Learn • Anywhere
Rumie logo

When you want to eat healthily, it's easy to be overwhelmed by all the food options available like keto, vegetarian, or vegan. It may even feel like you can't afford a lot of these foods.

A few simple tricks can help you eat healthier while saving money at the grocery store.

Shelves at a grocery store stocked with milk products.Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

Meal Planning

Before you make your grocery list, decide what meals you want for the week.

Ask yourself:

  • What ingredients do I already have in my pantry, refrigerator, and freezer?

  • Where can I look for recipes?

  • What are my dietary preferences or restrictions? (For example, are you unable to eat gluten? Do you want to try going keto?)

Fruits and nuts next to a weekly meal plan.

Quiz

What is the benefit of seeing what ingredients you already have at home?

Did you know?

Pinterest is a great place to look for healthy meals! Try searches such as "cheap healthy meals" or "meatless meals" and you'll get a wide range of recipes with colorful photos. You can even pin (save) your favorites for future reference.

Making Your Grocery List

Once you've surveyed your kitchen and found some recipes, it's time to make your grocery list. Here are some pointers:

  • Pick up a flyer for your chosen grocery store or browse for deals online. Look for BOGO deals (buy two, get one; two for $4, etc.) to help you save money.

  • Consider purchasing ingredients in bulk; anything you don't use can be frozen or stored for later.

  • Focus on in-season produce when purchasing whole fruits and vegetables.

  • Plant-based and meatless options are less expensive than many cuts of meat.

    A person making a grocery list surrounded by food and a smartphone.

Quiz

Which of these meats would be best for eating healthy and your budget?

Making Smart Swaps

Some foods may seem healthy but actually have few nutritional benefits. Additionally, you may end up spending more money where you least expect it and not be able to use up ingredients before they spoil.

Choose wisely.

choices

Flaticon Icon

Flaticon IconInstead of...

  • Pre-cut vegetables

  • Shredded cheese

  • Steak

  • Processed cereal

Flaticon Icon

Flaticon IconTry this...

  • Whole vegetables

  • Blocks of cheese

  • Cheaper cuts of meat (ground meat)

  • Oats or granola

Quiz

You want to have an entree salad for dinner this week. Which of these should you purchase?

Did you know?

Canned and frozen fruits and vegetables are good alternatives to whole produce. Just make sure to read their labels and avoid products with too much sugar or sodium.

Take Action

A person in front of a fridge holding oranges and grapes. The text reads, 'Gotta stay healthy.'

Plan for healthy eating on a budget!

License:

This Byte has been authored by

AM

Alison Myers

Production Editor

This Byte has been reviewed by

LD

Lana Do

MD, MPH, BCMAS

English

🍪 We use technical and analytics cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. more info