Family FinancesI used to stop listening to people talk about healthy eating because I believed healthy choices were expensive. But clean eating on a dime is possible … and it’s not that difficult!
Guest post by April Lewis of An Apple A Day Wisdom
I’m going to shock a few people today. Are you ready? Clean eating can be super inexpensive. Simple as that.
It used to be that when I would hear someone talk about healthy eating, organic food, or clean eating meal plans, I automatically stopped listening to their message because I had programmed myself to believe that making healthy choices was expensive. Granted, some of those choices can be pricey depending on the stores you choose to frequent and the items you are purchasing.
But do you know what I’ve learned? It is what you make it, just as with anything in life.
Every week I have been spending around $50 to $60 on average for groceries, using Aldi for 90% of my shopping. Some weeks have been as low as $30. This week I am doing an intensive 7-day cleanse so I shopped at Kroger because they have some AMAZING produce deals this week, even on organics, and I needed items Aldi doesn’t carry.
I spent a total of $140.91. But that’s going to be produce for the cleanse for a week and probably another week’s worth of dinners when combined with quinoa and portions of chicken after the cleanse is over. Divide that out and it’s still only $70 a week for both of us to eat organic.
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Plus, my family is coming to my house for a mini staycation. I have spent another $15 at the farmers’ market to have enough produce to feed them all local and organic as well. They are supplying the meat since my house will be ground zero for a backyard camping staycation.
I have 5 tips you can use to help tame your grocery budget and make clean eating on a dime possible for your family:
1. Only cook the suggested serving size for each person eating.
I know some of you have two or more children, jobs, etc., and you’re too busy to actually cook from scratch every night. So if you are cooking extra, then put the extra servings away so no one is tempted. I started monitoring this at my house and you truly don’t realize how much extra food is being eaten and adding expense to your grocery budget.
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2. Cook from scratch as much as you can.
Again, I know time can be an issue. Some ideas to help with that may be to form a cooking circle where you and four other friends each pick one recipe and make five batches of it, then swap. You will each have five dinners. But you’ll save some time because you will only shop and prepare for one dish. Or you can find a low-cost meal planning service like I have. It does all the thinking, planning, and work for you. Then you can just tweak as needed.
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3. Plant a garden.
Hands down the best thing I do for my family each year is grow my own vegetables. I fill up the freezer and cabinets as much as I can with very low-cost, organic, heirloom food. I save seeds from year to year, swap seeds with like-minded friends, or save seeds from produce I buy as long as it’s not GMO or hybrid breeds. You can even have a bucket garden if you are in an apartment. Or, utilize your farmers’ market. I get a TON of local, organic, heirloom produce for great prices at my local farmers’ market.
4. Eat more vegetables, less meat and dairy, and no processed foods.
Some of the most expensive items in the store are meat and dairy products. Nutritionally you can get what you need by eating much less of each of those. And even though most processed foods may be cheaper, they leave you still feeling hungry. But if you eat fresh produce in the right combinations, you can avoid those unhealthy processed foods altogether, helping your health and your budget.
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5. Get creative.
Like in the staycation example, my sister and her husband will be supplying any meat or extras we need to feed everyone. She’s saving a ton of money camping in my backyard instead of having to pay a resort’s expensive nightly fees. And I’m not out the expense of having to purchase everything they need while they are here.
You’re probably rolling your eyes thinking this lady just has two people to buy for. Most families are at least double that number. And you may believe this is unrealistic for your family. Maybe.
But I’d be willing to bet if you planted a garden, shopped for deals at the farmer’s market and Aldi, ate the recommended serving size, cooked from scratch, and got creative thinking about ways to make your healthy food budget stretch, your grocery budget would drop dramatically. Give it a try! What do you have to lose?
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What tips can you share to make healthy eating possible for families? How do you make clean eating on a dime a reality?
April Lewis is a single mom, author, blogger, executive virtual assistant, and mini homesteader. That’s the “professional” description, anyway. But really she’s a simple girl from rural west Tennessee. Her goal is to teach everyone that there are small things they can change or improve about everyday life that will have enormous impact on your spiritual life, your family, your health and the world around you.
