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I get a lot of questions about how to save money on healthier food. I totally get it, finding ways to eat healthier without spending more does seem daunting. I’m all about a bargain and when you compare prices of organic vs. non organic it can be a big difference. Thankfully, there still ways to eat healthier without spending more by switching out products and changing your mindset a bit. Here is a list of some simple ideas on how you can still save money but also eat healthy.
15 Ways to Eat Healthier Without Spending More:
Saving on Produce:
Buy produce from the clean 15 list.
These produce items are grown using less pesticides, or that are things we don’t eat the skins of. You can skip the organic versions of these and save money that way.
Shop the reduced produce section.
If your store has a reduce produce section don’t be afraid to check it out. These aren’t going to last long, so eat them quickly. A lot of times the produce is fine with cutting off some of the bruises.
Buy produce in season.
Produce that is in season is always cheaper! Stock up if you see great deals and freeze so that you can have these items when they aren’t growing in your area.
Buy produce locally.
Check out local farmers markets, food co-ops, community supported agriculture farms (CSA), and you will likely beat even the sale price you see at the grocery store. Local produce also lasts longer since it was just picked a few days ago compared to the grocery store that was picked green a month ago. To get the best deals you want to look at buying in bulk and freezing or splitting with a friend.
Pick your own produce.
There are usually farms nearby where you can pick your own produce at a cheaper price. It can also be a fun family outing, especially for the kids. You can stock up and freeze what you pick to have it year round. Strawberry farms are currently open in our area!
Grow your own produce.
If you enjoy gardening, you can start a simple vegetable or herb garden. You can also re-grow some produce from the ends that you cut off, such as green onions and celery, that makes them practically free!
Saving on Protein:
Get cheap free-ranged eggs.
Ask a friend or search online and you can most likely find someone near you who is raising chickens at home. You can usually buy eggs from them around $2-$3 per dozen (much cheaper than in the grocery store). Better yet, if allowed where you live, you can raise your own chickens! We have chickens and enjoy fresh, delicious, healthy eggs daily.
Buy part of a cow from a local farm.
Team up with people to buy a half or a quarter of a cow. The meat ends up being overall cheaper per pound than store bought meat. In addition, the meat is from a pasture-raised healthy animal, which means better nutrition for you. You will pay a flat price per pound for the meat and get it for a steal on some cuts. Current prices this year are around $3.25 per pound (think of roast and steak prices, this is a crazy good price). Here’s how to buy a cow.
Save bones and vegetable scraps.
Use your scraps to make delicious, healthy bone broth. You have control of what goes in the broth and it is absolutely free. Simply add these scraps to water and boil for several hours adding in your favorite seasoning and a dash of vinegar (helps to pull more nutrients from the bones). This broth can be a soup starter or frozen to use later.
Buy cheaper cuts of meat.
You don’t need a Lamborghini when a Toyota will do and you probably don’t need a tri-tip either… There are lots of great cuts of meat that will do what you want for a fraction of the price. They can be just as delicious as long as you look up correct cooking methods. Make sure you look at the price per pound.
Buy canned wild-caught salmon and sardines.
These fish are packed with good nutrients (esp. omega 3s & calcium). Plus, when you buy them canned they are much cheaper than the fresh version. These are a healthier substitute for canned tuna.
Additional Savings:
Make water your staple drink.
This will reduce the amount of money you spend on beverages significantly! Getting a good water filter and drinking water from home vs. buying bottles of water can save you even more money. You can add your own flavor with lemon, cucumbers, strawberries, mint, or whatever you like. We use essentials oils to flavor water and that is even cheaper than buying the fruit.
Make your own salad dressing.
Store bought salad dressing can be expensive and making your own at home can potentially save you a lot of money. You can search online to find many easy and economical recipes.
Buy in bulk.
While not everything in bulk is a good deal, for things such as oatmeal, rice, nuts, and seeds it is usually cheaper to buy these items in bulk. For example, 0atmeal (even organic) is around $1-2 per pound, that is cheaper than buying it in the box or the individual flavored packets.
Get a Costco membership.
Costco has a large organic section in their house brand line. Many of the prices are incredible compared to the full price at the grocery store. For example you can get a 56 oz tub of organic coconut oil for only $16 (that’s 29¢ an ounce). Plus, coconut oil is not only healthy to cook with but can be used in many other ways.
Have any other tips for saving money and eating healthier?
See more frugal living ideas.
