No matter how much you love food, saving a few dollars makes anyone feel good. Eating healthy can be an expensive commitment but there are ways to reduce the cost and save money for other things.
Here are a few tips to help your wallet:
- Don’t shop on an empty stomach.
This can lead to selecting the heavily promoted sometimes foods at the end of each isle. The supermarkets exploit your desire for these foods and is why the specials at the end of the isles are likely to be the chocolates, lollies, biscuits and soft drinks.
- Select fruit and veggies which are in season.
Do some homework online to what fresh produce is in season. Not only are you saving money you are increasing the variety of foods you have in your diet. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is important because each fruit and vegetable has unique health benefits. On top of this eating a variety of fresh produce can increase the enjoyment of eating.
- Get to know your local farmer.
Farmer’s Markets have many benefits, including the food having to travel fewer miles to get to your plate, to keeping Aussie farmers in business. Making the effort to get to the Farmer’s Market, especially towards the end of the opening hours can save you quite a few dollars. Additional savings can be found if you don’t mind buying fruit and vegetables that may not look perfect on the outside but still taste amazing.
- Learn to use leftovers.
Food wastage is a big problem in the western world. Learning to put away leftovers and using them for lunches the next day or as part of the next dinner can be a great way to save money.
- Prepare snacks.
Instead of buying snacks while on the go, try preparing easy and healthy snacks. You will save money and potentially cm’s to your waistline as you will not be at the mercy of what is available at the time. Try a small handful of nuts with a tablespoon of sultanas to sweeten, or some low fat cheese with some wholegrain crackers, or chopped up carrot and celery sticks with a small tub of hummus or ricotta cheese.
- Try frozen over fresh.
Frozen fruit and vegetables can actually maintain more of their nutritional ‘goodness’ than the fresh produce and may save you time in food preparation as well with most of the frozen fruit and vegetables already sliced.
- The Whole May be Cheaper than a Portion or Part.
Instead of buying pre-packaged parts e.g. chicken breast, wing or legs, the whole chicken may be cheaper and you have the ability to use the other parts for different meals or snacks.
- Compare different brands of the same product.
The supermarkets tend to put the products they want you to buy at eye level, if you look around at the higher or lower rows you may find cheaper options of an almost identical product. Home brand or store brand products can also save you a few dollars.
Take home message: Try these 8 strategies to save money while still eating healthy. Eating to promote your optimal health can feel even better when it doesn’t leave your wallet empty for other things in your life.
Reference:
Anonymous. A Healthier You: Based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. New York: Media Source; 2006. p. 54.