Gina
Buy in Bulk is helpful too! I can save so much money buying in bulk from Sam’s Club for meat and cheese and other items. We also plan on starting a garden next year which I think will cut our grocery bill in half. But I agree the higher cost is the meat and dairy- I could probably be a vegetarian but my hubby is a “meat and potatoes guy” 🙂
Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
Cooking smaller amounts is definitely a great way to cut down on costs and on food waste. I use less meat (if any) in each meal. Making meat a component of a dish, and not the star of the plate, helps to stretch it a lot further.
Charissa Wilson
Drink Water: a large part of my past grocery bill were beverages. I still put out for tea and milk. However, drink the nutrition standard of 8 cups a day will help you not be hungry after correct portion sizes. You won’t crave more sugar or caffeine. Your body can disperse the nutrients better. All around awsome.
Aa
Most of these ideas are good, but it’s ludicrous to think everybody will be full on the recommended portions. Those are ridiculously small sometimes. People commonly eat second portions of things. Sometimes you need to just to get basically full. I especially don’t think you should try to control how much others eat. Especially with children, you don’t know how hungry they are or how much they have room for.
grace
I will grow now that summers here,seeds.I eat frozen entrees so now I will have containers to freeze my very own homemade lasagna,rice,pre cut veggies,why should I pay a dollar a bag at the store when I can cut and bag for winter.I’m a big fan of scratch cooking oatmeal ,couscous basically chicken soup with a grain.Also the bulk grains can be boiled then the garlic and onions fried added at the end for flavor.I found at a local spice in oz bags that’s cheap and fresh to make any cultural side dish.So many local grocery stores I found the best price is at the local ethnic store for Amish chicken,yes portion control is important,just think how much and when you feel full when you eat a steak and I now cook two small steaks like from the dollar tree but from a big pack grocery store with onions and lots of sides,basically my kids are happy and it is inexpensive.I make all kinds of beans,Cuban black,chili beans with tomato sauce,and if your kids ask,the corn tortillas make a great taco or breakfast burrito as fiber goes.if you have picky eaters or naggers always have something ready ,I have bulk cheese for enchiladas ,and bought the newest giant bags for freezer storage for pancakes and pizza crusts,homemade .I still have a box of chips cookies ,popcorn,noodles.it also helps to keep mint ice cream and Oreo cookies for a blended shake for the teens,I found waiting in line at every fast food joint is time consuming.My next project is a menu board so my kids can pick what they want on a daily basis and that’s where prebagged and homemade saves.
Erin Marie Sills
Love the tip to be creative. We grocery shop monthly (to control costs) only going back from produce or milk as absolutely necessary. Towards the end of the month, it’s slim picking at our house, but I confess I enjoy the challenge of finding something to feed my family of 5 from what we have in the house.
Awmeme
I think another point would be you get what you pay for so sometimes its worth spending more. For example in january 2016 I purchased about $60-$80 of meat from costco (just like any store you need to read packaging). Granted it’s just my hubby and I, I don’t eat much meat…however I just now had to buy more meat this weekend $60. Another tip instead of serving like one chicken breast per person I find if the meat (any sort) is diced or chopped for example even just put on the side it kinda of tricks your mind into thinking you’re having lots of meat. However I disagree with limiting to only cooking the recommended portions. I find cooking extra actually saves me time and money…I can only eat a few ounces at a time yet have to eat a minimum of 2400 calories a day to maintain my weight. Plus then my hubby has a nutritious feeling lunch vs. spending $8-$10 on a fast food one. However like you said you do need to know your own families habits.
Erin
Thanks for the feedback! That is true that sometimes you do get what you pay for! Thanks for sharing!
Evelyne
Beans are super healthy and cheap. It’s the biggest secret out there.People that eat beans as their main protein food live 8 years longer than meat eaters! I love Indian recipes for cooking beans because their spices make bean dishes so tasty. Try it. Don’t worry about gas. Your body will just after a couple months… Take extra enzymes.?
T
Meal plan, seriously. It’s a little extra work but I save Sooo much money when I know exactly what we are going to eat and can stretch ingredients. I can take a 6$ chicken, roast it for supper one night and make soup the next night. Oh and don’t be afraid of soup and biscuits for supper, the simple meals are satisfying. Also, I buy veggies for snacks. Wash, slice and stick in a large bowl in the fridge. Then it’s handy when snacky.