Top tips for eating healthily for less
By Lucy Calnan
When it comes to healthily eating, there is often the misconception that healthy food costs more. With this in mind here are some top tips for eating healthily for less.
- Devise a weekly meal plan and base your shopping list on this, so that you only buy items that you are going to cook.
- If you have leftovers after a meal don’t just throw them away, instead, package them up for your lunch tomorrow or freeze them.
- Buy frozen fruit and vegetables instead of fresh as they are cheaper, last longer but still provide the same nutritional benefits.
- Try buying cheaper brands instead of premium brands as often there is very little difference between the products.
- Use more veg in your meals than meat and fish as veg tends to be much cheaper.
- Incorporate beans, lentils and peas into your meals as they are some of the cheapest foods on the market but packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals.
- Freeze bread in portions rather than leaving it out to go off as bread is one of the most wasted household ingredients.
- Cut down on bread wastage by freezing bread when it is fresh in portions and take this out of the freezer as and when you need it.
- Know what you have in your fridge, freezer and kitchen cupboards so that you don’t buy things that you already have.
- Buy cheaper cuts of meat even if they take longer to cook. Cheaper cuts of meat include braising steak, shin or shoulder.
- Source cheap recipes online and in cookery books. Eating cheap does not mean that the food is any less tasty.
- Try saying no second helpings so that you eat less, and your food goes further.
- Cook meals from scratch rather than opting for ready meals or takeaways as this is much cheaper.
- Buy a whole chicken rather than individual cuts as you can use this to make several meals meaning it is better value for money.
- Compare buying pre-packed fruit and veg with loose and buy the cheaper one.
- Consider using the deli counter for cheese and cured meats as you can buy the exact amount that you need rather than having to buy a whole packet.
- Cut down on any luxury items as the cost of these can soon mount up.
- Beware of special offers such as buy one get one free or 3 for the price of 2 as they encourage you to buy more than needed.
- Compare the prices of supermarket food online and shop at the cheapest supermarket.
- Try doing your shopping during the supermarket happy hour where they discount products but beware that the products often have to be eaten that day.
Have you got any other tips for eating healthy for less? We would love to hear your thoughts.