10 Affordable Ways to Eat Healthy in 2023
Rising grocery prices make healthy eating challenging, especially if you’re feeding a family. Look no further for your next grocery budget hacks than this guide. It features super affordable ways to eat healthy in 2023 so you can enjoy every meal with your loved ones without compromising your family’s nutrition.
1. Shop at Farmers Markets
When farmers set up tables at farmers markets, they don’t have to factor national or international shipping costs into their prices. Store-based products do. You’ll get the same foods for a fraction of the cost while supporting your local economy by stocking up on fruits, vegetables and homemade goods at farmers markets.
2. Try Frozen Veggies
The fresh veggie section of your grocery store may seem tempting, but more affordable versions are in the frozen food aisles. Companies flash-freeze their vegetables when they’re at peak condition, so you’ll eat veggies with higher nutrient profiles than fresh alternatives that people harvested weeks ago.
The flash-freezing process also means that production companies can ship the food more easily. You’ll find budget-friendly prices for prepped vegetables if you start getting the frozen versions of what your family enjoys.
3. Join Rewards Programs
Most supermarkets have an in-house rewards program that’s free to join. You can sign up for a rewards membership without credit checks or monthly payments. In return, you’ll get exclusive coupons and sales alerts sent to your email or phone. It could be worth checking out since the sales may result in buy-one-get-one-free deals on your most purchased products.
You can also use the in-house rewards program to get exclusive coupons and sales alerts that could result in buy-one-get-one-free deals on your most purchased products. Plus, some supermarkets even offer incentives for healthy eating, so it’s worth signing up for the rewards program to take advantage of all the savings.
4. Make Bulk Meals
Making different recipes for every daily meal requires an extensive grocery list. Instead, cook a bulk meal at the beginning of the week. You’ll have one recipe for lunch or dinner throughout the week and you’ll minimize your grocery budget. Big-batch cooking even saves time in the kitchen since you won’t have to make fresh meals every day.
Just remember that how you prep your ingredients matters when it comes to eating healthy. People often forget simple tricks, like how vegetable skins contain more nutrients than what’s left after you peel them. Cut them into whole chunks without peeling to preserve their nutrient profile while making bulk meals like stews and frozen casseroles.
5. Swap Meat for Beans
Meat and seafood can easily be the most costly part of anyone’s grocery trip. You need protein to make a well-rounded meal, but it doesn’t have to come from meat.
Try swapping ground beef, chicken and other protein sources with beans. Your family will still get their daily protein intake for a fraction of what you would have spent on meat.
In addition, this trustworthy dentist in Leominster shares that beans such as black beans and soybeans are high in arginine, which helps in preventing dental decay. Furthermore, green beans promote blood flow in your gums keeping them healthy.
6. Pick Store-Brand Foods
Brand-name foods might have fancy packaging, but they’re nearly identical to the food in store-brand products. Generic versions are much more affordable because they don’t require marketing research or advertising to hit store shelves.
Get the store-brand version of your healthy foods to save money without changing what you eat. The leftover grocery money could become a treat-yourself fund so you can finally upgrade your daily beauty products to feel healthier and more comfortable in your skin.
7. Plan Your Weekly Meals
You may accidentally buy groceries you don’t need when you don’t know what you’re eating for the next few days. Create a spreadsheet or weekly calendar to track what your family will eat for each meal. You’ll know exactly what you need from the grocery store and use everything you buy.
8. Place Your Order Online
Research shows that people are more likely to make impulsive purchases when they’re physically close to the object that appeals to them. If you often put food in your cart that wasn’t on your list, try placing your grocery orders online.
Many supermarkets take orders and allow customers to pick everything up for free. You’ll save time and money by downloading an app or going online before your next trip to the grocery store.
9. Limit Restaurant Meals
Everyone deserves to take it easy and eat at a restaurant every once and a while. Have fun with your family at your favorite venues, but try limiting how often you go out to eat.
You could check the restaurant or chain’s website to see when they have special deals on the dishes your family orders most often to reduce your spending. You’ll have more money left for groceries and healthy activities.
10. Rethink Your Spending Methods
Your credit or debit card could earn points back for every swipe at your local grocery stores. Check your card providers to see if there are rewards programs for daily purchases. If not, you could switch cards to earn cash back for your groceries. When the rewards rack up, you could trade them for grocery store gift cards or a deposit in your checking account to pay for your next trip.
Start Eating Healthy in 2023
Anyone can use these affordable ways to eat healthy in 2023 and change their family’s daily routine for the better. Consider how often you’re spending money, what you buy and what your family likes to eat to find the best strategies for saving money without compromising your health this year.
