One of the biggest hinderances for not choosing healthy clean meals and a healthy lifestyle is the extra expense. Apply these Tips for Clean Eating on a Budget and save money. It’s a mystery why real food that you need to prepare yourself would cost you more. Or does it?
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Cleaning eating is choosing food that is wholesome and doesn’t come from a box. It can be organic or locally grown. When you’re new to making important life-style changes Clean Eating Tips for Beginners is a great place to start.
It will take effort, planning and being intentional about your purchases, but you can do it!!!!
How to feed a family nutritious wholesome food, check out the wonderful tips for those who live by themselves and those from bigger families.
10 Tips for Clean Eating on a Budget
Shop seasonal vegetables and fruit. It’s going to be different for every region what fruits or vegetables are seasonal. Check out Seasonal Produce Guide for the seasonal fruit/vegetables in your region. I found it very interesting. Here is a short guide for those living in the Midwest:
Spring: asparagus, kale, mushrooms, radishes, lettuce, rhubarb.
Summer: strawberries, garlic, zucchini, cauliflower, cherries, cucumber, artichokes, peas.
Fall: squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, apples, brussel sprouts, celery, beets, carrots, pumpkins, parsnips, and raspberries.
Winter: beets, cabbage, clementines, kale, salad greens, and mushrooms.
Meal plan. This idea keeps coming up when talking about eating clean and living healthy. You must meal plan for prolonged success. When you meal plan you’ll have an idea what food is necessary for that week.
Create a grocery list. Make your list based on the meals you have planned that week(s). If you get a local paper, you can take a quick look to see what is on sale before making your list.
Eat the most affordable grains. Oats, quinoa, buckwheat, and rice are easy to find and easier on the budget. Often these very grains can be purchased in bulk. (Remember to bring your own container.)
More Clean Eating Money-Saving Tips
Preserve food with freezing & canning. I like to pick berries and freeze them each year. Specifically, strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Buying whole pumpkins, baking them, and freezing them is great! We also like to can green beans, beets, carrots, cucumbers, and homemade salsa. I like to buy new crop navy beans and freeze them to use throughout the winter and spring.
Set a grocery budget. The word budget can seem daunting, but it’s really a wonderful tool to know how much you can spend on healthy food. Do you know how much you spend on groceries in a month? When grocery store prices increase, you’ll need to increase your budget as well.
Eat at home. In order to save money, you’ll need to plan meals that fit your lifestyle. Teach your kids how to make food from scratch. Take the Eat at Home Challenge. It takes planning but once you get into the routine of preparing meals and snacks around your busy schedule, it will be more than worth it!
Buy in Bulk. A little homework might be required here. Buying bulk items doesn’t always cost less. However, you can compare prices of items you buy at the grocery store with items you can buy at your local food co-op. Items like old fashioned oats, sunflower seeds, quinoa, raw honey, organic peanut butter, and tapioca flour are often less money bought in bulk.
Two More Tips that I Love:
Skip the convenience snacks. Learn to prepare your own homemade snacks. Baking granola bars is one option; Oatmeal Chocolate Chips Trail Bars are easy to prepare. Boiled eggs, apples, bananas, and even a dish of berries are all less expensive than pre-packaged snacks. Cut & wash your own veggies and fruit.
Shop Discount Stores. Major stores like Aldi’s, Trader Joe’s and Sprouts have good prices on organic produce, meat, bulk items and spices. Shop and compare prices with online stores like Thrive Market and Vitacost.
Resources for Clean Eating on a Budget.
I am just fascinated with saving money! It’s amazing to see families eat clean food on just $40. a week. It’s also fun to learn from ladies that have done the homework and proved we can eat clean on a budget!
WiseBread: Living Large on a Small Budget. This website is a personal finance website and is loaded with information on how to save money. “How to Eat Well on Just $20. a Week with Meal Plans” is a helpful article.
Shopping at America’s Healthiest Grocery Store: 6 items to avoid buying at Whole Foods.
More Than Just Making It by Erin Odom (aka The Humbled Homemaker) is an excellent resource. It helped me take a close look at what I was spending money on and how I can save more. (And still live a healthy lifestyle!). More Than Just Making It: Hope for the Heart of the Financially Frustrated
Money Saving Mom. “52 Different Ways to Save $100, per Year.” She has freezer meal ideas, coupons, and tips on saving money.
Living Well Spending Less by Ruth Soukup is a wonderful resource. “25 Ways to Save at Whole Foods”.
Tips for Clean Eating on a Budget
I hope you found this post encouraging! Money can be a huge issue on whether or not we make good food choices. I really think we can apply these tips, cut costs and eat clean.
I’m amazed at what shopping at Thrive Market has done for our budget. Just last year I saved over $1000. on clean household items, personal products and pantry staples. Do you want to try a free membership for a month? Here is my link: Get an extra 25% OFF your first order + a 30 day free trial membership when you sign up at Thrive Market!
Action Steps
Take a look at your food budget, meal plan, make a grocery list, and decide where to shop for the best prices. Your local farmer’s market is an excellent place to save money. Plus you get fresh food and support local farmers. Our local market starts up the first week of June!!
Another money saving idea is to eat your leftovers! We’re a big leftover family. It makes lunches easy and fun. I have a close friend that has “leftover night” on the menu every week. Eating leftovers serves many purposes; you don’t waste food, save money and keep your fridge cleaned.
Now, I would love to hear from you! We’re a community of health minded people that encourages each other and shares ideas that work. Please comment below with your best clean eating money saving idea.
Pursing Better Health Together,