Cost Cutting Tips at the Grocery Store
It’s a common misconception that healthy food is too expensive. This means some of us resort to ready-to-eat or microwaveable meals, processed foods or junk foods when we are rushing to shop or when we are on a budget. The other way we spend too much on unhealthy foods is shopping without a list or when we are hungry. Take the initiative to start cutting food costs and feel better! An investment of just 30 minutes of planning may save over 30 dollars and extra pounds over time.
Here is a 5-step Guide to Cut Costs the Healthy Way
Make a checklist before heading to the store.
Choose a couple of healthy meals for the week and make a grocery list. Stick to it as much as possible. Reducing impulse shopping will help you save major dollars, so make sure you’ve eaten before you head to the local store or opt for the grocery pick-up option.
Choose a couple of healthy meals for the week and make a grocery list. Stick to it as much as possible. Reducing impulse shopping will help you save major dollars, so make sure you’ve eaten before you head to the local store or opt for the grocery pick-up option.
Prepare meals and snacks ahead of time.
After shopping, you will need to prepare, plan, chop, package and place healthy foods at eye level. We waste so much food, and it’s usually the healthy food. Here's a trick to reduce food waste: As soon as you get home from the grocery store, slice your apples, prewash your grapes and put a serving of strawberries into individual bags to take on the go. Make sure your convenience foods are less convenient, and your fresh foods are readily available. Put your sliced veggies at eye level in the refrigerator and tuck the rest in the bottom drawers.
After shopping, you will need to prepare, plan, chop, package and place healthy foods at eye level. We waste so much food, and it’s usually the healthy food. Here's a trick to reduce food waste: As soon as you get home from the grocery store, slice your apples, prewash your grapes and put a serving of strawberries into individual bags to take on the go. Make sure your convenience foods are less convenient, and your fresh foods are readily available. Put your sliced veggies at eye level in the refrigerator and tuck the rest in the bottom drawers.
Eat leftovers.
Take dinner leftovers to lunch the next day. This means for dinner, put down the dinner plate and grab a storage container first to pack lunch for the next day. This helps prevent overindulging when you think you are "starving" even though you put way too much on your plate. This is a simple way to practice portion control too.
Take dinner leftovers to lunch the next day. This means for dinner, put down the dinner plate and grab a storage container first to pack lunch for the next day. This helps prevent overindulging when you think you are "starving" even though you put way too much on your plate. This is a simple way to practice portion control too.
Limit gas station and fast-food stops.
Only use gas stations to fill up your tank, not your stomach. Avoid tempting snacks and mindless eating while driving down the road. Many people eat during a road trip to stay awake. If this is you, pack nuts and fresh fruit. Fast foods may sound appealing in the moment, however, your preplanning done at the grocery store will go to waste. This is an easy way to spend too much at the grocery store when the foods are wasted throughout the week.
Only use gas stations to fill up your tank, not your stomach. Avoid tempting snacks and mindless eating while driving down the road. Many people eat during a road trip to stay awake. If this is you, pack nuts and fresh fruit. Fast foods may sound appealing in the moment, however, your preplanning done at the grocery store will go to waste. This is an easy way to spend too much at the grocery store when the foods are wasted throughout the week.
Eat whole foods regularly.
Avoid empty calorie foods. Those are foods with a lot of calories but nothing good for the body. Whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nut and legumes are better for the body and help you feel full for longer. These items can be found in the outer aisle of the grocery store. Remember, you don’t need to buy “organic” everything. There is also low sodium, no sugar canned vegetables and fruits in the inner aisles. The freezer section also has fruits and veggies that can last for a long time and be added into any healthy meal.
Avoid empty calorie foods. Those are foods with a lot of calories but nothing good for the body. Whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nut and legumes are better for the body and help you feel full for longer. These items can be found in the outer aisle of the grocery store. Remember, you don’t need to buy “organic” everything. There is also low sodium, no sugar canned vegetables and fruits in the inner aisles. The freezer section also has fruits and veggies that can last for a long time and be added into any healthy meal.
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