Posted on August 24, 2015 by Jenny Cromack

Most people like to save money but when it comes to eating healthy you shouldn’t sacrifice the quality of your food for price.

Here are some tips for healthy food shopping on a budget, to help you save money on your food, but not compromise your fitness goals.

Cheaper cuts of meat
If you’re prepared to take a little more time with your cooking, buying cheaper cuts of meat is a great way to save money. Choosing a cheaper cut of meat, such as braising steak, shin or shoulder, doesn’t mean missing out on a tasty meal. Slow cooking gradually breaks down the fibres in cheaper cuts of meat, giving great taste at a lower cost.

The good thing about using a slow cooker is that you can batch cook too (see below) which will save you more money!

Cook with pulses
Pulses such as beans, chick peas and lentils, are some of the cheapest foods available on the supermarket shelves. These pulses are low in calories and fat but packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals you can use them in dishes to replace some of the chicken or meat, such as a chilli con carne with kidney beans or a chicken curry with chickpeas.

Go to the market or green grocers

If you have the time then do your shopping at your local market or green grocers, you can guarantee that not only is the produce cheaper but it will also be better quality.

We have raved about Market Delivered in Leeds before, but these guys deliver fresh produce from your local market to your home/work place, the prices are exceptional value but always great quality food.

Make a meal plan

Plan your meals around staple ingredients such as pulses, tinned tomatoes, etc and incorporate the ingredients that you already have in your kitchen and stick to it! Impulse buys or special offers can cause you to spent unnecessary money and also lose track of your diet. Try not to shop when hungry. Studies show that people who shop when hungry are more likely to spend more, especially on less healthy foods, such as high-fat and sugary snacks.

 

Cut out the waste and bulk make your food

According to Love Food Hate Waste the average family throw away £60 worth of food each month always plan your meals and freeze any leftovers or use for your lunch the next day. Think about how much your lunch from the local sandwich shop costs, make a little extra the night before and we bet you can save at least £25 a week.

Bulk make your food and you’ll soon have a freezer full of meals you can use when you’ve worked late in the office and need something quick to grab or something healthy to take for lunch.
Buy frozen

Frozen fruit and vegetables are under-rated. They come pre-chopped and prepared ready to use, are just as good for you (just avoid those with added salt, sugar or fat), and are often cheaper than fresh varieties. Frozen vegetables are picked at the peak of freshness and then frozen to seal in their nutrients. To read up on the difference between frozen, tinned and fresh click here

Veggie meals
Meat and fish are typically the most expensive food ingredients on a shopping list. How about adding vegetables to meat dishes such as casseroles to make your meals go further? Or try a few vegetarian meals during the week to keep costs down? Make it fun by trying new meals, you can always add meat.

Buy whole chickens or a roast
The cheapest way to buy chicken is to buy a whole chicken. It’s often more expensive to buy two pre-cut chicken breasts than a whole chicken. From a whole chicken, you’ll get two breasts, two thighs, two drumsticks, plus a carcass and wings for making stock. Also adopt this approach with roasts, make a roast and you can use any left overs for lunches or the following evening meal.

I hope these tips save you a little money and let you eat healthier