5 Ways To Eat Healthy On A Budget

(Photo credit:  flydime)

Coupons skeptics often have the misconception that coupon users are eating Jell-O and Hamburger Helper for dinner each night.  (Not knockin’ if you do, as we’re all in different situations!  More on that in a bit…)

Maybe you’re sitting on the couponing fence, wanting to save but not so sure about the effects this change will have on the way your family eats.  What I’m about to say may surprise those nay-sayers, but after couponing and cutting our household budget significantly for some time now, we’re eating healthier than we were as a non-couponing family.  Here’s give way we’re able to do that:

1.  Just say no. To some deals, that is.   It’s certainly true that foods that are highly processed and high in fat, sugar, preservatives, calorie are often available for pennies between sales and coupons.  But just because we’re looking to cut our spending doesn’t mean we have to buy those products.  When I first began couponing, I couldn’t believe how cheap I could score these products- so I bought them and ate them often.  Not so healthy!  I still have boxes of unopened fruit snacks from a sale a long time ago.  Just because I got them for 20 cents a box doesn’t mean it’s something I should have in my home, right?  Now, in an attempt to feed my family better, I have my will-not-buy list.  And no matter how great the deal, I won’t buy these items, unless I plan to donate it somewhere.

You may be wondering why I include these items in my store deal posts.  Good question!  I do it because not everyone wants to eat like my family- and not everyone is in the position to spend a bit more on healthier items.  (Processed foods on the table are better than no food at all, in my opinion.)  Plus, a Pop-Tart isn’t terrible if it’s the exception for a snack, not the rule.

2.  Go homemade. Eating homemade meals rather than prepared boxed and frozen foods can save your waist line- and perhaps even your wallet!   While cooking from scratch can take a bit more time (but doesn’t have to!), it’s often a healthier alternative, as you don’t typically use products like high fructose corn syrup and a host of preservatives the average American can’t pronounce.  Plus, making homemade is often actually cheaper.  Check out $5 Dinners and For The Mommas for inexpensive, yummy recipes!

3.  Know where to look for healthier food coupons. There are plenty of coupons available for healthy foods.  You just have to know where to find them.  Manufacturers’ websites, such as Stonyfield and Organic Valley, are good places to begin your search.  Others sources for some healthier food coupons:   Mindful Mama, Whole Foods, Mambo Sprouts, and  Delicious Living.  Coupons.com also reguarly has savings on brands like Kashi. Plus, if you’re looking for plenty of organic deals, be sure to check out The Thrifty Mama and Organic Deals.  Those are two healthy ladies that still know how to save a buck!

4.  Know where to shop. Be a savvy shopper by knowing what places in your area have the best prices on healthy foods.  Don’t count out small, local shops!  Local health food stores are often the best places to buy bulk grains, for example.  And I’ve found the lowest produce prices in my town to be at a small produce market.  Compare your store options and shop where healthy foods, like fresh produce, are generally the cheapest.

5.  Re-focus your savings. Focus your bargain shopping on other negotiable items like household cleaners, paper supplies, and health and beauty products in order to free up more money for healthy food options.  For example, instead of spending $2 on toothpaste, find a way to get it for free.  Then you could use that $2 on fresh fruit instead.  This method has worked nicely for my family, allowing us to often spend 40% of our grocery budget on produce, leaving the remaining 60% for everything else that we need to buy.

I know those super cheap fruit snacks can be a big temptation, but with a bit of smart shopping, eating healthy on a budget is entirely possible! What tips do you have for eating healthy while cutting costs?