Eating Healthy on a Budget

Are you one of those people who think that coupons are not for you? Do you think fruit, vegetables, along with other healthy food are too expensive? Better yet, do you think the way you are eating now is better on your pocket-book?

Believe me when I tell you I know how you feel and at some point I would have answered yes to at least one of the questions above. Let me bring you in on something; you can make healthy eating less of a strand on your budget if you learn to work your way around the food pyramid and the art called grocery shopping!

Here is what I have learned to do over the years. I have learned to make grocery shopping an enjoyable art by researching food and knowing what my body needs. That way if I cannot afford one thing, I know the alternative that is just as good.

I don’t like coupons either ( at least not paper ones). I am amazed when I see people with their fancy binders thinking they are too old to collect Pokémon cards, when all the while they are collecting and organizing coupons. I give them props for their patience and their determination to save money. However, I have discovered something that works better for me. Digital coupons! I like Wal-Mart, but Publix is my place to go! I found out Publix does digital coupons ( Wal-Mart probably does as well, but I find Publix an easier place to shop. Don’t get me wrong, I do go to Wal-Mart from time to time). I logged on to the Publix website, registered to receive coupons, and downloaded the coupon app. I go through the list of coupons they have for the week or the month, clip the ones that are for food I need, begin shopping, and I save. I know it seems as if it is a lot of work, but it less work  and time-consuming than collecting paper coupons. When I get to the cashier, I enter my phone number and they pull up the coupons from my saved list that match the food I am purchasing.

Yes, healthy foods are more expensive. You spend more money for less food. However, when it comes to eating well, I would like for you to think quality instead of quantity. At the beginning, I mentioned you need to learn to work your way around the food pyramid and grocery shopping. Here is what I meant by that. It is better to eat fresh fruit and vegetables, but there are other ways to get fresh them without the cost. You can buy frozen fruit and vegetables. Be sure to read the label and make sure that nothing else is added to them. As long as there are no additions you are still buying them fresh. If that still does not work for you, go to the farmer’s market. Non frozen fruit and veggies are better and usually cheaper there. I do a combination of both. When I can make it to the farmer’s market, I go. Other times, I buy my fruit and vegetables fresh if  they are affordable or I buy them frozen.