5 tips to save when eating healthy

Often times people think eating healthy is expensive, although in the long run a cheap diet of junk food will cost you in health and enjoyment of life. Regardless of the cost, here are 5 ways to save when you’re looking to eat healthy, yet stay on a budget.

1. Buy in bulk
Probably my favorite way to save =) Not only do you avoid extra trips to the grocery store you save from the bulk discount rates. The large containers of rolled oats are my favorite. Much cheaper than buying the small round containers.

2. Avoid buying ‘diet foods’
While it may seem like a good idea to buy the healthy diet foods, often they are just over priced and even sometimes less than healthy options. Instead of buying the protein fortified candy bars, make your own at home. Ditch the 100 calorie snack-packs and have some celery.

3. Stick to the basics
While having 37 different breakfast options provides variety you end up wasting or not using a bunch of what you buy. Stick you what you eat often and a lot of. Come up with different staple meals and stick with them. Which brings me to the next tip.

4. Plan your meals and only buy what you need
Do you often end up throwing food away because it’s gone off before you’ve had a chance to use it? Knowing what you will eat ahead of time will save on headache, wasting and unhealthy eating. So before you go shopping, plan ahead of what you know you’ll need for the week ahead. Next point…

5. Shop from a list
I don’t know about you, but I don’t particularly enjoy shopping. I’m not one to just peruse the grocery store aisles with a hint of curiosity. Whenever I go into a store I already know what I want. I run to that item then run to the checkout. There is no ’shopping experience’. So the point being, know what you want ahead of time, make a list, and stick to it. No matter how much you’ll save on that 2 for 1 donut special, you know you don’t need it.