How to Eat Healthy on a Budget

Eating healthy is touted everywhere you look (TV, magazines, books, your doctor, your friends – even me in my articles), but let’s face it – eating healthy can be quite costly. Fruits and veg can be very expensive and add to that the desire for organic products in general, the cost gets bumped up even more. Here are some tips to cut costs without cutting out these nutritious and tasty foods.

When and where possible, buy locally – search out nearby farms and/or farmers markets. Not only is the produce as fresh as it can be, you’re also sustaining local businesses.

Start your own garden – or arrange a gardening group among friends where each member is responsible for growing a share of the crop. You can keep this manageable by setting your plots in large pots –there may not even be a need to dig a full-on garden – unless you would like to. You can get ready made or easy to make garden beds from your local hardware store too.

Buy foods like whole grains, flour, nuts etc from the bulk bins (without all the packaging and labeling you save on cost and can further save by buying in bulk as long as you store it properly). Or buy store brand organics for less cost but just as good quality.

Buy produce in season – not only do you avoid paying for shipping (hundreds or thousands of miles) and other expenses, but the items will be better quality and tastier as they have not been picked long before they are ripened and arrive at your table.

As always – there are COUPONS if you have the patience and the organizational skills (which I lack) to incorporate this art form into your food-shopping program you can take advantage of many great savings.