One excuse that people often make for being overweight or unhealthy is that they cannot afford to eat well. They believe that eating convenience foods is cheaper than eating fresh foods. This doesn’t have to be the case. As a mum of four, I know how the grocery bill can soon add up but I still like to give my children a varied and balanced diet. Here are some tips for healthy eating on a budget.
5 Tips for Health Eating on a Budget
1. Stocking Up Your Cupboards for Healthy Eating on a Budget
Buying lots of items that can be kept in the store cupboard is a good idea as these items will keep well. This will avoid the costs created when food is bought and then not used before its sell-by date.
Items like pasta and rice are really cheap and are an excellent source of carbohydrates which are an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet. They also provide a lot of different options with regards to meal choice as you can serve them as part of many meals.
Similarly, pulses are a really cheap option and are high in protein. This includes tins of baked beans, although look at the salt content on the labels as this can sometimes be quite high.
Tinned fruit and vegetables are also good to keep in your cupboards as they are inexpensive, store for longer, and are usually prepared, so you will save time as well as money.
2. Shop Frequently, Buy Less
One of the main reasons why people believe that buying fresh and healthy food is more expensive is because they have a big shop and then throw lots of food away as it has gone off or is past its use-by date.
However, if you made the simple change of shopping more frequently and only buying items of food that you are going to use over the next few days, then this can be easily avoided.
3. Growing Your Own Vegetables Can Help with Healthy Eating on a Budget
This is the ultimate way to save money and eat fresh, healthy foods. To grow a few simple items will not require you to have a large garden or to be particularly green-fingered.
If you have a windowsill or a balcony, then you can grow a few vegetables– not enough to feed your family for the next year, but it’s a start. Packets of seeds cost pence to buy. Some of the simplest fruit and vegetables to grow yourself are tomatoes and courgettes.
The garden in the photograph is mine. It is only a small backyard, but we have made the most of what we have. We also have chilies, peppers, and tomatoes growing in the conservatory and two big tubs to grow potatoes.
Of course, if you are green-fingered and you have a large garden, then you can plant all types of fruit trees and vegetables that your family can enjoy.
4. Healthy Eating on a Budget by Buying Cheaper Cuts of Meat
People often dismiss the cheaper cuts of meat, but these are often the tastiest cuts. They are usually particularly well-suited to longer cooking methods, such as stewing or braising.
Therefore, they are ideal for throwing into a slow-cooker with some water and vegetables before you leave for work and you will have a delicious and healthy casserole to come home to at the end of the day. Remember, to remove the fat before cooking!
I recommend reading this article from Skint Dad- https://skintdad.co.uk/how-to-save-money-on-meat/
5. Offers and Vouchers
Our final tip for healthy eating on a budget is to look out for any foods that are on offer or that you have collected vouchers for. Many supermarkets have offers on healthier items such as fruit and vegetables as they are trying to promote healthier living. Also, there are often baskets of reduced fruit and vegetables that are close to their display until date. These are a bargain and are fine to eat that day or in the following days.
Healthy Eating on a Budget- The Final Verdict
Just because you have a limited budget does not mean that you must eat an unhealthy diet. Healthy eating is possible on a budget if you make a few simple changes to your diet. Following our simple tips will help you to enjoy delicious and healthy foods without spending a fortune.
Updated on 08/10/2020.