Eating Healthy on a Budget with Kids

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Eating healthy with kids seems like an impossible task. If you’re trying to eat healthier, but the grocery bill keeps racking up, you may be spending too much on unnecessary items. However, there are a few tips and tricks I’ve learned that can help you eat healthier, spend less, and keep your kids happy.

Here are my tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget with Kids:

Use a Shopping List

When you’re out grocery shopping, it’s tempting to pick up snacks and other food items you don’t need. By using a shopping list, you’re much less likely to stray away from it and buy unnecessary items. Try categorizing your shopping list by sections so you don’t miss anything. For example, you can categorize your shopping list by sections in the grocery store – produce, meats, dairy, grains, snacks, etc.

Buy in Bulk

You don’t have to shop at Sam’s Club or Costco to buy in bulk. Usually, there’s a discount if you buy a certain amount of items and you end up saving money the more you buy. For example, if you buy ten apples at $0.50 each versus buying individual apples for $1.00 each, you’ll be saving money and getting more bang for your buck. If you buy produce or meat in bulk, make sure to freeze it so it doesn’t go bad.

Stock Up on Sale Food Items

If you see something on sale you regularly buy, stock up on as much as you can so you don’t have to buy them for a while. For example, if your favorite cereal is on sale, buy a couple of boxes so you don’t have to buy them next time you go shopping.

Buy Vegetables On Sale or In-Season

If you find vegetables that are on sale, buy as much as you can. For example, if you see that broccoli is $0.50 versus its regular price of $1.00, you’ll be saving 50% and getting more for your money! If no vegetables are on sale, try to buy in-season vegetables. They’ll be cheaper since they’re probably sourced locally and not shipped from some other country. In-season vegetables also taste way better than out-of-season vegetables! You can also find a local farmer’s market and buy in-season vegetables. They will be much cheaper than grocery store vegetables and they’re extremely fresh!

Stick with Lean Meats

Lean cuts of meat such as chicken, lean fish, or lean cuts of red meat, are going to be much cheaper than a ribeye or salmon. You can find chicken breasts for pretty cheap at most any grocery store and stock up for later. You can also buy lean ground meats such as turkey and beef and freeze them for later.

Create Meal Plan

If you plan out your meals ahead of time, you know exactly what ingredients you need to buy and how much. Then, you can make your shopping list for the week to reflect all the items you need to buy next time you go grocery shopping. Plus, you can also plan to have a certain dish two nights a week to save on buying ingredients. Another way to save money is to repurpose your ingredients. Say you have tacos one night and use half a package of ground beef. You can use the other half to make spaghetti or chili for another night.

Meal Prep Is Key for Eating Healthy

Meal prepping is an easy way to eat healthy on a budget. If you make your meals in bulk and prepare them ahead of time, that means less cooking for you and less meal planning. You can also prep ingredients in bulk for the week. For example, you can cook chicken or ground beef at the beginning of the week to reduce cook time for meals later in the week.

Cook Simply

Cooking simple, healthy meals with minimal ingredients is a great way to save money. Try to pick meals that you know your family will enjoy and rotate them throughout the week. When you stick to the basics, it makes it much easier to save money and time.

Eating Healthy Requires Cutting Back on Eating Out

Eating out costs way more than making food at home. Plus, everything is loaded with sodium and cholesterol, even if it seems healthy. You can recreate the same meals at home with simpler, less processed ingredients. You’ll end up spending less but still being able to eat delicious food. Plus, you’ll be consuming fewer calories cooking at home than you would if you ate out frequently.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be a luxury. There are many ways to create simple, healthy meals without breaking the bank. Figure out what your kids enjoy and create healthy meals that require minimal ingredients so you can spend less and save more!