One of the barriers of healthy eating is the cost. Healthful brands and stores often have inflated prices that can be discouraging for those trying to support their health and wallet.
However, eating whole, fresh foods is an extremely economical way of consuming. When foods are processed and packaged, price tags tend to skyrocket. Take kale chips for example. The raw ingredients for this snack cost no more than $2.00, but they retail for twice, if not three times, this amount!
Consider how, when, and where you buy your food to help save money and eat healthfully. Use the following tips when shopping:
1) Shop in Season
Produce will always be most economical when in season. Try to buy larger amounts of the fruits and veggies that are in season and then freeze/dry/can them. This can help save money and enjoy fruits, like blueberries, all year round.
2) Buy in Bulk
Having worked as a bulk foods manager before deciding to study nutrition, I know just how cost-effective shopping in this department can be. Buying all your dry goods in bulk not only saves money, but also saves on packaging. It’s surprising to see a huge jump in prices when comparing bulk food items to packaged products within the same store.
3) Use Handy Apps
Mobile apps are designed to make your life easier. The Non-GMO Project Shopping Guide app for iPhone lists all organic and conventional products that are certified non-GMO so you can feel confident about the purchases you make, plus it’s free! Many larger supermarkets also have smartphone apps that allow you to easily view the weekly ads, download coupons, or review seasonal recipes.
4) Stock-up on Sales
Some of the hardest things to upgrade are more expensive items like oils, animal products, and cleaning products. Keep these items on your radar. Anytime you’re shopping and see they’re marked down, grab a bottle or two to keep in the cupboard/freezer. That way you never have to buy them at regular price, which can be anywhere from 25-50% more.
5) Visit Farmers Markets
Visiting a local farmers’ market can be a great way to get you in touch with the natural farming cycles, but also save money. Buying directly from the farm cuts out a middle supplier, which adds to the overhead grocery store face. You can find everything from fresh produce, honey, nuts, baked goods, eggs, fresh juice, dried legumes, herbs and spices, meat, and more from the farmers themselves. Everything comes from well within 100 miles, the quality is superb, and your only option is to buy seasonally.
6) Clip Coupons
Finally, you can always save money by using coupons. There are a few free booklets, like the Healthy Shopper coupon book, that you can will pick up once a year, flip through, and save for brands you already buy. Try to avoid saving coupons for things you don't buy, as this will only end up adding to your shopping list and costing you more money. You can sometimes find coupons online on the stores’ websites that you can print-out that you can use in-store.