LIVE WELL
Eat Well for Less 10 TIPS FOR EATING HEALTHY ON A BUDGET BY MARY BE TH WALLACE
Contrary to popular belief, a healthy diet doesn’t have to be expensive. With a smarter shopping strategy and the right tools, you can dine on delicious, nutritious dishes without breaking the bank. Here’s how.
1
CREATE A MEAL PLAN. Take the guesswork out of mealtime with a weekly plan. When done right, meal planning ensures you’ll have healthy, budget-friendly meals on the table every night, even with a busy schedule! Build your meals around what you already have in your pantry or freezer, supplementing with what’s on sale at the grocery store.
2
STICK TO YOUR GROCERY LIST. A box of cereal here, a chocolate bar there … before you know it, you’re checking out the entirety of aisle four! Avoiding impulse buys can be a challenge, but if you have a plan in place, you’ll be less likely to overspend. Set yourself up for success by grocery shopping on a full stomach, and instead of roaming the aisles, only walk to the areas where there’s an item on your list.
3
CHECK UNIT PRICES. For packaged items like nut butters, air-popped popcorn, and energy bars, make a practice of checking the unit price to determine which brand is the best value. Most grocery stores will post the unit price along with the store’s price; simply find the small stickers along the shelves. You’ll notice that store brands often cost less than their name-brand counterparts – and they aren’t that different when it comes to quality and ingredients.
4
SHOP THE SALES. This means using coupons, apps, and sales ads for the grocery stores you frequent. Always scour your store’s sales ad for fresh produce; if apples are on sale, and blueberries aren’t, then you’ll be adding apple slices to your oatmeal this week!
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HealthScopeMag.com
