How to eat healthy on a budget
Kroger/Gross/Stockfood
Do embrace frozen berries
Fruits and veggies in the freezer aisle are just as nutritious as fresh ones, and you can get up to eight times as much for the same price. Simply thaw in the fridge overnight or add frozen to baking recipes and breakfast smoothies.
Do look beyond brands
Stretch your dollar by opting
for no-name or private label store
brands.
Shopping tip: Use this
strategy for single-ingredient
products like brown rice, legumes
or flour — and save big! For canned
or frozen goods, always compare
ingredient lists to ensure you
don’t compromise on quality.
Do make DIY meals
Ready-made lasagna may
save time, but it’ll cost you
at the checkout, not to
mention the added fat,
calories and preservatives.
Instead, set aside time to
make big-batch casseroles,
soups and stews — and your freezer will always be full
of tasty, healthy options.
Make it a habit: Whip up
a batch of whole-grain waffles
on Sundays, individually wrap
the extras and freeze for a
weekday-morning treat you
can just pop in the toaster.
Recipe shown in image: Ravioli lasagna with sausage and mushrooms
Do pass up prewashed
Save hundreds a year by
avoiding precut veggies
and opting for a head of
lettuce instead of a bag of
prewashed! When you get
home, simply wash, dry and
tear it, then put it back in
a plastic bag. Same goes for
fruit: A container of precut
pineapple costs about $4
while a whole one, with at
least four times the amount
of fruit, is the same price.
Make it a habit: Commit to
skipping any fresh product
that comes in a plastic bag!
Do bulk up
Buy staples like cereal, spices or pasta in bulk, then stash in glass jars that you can refill when necessary — you’ll save big and do the environment a favour, too, by reducing unnecessary packaging.
Do make it meatless
Cut back costs by going
vegetarian. Eggs, quinoa,
chickpeas and beans are
all healthy and affordable
proteins.
Bonus: They’re
also lower in fat than most
meats! Save the most
money by opting for dried
goods versus canned.
Recipe image: Salt and vinegar roasted chickpeas
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