But I can’t afford to eat healthy!
Trust me, eating healthy fits into any budget. In fact, now that I don’t eat out for lunch and cook meals at home more, i’m actually saving more money. Sure, some of the ingredients are more expensive than they were before, but overall my ingredients and meals go a long way, and last much longer than food I used to eat.
Here are a few tips to keep your wallet in check. I promise, they will work.
- Buy in bulk.
Buy your vinegar, honey, olive oil from your local wholesale bulk store. Any baking ingredients should be bought in bulk, as you will use them a lot. - When you can – home make it.
When you can, and it is economical, make it from scratch. Chicken and beef stock are great for healing the gut as well great for soup and cooking vegetables and they are cheap to make from scratch. Flours such as almond flours can be easily made at home as well with a food processor or Vitamix if you have the time. - Cook enough for leftovers.
It seems like an obvious answer, but cooking enough for multiple meals and then refrigerating or freezing really does help cut the cost down. You make your ingredients go further and MOST importantly, if you have ready made meals you will be less likely to go to the restaurant, or pick up food. - Bake lots – often.
Grain free baking really does go a long way. It is a good idea to double recipes and freeze most of them. Grain free baking recipes are filling, full of protein from the eggs and delicious. Because of the high protein levels, dense flowers and lack of sugar, grain free baking keeps you fuller longer. - It’s a mind set.
If you are choosing to do this as a lifestyle change or for specific health reasons, you must remember that there is no other way. The alternative is mistreating your body, and the new way you are approaching food and life is going to be the only way to do things from now on. It will be trial and error with cooking and ingredient shopping at the beginning, especially until you figure out your favorite recipes and spices. But after you have your staple meals, you will know what to buy and how much and it will soon become automatic. I honestly don’t even remember what I used to eat before this… - Make your own condiments and dressings.
A little goes a long way with home made dressings, and store bought dressings are expensive when you are buying one of every flavor! Not to mention the added sugar and preservatives. They are easy to make and can be refrigerated and used again. - Eat lots of fruits and veggies!
They are cheap afterall! And fruit is very affordable as well, especially as a sweet treat. You’ll save by eating your fruits and veggies as snacks instead of buying cookies all the time - Buy your meat in bulk
Share with friends and families, buy the larger quantites and freeze. Your freezer will become your best friend, can’t you tell? - Buy frozen
It’s okay to buy frozen vegetables as well, as long as you choose organic. It’s a great way to save. - You will be in far better moods all the time.
Therefore a less tendency to binge eat, less cravings for that chocolate bar and ice cream. Instead you’ll be craving to get into the kitchen and cook your heart out! You will be spending far less money on impulse food and snack purchases. - Buy in season fruits and vegetables and freeze out of season
In summer months, stock up on those “summer time” fruits, and towards the end of the season, freeze a bunch for the winter! You’ll save on having to purchase out of season berries. - Don’t buy anything packaged or processed.
They are bad for you, and are sure to rack up the credit card.
