Do you want to eat healthily but struggle because you are on a budget?

If so, then you are not alone. So many people are in the same situation as you, but if you are willing to make a positive change now, then you will soon find that you can turn things around.

This guide will show you how to make the most of your money so you don’t have to compromise your health to put food on the table.

Plan out your Meals

If you want to save money, then one thing you need to do is plan your meals ahead of time.

Pick one day each week and then plan all of your meals for the week. You then need to make a grocery list of everything you need to prepare those individual meals.

Make sure that you scan your fridge and your cabinets so you can see what you have already.

For example, you may have food at the back of the cupboard. At the end of the day, you need to purchase what you know you are going to use. If you can do this, you won’t throw away any ingredients.

Stick to a List

When you have planned out your meals and made a grocery list, you have to make sure that you stick to it.

At the end of the day, it is far too easy for you to get sidetracked when you go to the grocery store. This can lead to you making some unintended purchases.

As a general rule, you need to try and shop at the outer edge of the store first. This is where you will see a lot of whole foods.

The middle of the store tends to contain more processed foods. More expensive items tend to be placed at eye level too.

Additionally, you can download a grocery list app so you can tick off your items as you go.

Cook at Home

Cooking at home is often way cheaper than going out.

You can usually feed four people for the same price as feeding one at a restaurant. If you want to do something here, you must cook at the weekends, so you can freeze and store your meals.

If you cook for yourself, you have the added benefit of knowing what ingredients you put in your meals.

Don’t Shop if you’re Hungry

If you go to your local grocery store when you are hungry, you are far more likely to stray and buy something completely on impulse.

When you are hungry, you may find that you reach for processed foods that do not have as many nutrients.

Since foods like this are not on your grocery list, they are not good for your budget. Eat a piece of yoghurt or fruit before you go to the store.

If you can do this, then you won’t be as hungry when you arrive.

Buy Whole Foods

Some foods tend to be more affordable if you buy them in a form that is not processed. If you look at blocks of cheese, then you will see that they are cheaper than buying shredded cheese.

Canned beans are cheaper than beans that have been refried. Whole grains, including oats and even brown rice, tend to be cheaper than buying processed cereal too so make sure that you keep that in mind.

Make your Own

Did you know that it is often cheaper to make your cereal than it is to buy it?

If you want to learn how to make muesli then this is very easy to do, and you would be surprised at how much it could help you to gain a solid understanding of what’s going into your food.

You can also cater for the taste of your cereal to meet your likes and dislikes, and this is great, to say the least. If you have never experimented with making your cereal before, then you can also make your fruit bars or flapjacks.

Once you get into this routine, you will soon find that it is easier than ever to get the nutritional value you are looking for, without breaking the bank.

If you want your food to last, then simply buy some zip-lock bags and put them in an airtight storage container.  That way, they stay fresh whenever you want to use them or when you need food on the go.

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• Are Health and the Economy Intrinsically Linked?
• Fighting Dementia? 4 Foods Your Diet Needs.

Editing by AskAwayHealth Team

Disclaimer

All AskAwayHealth articles are written by practising  Medical Practitioners to help promote quality healthcare. The advice in our material is not meant to replace a qualified healthcare practitioner’s management of your specific condition.
Please get in touch with a health practitioner to discuss your condition, or reach us directly here.

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