When Cheap Is Good: 5 Ways to Healthy Eating on a Budget

Written by Abbie Stutzer

"Buying healthy is just too expensive!" Stop. Just stop. Never repeat those words again! The world of healthy food is vast and rich, and not that expensive. Really! Sure, those pre-packaged organic brownies may be more expensive than their non-organic shelf-mates, but what pre-packaged item is cheap?

Ditch less healthy, pre-packaged foods and start to embrace tasty bulk foods, crisp local produce and seasonal items. Your body and wallet will be better for it.

Buy in Bulk

We aren't talking about those huge bundles of toilet paper people buy at box stores. Co-ops and health food stores have bulk sections, too!

Buy beans, legumes, grains, spices, etc. in large quantities and save. If you buy in bulk, though, be smart. Before you buy, learn how to properly store your food before you buy all those hearty grains to ensure they don't go bad.

Cook at Home

Don't buy the can or carton of soup -- make your own vegetable stock. Don't buy prepackaged oatmeal -- buy whole oats and make your own. Other foods you can make yourself include cheese and bread. Also: cooking at home can help you garner continued inspiration to cook more rather than going out.

Buy in Season

Buying produce that's out of season is extremely pricey. If you live in a warm climate that enjoys fresh, local produce year round, go for those items first. If you're stuck in a super cold region, worry not. Just try to buy the items that have the location of origin on the label. These items may be a bit pricier, but if you absolutely need them, it's a good tip to keep in mind.

Buy Smart 'Easy Make' Foods that Keep for Long Periods (for when you're too busy)

You know your schedule is going to be IN-sane next week. You aren't going to want to think too hard about what to cook because your time is precious.

Buy organic frozen green beans, mushrooms, broccoli and onions to add to jarred, organic tomato sauce. Pick up some bulk whole grain pasta, and you're set. You'll be ready to cook a cheap and healthy meal anytime.

Salvage Stale Food

As we've pointed out before, losing great, organic goodies because the food had gone bad is a bummer. Check out the article A Cucina Povera Throwback for Budget Conscious Cooks to find out how to get the most out of items that are about to go bad.

Other great ways to save money:

Cut out junk food

Eat out less

Stick to your grocery list

Shop the perimeters first

Buy in bulk

Support Community Supported Agriculture

Start an organic garden

Source: Healthy eating on a budget

Image: kennymatic

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Comments

[clouston]

02:29 AM on 02/29/2012

Cooking for one without shopping every day while enjoying a variety of flavors (e.g., actually using cookbooks, herbs, and stuff that won't keep without a root cellar) is expensive and time-consuming and requires a disprortionately large refrigerator/freezer. Moving beyond Lean Cuisine also requires more tools/storage and can get very costly even without a lemon zester and immersion blender. The OA has useful tips even for the solo chef/diner. When I got seriously interested in cooking, I was taken aback by the limitations of a strict budget.
Ironically, I just read today that people with more money actually spend less on food.

[RahmCorpShill]

02:04 PM on 02/28/2012

Great article. Let's hope some people put it into practice. Let's end the corporate welfare food industry one meal at a time. Buy pasture raised chicken, beef and eggs. Support your local farmer instead of the suits that are selling you poison labeled as food.

[Maverickpower]

01:11 PM on 02/27/2012

Spend a "latte " on a dozen local eggs !! We need to revaluate the importance of our food and what it should cost , and take careof those able bodies who produce it !!

[kmmhike]

03:09 PM on 02/29/2012

I don't drink coffee and how much cholesterol is in a dozen eggs? Local ingredients sound great, but they work better if you're cooking for a family and can use them up faster and not have to eat all the eggs yourself.

[Maverickpower]

03:19 PM on 02/29/2012

Good cholesterol . Cheap protein , higher nutritional density , more assimilation of your nutrients . Boil them , they last quite awhile in the fridge . That is what you get out of "local eggs" .

[SteveDenver]

02:29 PM on 03/04/2012

The lecithin in the yolk is enough to break down the cholesterol in the entire egg. When eggs are separated (egg white omelet, for instance), then the cholesterol is unprocessed by the body.