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.

Let’s say you are one of the people who believes your pocket-book is suffering every time you try to eat healthy. I know! it took me a while to get use to it, because eating healthy is a bit more expensive. I look at it this way though, if I can spend $50-$100 on a new pair of brand name shoes, why not on food that will make my body well and not kill my toes? So, I learned to say, if it is good for my body I am okay with it. That usually take my mind off how much money I just spent.  I know, that still does not tell you how to eat healthy on a budget.

Here is how you can eat healthy on a tight budget. You can try using coupons – give Target and Publix a try. I am not advertising for these stores, but it is just that I find they have buy one get one free deals often and their digital coupons are easy to use. Do some research and look for quality alternative to foods that are not too expensive for you. The great thing about food is variety. There are so many foosd that have the same nutrients, which gives you the flexibility to choose. If fresh fruit and veggies are too expensive, buy them frozen or at the farmer’s market. Healthy eating does not consist of eating all organic food. If that is your choice, that is fine. Remember that a variety, quality alternative with natural ingredients are also things to consider – I do a combination of both. Some things I prefer organic. For others, I read the ingredient list to make sure the ingredients are natural and real.

To healthy eating,

Yve