Tips & Tricks For Healthy Eating on a Shoestring

You’d like to eat better, but fresh produce & organic foods are more expensive than you can afford? Here are tips for saving money while still eating healthy!

The truth is, it can be hard on the wallet to eat healthily. It’s cheaper to just buy a loaf of white bread or an unhealthy box of macaroni & cheese and call it a day. Am I right? But did you stop to think about the medical expenses and health issues that can creep up from eating these very cheap and processed foods? Or the staggering health costs of being overweight?

Healthier diets could save Americans more than $200 billion a year in medical costs, lost productivity, and expenses caused by death.

Do not despair. Being an expert at the service where you can ask to write my essay, I’d like to present to you little shortcuts and tips for buying healthy foods on a budget. Yes, organic can be expensive. While prices are coming down as organic becomes more mainstream, it still might not be prudent to buy all organic if your budget is tight. So what can you get away with?

Tips for buying organic in the produce section:

• The thinner the skin, it’s best to buy organic. Apples and grapes and berries for example have pesticide residue right on the very skin you ingest. Buy these organic.
• Thicker-skinned produce you can get away with buying non-organic, such as bananas and melons, avocado, and pineapple. Corn on the cob, broccoli & cauliflower can also be purchased non-organic due to slightly less pesticide residue.

Healthy Eating Money Saving Tips & Tricks:

• Buy frozen fruits and veggies in large bags at low prices.
• Grow your fruits and veggies in a garden outback. If space is limited or you live in an apartment, use a planter on a window sill. Start small: radishes, cherry tomatoes, or carrots.
• Eat less meat. While it’s no secret that red meat is not good for your health (high in cholesterol for example) try buying lean, organic poultry that is free of antibiotics, added hormones, and human growth hormones (GMO) If you chose to eat meat, buy less of a higher quality cut to balance out the cost. Look for bigger packs that are on sale.
• When you can, buy in bulk at discounted prices. Use coupons and look for sales on healthy foods.
• Eat seasonally. Often, food that is currently in season is priced lower and tastes better.
• Can, dry or freeze fresh fruits or veggies for the off-season to make them last longer.
• Avoid processed foods. While they may appear cheaper on the grocery store shelves, they are mostly void of nutritional value and leave you feeling hungrier. There are ways to prepare your favorite processed foods in your kitchen much healthier and simpler.
• Cook from scratch: less processed= much healthier and less impact on your budget.
• Cut back on eating out. It can be costly and adds calories and inches to your waistline.
• Hit up a Farmer’s Market at the end of the day when the farmers may be lowering their prices on what they have left.
• Grains and legumes are filling, inexpensive and healthy. I recommend the canned beans called Eden Organic. Eat whole wheat or whole grain bread, pasta, and cereals. Eat brown rice instead of white rice. To reduce waste, freeze bread and save what you need for later. Also, hot cereals like oatmeal and grits can cost less and have a longer shelf life.
• Plan your meals and snacks. It’s those pre-packaged snack foods and cans of soda that add cost and calories to your diet.
• Get organized before you shop. Write down a list of what you need and stick to it. Free, healthy, low-cost meal ideas are plentiful on the internet. Healthy meal planning makes a huge difference in reducing your food budget!

A good rule of thumb: Try to stick to the outer aisles of the supermarket. Many of us can’t afford to buy all organic food. Try to at least buy some foods that are lower in pesticides. Buying organic is better for the earth because it means no pesticides, healthier soil, water, and wildlife. Buying organic also supports your local, small farmers.

Once you commit to eating healthier, you will not only feel better but hopefully save a few bucks in the process if you go about it the right way.

About the author: Diane H. Wong used to be a business coach. Besides, she is a writer at DoMyWriting so she prefers to spend her spare time working out marketing strategies. In this case, she has an opportunity to share her experience with others and keep up with advancing technologies.