“People who love to eat are the best kind of people.” -Julia Childs
I love shopping… no, wait, scratch that… I love grocery shopping. But eating healthy can be expensive, especially when you’re not careful. You can easily walk into a supermarket with plenty of cash in your pocket, and then walk out a half hour later… poor! Well, it doesn’t have to be that way! Here are just 5 simple tips to help you save money while eating well!
1. Inexpensive grocery stores- Sure, I love Whole Foods as much as the next healthy girl, but as much as I love it, it can be dangerous for my wallet. So I try to shop at multiple different stores. Think ‘Price Right’ and ‘Aldi’. Sure, they may not be as ‘chic’ as the gourmet local market or Whole Foods, but they usually have great deals on produce, much of which is even organic!
2. Plants-based protein- Need another reason to cut down on red meat? It’s SO much cheaper to get your protein from plants! I went to the store the other day and was amazed how inexpensive a big bag of lentils is. Less then $2! And don’t forget beans! Inexpensive and oh-so nourishing!
3. Cheap staples- Piling up on the the cheap protein options? Make sure to load up on some simple, healthy staples! Some of my faves? Plain old fashioned oats, bananas, even eggs! All of these foods are one ingredient and incredibly inexpensive… not to mention nutritious and delicious!
4. Order in bulk- If you know you love something, don’t be afraid to order it online or at a bulk store (think Costco or Sam’s). I use PB2 daily so I order it online in large jars. I always buy my almond milk in bulk (because I drink it so regularly), my coffee (as much as I love Starbucks, making it at home saves SO much money), I buy big bags of potatoes, spinach/ carrots (I eat so many, there’s no way those small skimpy bags will satisfy)!! Whatever your fave foods, load up to save cash!
5. Treat yourself!- So you’re getting most of your groceries at cheaper stores, and you’ve loaded up on inexpensive, simple staples and bulk foods… go ahead! Treat yourself with that something extra special! Life’s ALL about balance and that’s true of your spending, too. I like to strike a healthy balance between saving and spending. One of my fave ways to treat myself is dark chocolate! I eat a little bit every night, and even though the gluten-free, organic- Fair Trade, vegan bars I buy are pretty pricey, they’re an investment in my happiness that I’m NOT willing to skimp on!
How about you? Do you enjoy grocery shopping or dread it? What are your fave ways to save money and still eat healthy?
17 Comments
Healthy eating definitely doesn’t have to be expensive so I love this post! I’m a bit of a bargain queen so I love grocery shopping – and I love planning my meals for the week based on what’s on sale/what’s in season as that means I end up saving a bunch of money too! It also kind of forces me to switch things up and eat different meals too!
May 7, 2016 at 8:37 pmYes! I love that! It can be hard to save if you don’t plan ahead… but even just a little planning can pay off big time!! Great job Kristy!
May 11, 2016 at 9:31 pmxoxo Cailee!
Blogging showed me that I’m not the only one who really enjoys grocery shopping :).
May 8, 2016 at 8:16 pmThis is great proof that a healthy lifestyle doesn’t necessarily have to cost millions. Just like many people still think eating vegetarian or vegan was expensive – wrong. As long as you skip the overly processed foods or ready-meals.
One tip I’d add is buying frozen vegetables. While I obviously prefer fresh I’ve found certain frozen ones like cauliflower much more economic: no waste, easy to prepare and also cheaper. The same can be true for some fruit – especially when used in cakes or smoothies.
YESSSS! You are so right… I totally forgot about frozen produce… which is weird cuz I use frozen fruit everyday! It’s so great tossed in oats, or even eaten cold… like natures sorbet!
May 11, 2016 at 9:32 pmxoxo Cailee!
I so much love this post! Your tips are really great!
May 9, 2016 at 2:35 pmI hate when people say they can’t eat healthy, because it costs a lot. It’s not, it’s totally doable 🙂
Thanks Evi! You’re so sweet! And it definitely is do-able!! Here’s to eating well without breaking the bank!
May 11, 2016 at 9:37 pmxoxo Cailee!
number 2 for SURE. i will switch between having fish for lunch one week, to lentils/beans those kinds of protein the next. also it makes lunch so much better than having the same type of meal every. single. week.
May 9, 2016 at 3:41 pmi def need to treat myself more often though – i can be pretty frugal when it comes to nice granola/energy bars!!
Yeah girl! Yay for plants protein and variety!! And yo go for it Beverley! Treat yo self!! <3
May 11, 2016 at 9:38 pmxoxo Cailee!
Great post here girl! SOOO many people are under the impression that healthy eating is expensive, but thats only true if you go out to eat! Eating at home is so much cheaper, especially when you buy fruits and veggies and construct a meal from that instead of a “pre-made” meal!
May 9, 2016 at 4:50 pmEggs are my go-to protein. That and yogurt!
Thanks Kat!! And you’re SO right!! One of my besties is also a healthy foodie… we realized, that while we love Whole Foods and buying fresh eats, we probably spend the same as, or even less than people who go out to restaurants and drinks, that’s where ya break the bank!
May 11, 2016 at 9:39 pmxoxo Cailee!
Amen to Aldi! Love that place 🙂
May 10, 2016 at 12:35 pmSeriously! It’s the best 🙂
May 11, 2016 at 9:30 pmxoxo Cailee!
Theo bars are my faaavorite!! You’re making me want to go to my pantry right now to grab one!! haha
I totally agree with you on meatless – it’s amazing how much cheaper our bill was once we really cut back on the meat!
May 10, 2016 at 9:20 pmIsn’t it amazing?? It’s such a win for my wallet, the animals, and my health! Even just cutting down is a good idea! Glad you agree!
May 11, 2016 at 9:30 pmxoxo Cailee!
I was just at Aldi today! I agree with you about what a great store it is. And I’m with you on loving grocery shopping! 🙂
May 10, 2016 at 11:34 pmIsn’t it fun?? And yesssss I need to go back to ALDI soon!
May 11, 2016 at 9:27 pmxoxo Cailee!
Plant-based protein is such a great option for saving money and eating healthy! Wednesday (double ad day at Sprouts) is my favorite day of the week because I LOVE grocery shopping! 😉 I order a lot of my favorite healthy staples using Amazon Subscribe and Save (seriously saves boatloads of $) or vitacost! Aldi is also the best (we don’t have any in state)! It’s one of the things I miss the most about Chicago!
May 16, 2016 at 9:59 pm