Sticking to your grocery budget may be difficult when you are trying to make healthy food choices. There are many different products that market their brands as healthier; however, you do not have to buy high priced items in order to have a healthy diet. Start eating healthy by being smart about what you buy and you may end up saving money.
Be Smart About Proteins
Every meal does not have to have a meat choice in order for you to have enough protein in your diet. When you are shopping, stick to lean cuts of meat such as chicken or fish. If chicken is on sale, buy it, but make sure you take the skin off before you cook it. Try other protein sources such as tofu, beans or peas for your main course. If you prefer beef, reserve beef for special occasions, and make sure that you supplement it with plenty of vegetables. Remember, an appropriate portion of meat is the size of a deck of cards.
Try Growing It Yourself
If you have the space in your backyard or patio, try growing your own vegetables. If this is new to you, stick with your favorites, like tomatoes, peppers, green beans or squash. If you do not have space in your backyard, maybe you have a sunny spot on your porch where you can grow a few vegetable plants in pots. Growing your own vegetables can save money, and prevents you from buying more expensive products in the grocery store. Even having a small herb garden in the house can save you some pennies and some time when you want to add fresh herbs to your soups, salads or main courses.
Stay Away from Expensive Processed Food
When you are at the grocery store, stick to your list and do not get tempted to buy snacks, cereals and other products that are highly processed, full of sugar, salt or sodium. Instead, stick to the outer edges of the grocery store and only enter the aisles when a product is on your list. Most times, these sweet and salty snacks are more expensive, unnecessary purchases that add dollars to your final tab and inches to your waist.
Waste Not, Want Not
When you are planning your weekly menus, think about items that can be reinvented the next day or even for the next two days. You might have stir fried tofu and vegetables one night. Get creative and make leftovers last longer. Store your leftovers in the refrigerator and create a second and third meal from them by adding more vegetables and brown rice on the side or making a soup out of them the next day.
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