Along with our unique Client Choice Program, we also present tips and tricks to save you money while maintaining a proper diet for you and the whole family.
Money saving tips to eating healthy on a budget
Tip #1: Most Important Factor In Eating Healthy Without Breaking the Bank- Meal Planning!
Website: wellness mama
This alone has made the biggest difference in reducing our food budget and staying on track eating healthy foods. Meal planning allows me to make some foods ahead and have them available for lunches or to re-purpose for dinners.
Since meal planning, I am also able to only go to the store once a week or less and can often prepare most of the food for the week in one day, which cuts down my overall food prep time.
The system I use for meal planning and rotating meals is simple to adapt to your own favorite foods and dishes. The meal plans above let us eat a different meal each night of the month and then repeat. I also have more seasonal plans for Summer and Fall.
To make your own healthy meal plan system:
Website: wellness mama
This alone has made the biggest difference in reducing our food budget and staying on track eating healthy foods. Meal planning allows me to make some foods ahead and have them available for lunches or to re-purpose for dinners.
Since meal planning, I am also able to only go to the store once a week or less and can often prepare most of the food for the week in one day, which cuts down my overall food prep time.
The system I use for meal planning and rotating meals is simple to adapt to your own favorite foods and dishes. The meal plans above let us eat a different meal each night of the month and then repeat. I also have more seasonal plans for Summer and Fall.
To make your own healthy meal plan system:
- Write down 14-28 recipes that your family likes that are healthy. If your budget is tight, pick recipes that are also inexpensive to make.
- On the front of a 3×5 index card, write the meal and the recipe.
- On the back of the index card, write how much of each ingredient is needed for this recipe for your family size. (I usually plan for leftovers for lunches)
- To meal plan: once a week or once a month, pick out the number of meals you need and put them in order for the week. Turn them over, add up the total of the ingredients, and you have a shopping list (just cross off any ingredients you have already)!
- Stick the cards on the fridge or bulletin board and put them away in your recipe box as you use them.
Tip #2: Buy in Bulk
The Ultimate Guide to Buying in Bulk
This website offers you a collection of steps to help you save significant money when making bulk purchases.
The further you stray, the less likely you are to save money on your bulk buys.
Best and worst groceries to buy in bulk
Your family budget may rely on warehouse shopping, and it can be satisfying to drive home with a car full of bulk goods. But make sure you're buying the right things at Costco and Sam's Club.
This website offers you a collection of steps to help you save significant money when making bulk purchases.
The further you stray, the less likely you are to save money on your bulk buys.
Best and worst groceries to buy in bulk
Your family budget may rely on warehouse shopping, and it can be satisfying to drive home with a car full of bulk goods. But make sure you're buying the right things at Costco and Sam's Club.
Tip #3: Prepare in Bulk
Foods to Freeze
Utilizing your freezer can mean big savings of time and money. Are you down with chilling?
Cook Once Eat Multiple Times
Preparing large portions of food to use over multiple meals saves time and energy. When cooking, it's also important to think about how to incorporate leftovers into new meals. Finally, presentation has a big effect on the appeal of a meal, so putting a little effort into the way a meal looks can make a huge difference.
Save money by cooking in bulk It can be a good idea to pick one or two days a week to cook meals that can be eaten on multiple days. Some easy ideas for cooking in bulk:
Utilizing your freezer can mean big savings of time and money. Are you down with chilling?
Cook Once Eat Multiple Times
Preparing large portions of food to use over multiple meals saves time and energy. When cooking, it's also important to think about how to incorporate leftovers into new meals. Finally, presentation has a big effect on the appeal of a meal, so putting a little effort into the way a meal looks can make a huge difference.
Save money by cooking in bulk It can be a good idea to pick one or two days a week to cook meals that can be eaten on multiple days. Some easy ideas for cooking in bulk:
- Cook once and eat multiple times. Cook a large meal at the beginning of the week. It is easy to double a recipe so that you have extra to use later in the week for quick lunches or dinners when you don't feel like cooking. You can also freeze half for another day. Add a green salad or other side dish and you have a delicious, easy meal.
- One-pot dishes, such as soups, stews, or casseroles, are especially good because they generally save preparation time, money, and dishwashing. Plus they make great leftovers. You can even cook one pot of oatmeal and heat up a serving size each morning. Rolled or steel cut oats are nutritious, very inexpensive, and are easily varied by adding seasonal fresh fruit, nuts, or seeds to create a wonderful breakfast. This is both cheaper and more nutritious than dry cereal or flavored packets of instant oatmeal.
- Soups, stews, or stir-fries: These meals are ideal for using leftovers. Create a base with broth or a sauce, or by sautéing onion or garlic, then add any leftovers you have, such as whole grains, veggies, and meat. A small amount of meat is perfect to add flavor and substance, but be sure to cut it into small pieces so it goes further. You can also be very creative with herbs and spices to create unique flavors. With any recipe, make sure you reheat all leftovers thoroughly.
- Everything burritos: Most leftovers make very tasty burritos. Simply put everything into a tortilla shell (try to get whole grain) with a little low-fat cheese and enjoy. For example, cut up leftover meat into small pieces, add a can of beans and any leftover grains and veggies.
- Experiment with combinations: You may be surprised how many foods with different flavors go well together. For example, try making a large green salad and adding cooked whole grains and veggies on the top, as well as pieces of meat from another meal. Add your favorite healthy dressing and you have a wonderful new dish.
Tip #3: Cook Your Own Food
Prepare Your Own Food. Cook all your meals for the day on waking up or before going to bed. It takes 30-40mins, saves you stress about what you’ll be eating the rest of the day and you eat healthy while saving money.
- Stop Buying Processed Food. Buy oats instead of cereals, make home made protein bars, home made tomato sauce, home made pizza, …
- Keep it Simple. Make double portions, take leftovers with you, use cans of tuna & mackerel, rice & pasta, frozen veggies, …
- Learn to Cook from Scratch. Learn to work with spices & herbs.