Healthy Food vs. Saving Money

As promised, here is the first post in the series on New Years Goals / Resolutions:


Healthy Foods don't have to be costly


Many people have a mentality that you can't buy healthy wholesome food on a limited budget, but I want you to know that you can!

First, if you are not doing so already, may I suggest that you plan out what you will be cooking for breakfast, lunch, dinner and any snacks you might have. Take an inventory of what you already have in your pantry and freezer and see what you can come up with first. You should also have the grocery store circulars in front of you so you can plan meals based upon what is on sale at the time.


If you do nothing else, make a menu and stick to it. You can save a ton of money by not having to go to the store every other day, or resort to takeout food.


Second, take a look at what you and your family are eating & drinking. Do you buy cases of soda and bags of potato chips every time you shop? If you do, try to eliminate the soda & find a new snack (such as a handful of peanuts).


Next, you will need to make your grocery list. I shop at 2 stores every week, Kroger and Walmart, and I go to Foodtown when I need to stock up on meats. Plan what items you will purchase at what store based on who has it on sale. Keep it realistic and don't plan to go to 5 different stores across town, especially at first, keep it to 1 or 2 stores.


By shopping the sales and using coupons, you will be getting the most for your money. (I will be posting more in-depth info on using coupons at a later date) If you find a great deal on a shelf stable or freezable item, you should stock up as much as your budget allows.

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Maybe another way you can save money and still be healthy is to make some of your own food. Does your family go through a lot of store bought pancakes, muffins or breads? Find a healthy recipe for pancakes (or use the one here) make a couple dozen, put 2 or 3 in a ziplock bag and freeze them. Making 2 dozen pancakes and freezing them your self can be as inexpensive as 1 box of the pre-made variety, not to mention, healthier.

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Do you buy bottled water? Another way you can save is to be using a faucet mounted water purifier. The filter on the model I have has lasted over a year

Once the red line completely fills the window, the unit will not allow water to pass through until a new filter has been installed. For about $20, this little beauty has paid for itself many times over. One other thing that is good about this brand, is that in the P&G coupon inserts, you can usually find a coupon for a few dollars the replacement filters :)
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Is there any way you could grow some of you fruits and veggies? Even if you live in an apartment, you can still grow many things in containers. It doesn't cost a lot to get started and its very simple to do. (I grow tomato plants in containers on the patio of my apartment.) The end of the year is the best time to buy any extra containers you may need. You can also peruse the pages on Craigslist to see if anyone in your area is giving away or selling their pottery or gardening tools.

Have you shopped at a farmers market or co-op? Many times you can get great deals on fruit and veggies there. Become familiar with what foods are in season, and what is local to your area to find the best prices. Have you thought about bartering? Maybe you have a skill or other resource that the farmer needs and could trade fresh produce for your talents?...

Two last things to remember is, be watchful of the way you cook your food. Instead of frying, bake, broil or roast it. Also, be careful not to let food go to waste because of leaving it out or not making leftovers into another meal. The last thing you will want to do after all the healthy attempts of saving money on good food is to let it go to waste.