How to Eat Healthy On a Small Budget

About 6 months ago my husband and I made the resolution to become healthier individuals with much healthier eating habits. At that point our weekly grocery bills were totaling a whopping $200 for just the two of us. We quickly realized, we were going to have to get creative to be able to eat healthy food without draining our bank account. After much menu planning & research, I quickly got into the habit of buying healthy food on a smaller budget. The following 3 steps should help you do the same.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An open mind
• Some creativity

1. 
    

   Plan your weekly menu before you go shopping and make a list of what you will need so you only buy what you need & in the amount you need. And don't go to the supermarket hungry or if you know it will be a lengthy trip, take a healthy snack along to keep you from deviating from your list. In short, make your list and stick to it.

2. Buy smart. Buy meats that will provide you with several different meals and buy them in bulk, for example: boneless skinless chicken (grilled chicken sandwiches, grilled chicken salad, Chicken stir fry, fajitas, & whole wheat pasta with chicken & cooked vegetables). Also, replace all the junk food you normally buy with fruits & vegetables. This in itself will save you money and help you lose lots of weight.

3. 
    

   Replace one of your meals with a protein shake. This normally works best for breakfast because it is quick and a good start for your day.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy some frozen vegetables instead of fresh. They will save you time and will keep longer if not eaten immediately. Not wasting food is saving money.
• Drink tap water. It is a lot cheaper than bottled water and provides the same benefits. If you can't handle the taste of plain tap water, add a fresh squeezed lemon to every quart of your water for extra taste and cleansing benefits.

Resources

• 16 Ways to Eat Healthy While Keeping it Cheap
• Healthy Eating on a budget