Healthy Eating On A Budget

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We hear it all the time: Eating Healthy is expensive and impossible! That’s just not true; it is possible to eat healthy on a budget, and I joined WFMZ 69 News at Sunrise to show you how. Watch my segment Healthy Eating on a Budget!

Some tips:

1. Only shop in bulk if you will use the food. Don’t waste your food! According to the USDA, the US food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply. 

  • Make bone broth* with leftovers. Store brand bone broth is $5.49 for carton.  Tossing leftovers into a crock pot can make up to 3 quarts. 

  • Farmer’s market usually has ingredients cheaper and fresher than the local grocery store. 

  • Purchase food in season which is also cheaper and healthier.

2. If you do buy in bulk, it’s a great opportunity to prep snacks

  • Celery, carrots, cucumber, grapes, peppers and freeze what you can’t use.

  • Use a lettuce knife to cut lettuce to prevent browning edges.

3. It’s cheaper to plan snacks ahead

  • Kind bar ($1.40) vs grapes (2 lbs/$2)

  • Cup of yogurt ($1.19) vs celery sticks (three bunches for $2)

4. Make your healthy meats go a long way 

  • Small amount of meat in a big salad, or soup. 

  • Add other proteins instead such as lentils, quinoa, seeds or beans. 

5. Make enough for leftovers 

  • Make 2 meals at once, one dinner and leftovers for lunch

  • Less work for us busy moms! A double win!

6. Always have a few quick meals ready in the freezer to avoid temptations of fast food which is more expensive 

  • Soup, stew, chicken fajitas, casseroles

7. Good plans prevent impulse buying! And keeps you on target with your budget

*To make bone broth – Use any leftover chicken/beef/lamb bones.  If still raw, roast with olive oil/sea salt/pepper.  Place in crock pot with water. Add carrots, onion, celery, scallions, scraps of other veggies, and “Everything but the bagel” seasoning, and cook for 48 hours in a crock pot.  Strain the broth and enjoy!

Luisa Szakacs