Healthy Eating – On a Budget

One of the most common concerns I hear from people when it comes to eating healthy is that healthy food is expensive. But that doesn’t have to be the case! I’m Wendy Corr, with your daily wellness tip.

When you’ve got a tight budget, meal planning and grocery shopping has its challenges. And, when you have a tight budget and you’re dedicated to eating healthy, it’s even trickier.

But when you choose simple foods, to use with simple recipes, eating healthy doesn’t have to break the bank! Here are a few tips to help you eat better quality food and save some serious dollars:

First, when possible, buy in bulk. And I’m not talking about a jumbo bag of chips or the big boxes of cereal – just for example, you can buy a large bag of rice for just a couple of dollars, and it will provide a healthy, whole-grain base for many, many family meals. Oats are an inexpensive and filling breakfast option. Legumes and beans are a cheap way to add protein to a meal – and they are super tasty.

Plan meals around the meats, fresh fruits and veggies that are on sale every week at the grocery store. See where the best deals are, then make those sale items a part of some of your family meals for the week. And keep in mind that even less expensive cuts of chicken or beef will still outshine processed foods in the good-for-you department.

Also keep in mind that nutritionally, frozen veggies are almost as good, if not better, than fresh, especially here in Wyoming. They are frozen at their peak, so the nutrients are still at their best. You can get bags of broccoli, cauliflower, or mixed veggies without seasoning for between a dollar and a half and two dollars per bag, depending on where you shop. Each bag will easily help create a meal for a family of four.

And planning meals in advance is a smart way to save money – you know exactly what ingredients you’ll need for the recipes you’re making, so nothing goes to waste. And if you have food that needs to be used before it goes bad, incorporate those into your planning!

So you see, with a little creativity and organization, eating healthy doesn’t have to break the bank!

Thanks for tuning in to Wellness with Wendy! I love sharing tips and tricks to help you live your best life – so for more health and wellness news and advice, follow my blog on mybighornbasin.com. See you again next time for Wellness with Wendy!