Top 8 ways to shop healthy on a budget

Need some help in the food department? I can help you. You are better than take-out and processed crap food. Let’s do it together. Join me for Busy Women Mealtime Makeover. We’ll cook together. We’ll have some fun. We’re starting in a few weeks but the spots are filling up. Only 30 spots so get yours now! Oh yeah, you can enter to win a free spot over here. 
I hear it all the time. “Eating healthy is expensive.” “I can’t afford organics.” “I am not paying that for food!”
I totally get it. Times are tight. My husband has a budget spreadsheet that would impress any CPA. Yes, I too, am on a food budget. I have to be. I like going to the grocery store like some people like going shopping for clothes. Well, I guess I like that too. I digress…
You can totally eat healthy and not break the bank.
Have I been a sucker for good food marketing? You betcha. However, through the years, I have rocked it at the grocery store and have found some darn good ways to save some serious cash and still buy real food. Let me share my tips.
Here are my top 7 ways to shop healthy on a budget:
1. Buy what’s on sale and improvise. Sure, there are not that many coupons for “real” food. Have you ever seen a coupon for kale in the newspaper? Not me and that is a huge bummer. I don’t do many coupons because I don’t eat much packaged food. However, I have learned how to improvise. For example, I may have kale on my shopping list but spinach is on sale. Which one do I buy? You got it. Spinach wins. I improvise a ton.
2. Buy in bulk. Yep, I have found organic rasberries at Sams Club. Word. I buy a bag of lemons instead of a couple. I also  use the bulk bins for beans and whole grains. If your grocery store does not have bulk bins, look for a health store in your area. I bet they will have them.
3. Plan to freeze. Nothing fires me up more than throwing away good food. It is just like throwing cash right in the trash. When buying perishable foods, you gotta have a plan because it will go bad. You want to buy food that will go bad over time. That is real food. Imagine what food does in your body that has a shelf life of 10 years. Yikes. So, plan to freeze. Buy a big bunch of bananas and peel some of them and freeze them for smoothies, for example.
4. Have a budget. If you want to shop on a budget, you gotta have a budget in the first place. My goal for a family of 2 1/2 (even though we are approaching 3 with Madilyn’s growing appetite) is $100/week. Yep, not too bad is it. Do I go over that, sometimes. Some weeks, though, I rock it and get a boat load of food for under $70. What is your food budget?

5. Put blinders on. Grocery stores are in the business of selling food. They want you to add lots of packages and products that were not on your original list. Remember this when you are in the store. Stay on task and I bet you will save some cash.
6. Look online for coupons. Sure, I have never found a coupon for kale. However, I do buy a few packaged products like almond milk and tahini and coconut water, for example. Sometimes their websites offer coupons. Nice.
7. Buy local and seasonal. Keep an eye out for produce and even meats and dairy from local farms showing up in your grocery store. Love this. You’ll be helping local farmers instead of big businesses and you’ll probably feel better because the food was grown close to home.
8. Skip the organic junk food – well, sometimes. Sure, I have bought some boxes of organic mac & cheese. Is that healthy, though? Hmmm… I guess it is better than non-organic but not quite as good for you as homemade. Sure, do it sometimes but try to make it on your menu occasionally. Remember, these companies know what they are doing. They want to you be a sucker for marketing. Plus, those little boxes are pretty darn expensive.
Need help saving some cash in the store? I can help you. Let’s do it together. Join me for Busy Women Mealtime Makeover. We’re starting in a few weeks but the spots are filling up. Only 30 spots so get yours now!