Eating Healthy On A Budget

Eating healthy on a budget can sometimes seem like a oxymoron but it is very much possible with a little extra food work and research on your part as a consumer. While it is very convenient to go to one grocery store to get every ingredient on your list in most cases you will spend more than you need to. As a chef shopping and ordering produce, meats and even dry goods is a everyday event. Finding the best prices when you are buying hundreds of pounds of items is always a priority and that has always spilled over to my private life of shopping for home. Here are my top tips for getting the best value on healthy foods on a budget!

Shop at your local discount and outlet stores
There is no easy way to say this but some stores are vastly over pricing their items and you are paying for them without question. Stores now can even change prices as you are in the store depending on demand. I like to shop the stores that are already around for a discount such as 99 cent store, Food 4 Less and grocery outlet to name a few. All the mentioned stores have fresh produce and organic sections at a fraction of the price. While it is not always stocked with everything you need you will find steep discounts on goods that might be closer to the sell by date which if you shop weekly isn’t an issue!

Research Local Farms That Sell To Public
Finding a local farm to buy eggs, produce or meat can be a great way to get the best of the best for a steep discount. I have stopped buying eggs from the grocery store as I cannot afford to buy $8 per dozen organic free range eggs. As a bimonthly trip we drive to get flats of farm fresh organic eggs at a quarter of the price plus you get to see where your food is coming from! 

Buy In Bulk and Vacuum Seal
If you have the space buying in bulk or when the price is right is a great way to save money and eat healthy. Keep an eye out for sales at grocery stores or online that you can break down into smaller amounts and freeze. I recommend purchasing a cheap vacuum seal machine that can held keep products fresh for much longer. Meats and fish that are vacuum sealed before freezing can last up to a year without any loss of quality!

I hope that these tips can help you eat the healthy diet you want and keep it within your budget!

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