice, chips and so many more can now be found under private brands. They typically sell at lower prices than brand-named food items, and they taste the same (at least to me).
Therefore, if you want to save money on groceries, opt for store-named items. Your wallet will love you for it and your taste buds most likely won’t complain, either.
Eat simple food
If you are looking to save money and follow a healthy diet, eating simple food is the way to go. You do not need the most elaborate sauces and cheeses; they are typically expensive and are not necessarily the best healthy options.
If you are afraid that your food may be too boring without special sauces, consider investing in some good spices. Even the most basic spices can do wonders for your simple dishes, and you only need a little bit!
Try different cuts of meat
Some cuts of meat are more expensive than others. If you need to save money, you may consider switching to a less expensive cut of meat. For example, chicken breast is typically more expensive than chicken legs and chicken quarters, but the latter is just as, if not more, flavourful.
Buy in bulk
If there is anything you consume regularly, then, by all means, buy in bulk! There is usually a negative correlation between price and quantity: the larger the quantity you purchase, the cheaper the per-unit price. Of course, you must make sure that you can finish all the ingredients you buy; otherwise, you may end up spending more overall.
Check out grocery stores before a long weekend
I have noticed that grocery stores often have deep discounts the day before the long weekend. As such, you should pay the stores a visit on that day if you can. You can likely find items that are not typically discounted on sale, or regularly-discounted items at deeper discounts, especially when it comes to fresh meat and vegetables.
Use your freezer
The freezer is your good friend if you are looking to follow a healthy diet while on a budget. You can buy frozen vegetables and fruits, and you can freeze almost anything that you buy on sale (e.g., meat and bread).
Shop with a list
If you plan ahead, you are less likely to purchase something on an impulse. This will help you cut down unnecessary cost!
Conclusion
Eating healthy and being on a budget can go hand in hand. Try the tips above, and I am sure you will feel satisfied with your meals and your purse!
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