Eating Healthy on A Tight Budget: 6 Ways to Make Your Groceries Stretch (3 of 4)

Snack Smarter, Spend Smarter

Snacking can add up in both calories and cost if you rely mainly on packaged foods. Instead, simple whole foods like bananas or apples are both affordable and portable, and also need virtually no preparation. For more homemade options, carrots and celery sticks are affordable, filling and can also be used as ingredients for soups or stews.

Making your popcorn at home over the stove is another swap that saves money, especially if you flavor it with your own spices and herbs instead of going heavy on the salt, butter, or sugar. Nuts and seeds like sunflower seeds, peanuts, and pumpkin seeds provide both protein and healthy fats at a much lower price point than nuts like almonds and cashews. If you do buy salted versions because they cost less, be sure to watch your portion sizes to avoid excess salt to avoid spiking blood pressure.

Waste Less, Save More

Food waste isn’t just terrible for the environment; it is also bad for your pockets. Research shows that up to a quarter of the food we purchase goes to waste. The best way to cut down on food waste is to plan means in advance and shop more intentionally. A simple meal can ensure that what you purchase are things you actually use, and that you have readily available options when your days get busy.

Leftover veggies can be easily repurposed into soups and bulked up with beans for an extra hit of protein. Homemade soup can be great for meal prepping as it can be frozen into portions, to ensure that you always have a nutritious meal on hand without resorting to healthy versions like store bought versions packed with salt. Freezing also lengthens the life of foods like muffins, buns, and bread, making it much easier to grab what you need without the food spoiling.