Eat Well and Spend Less: Saving Money on Healthier Foods

When I started on my living healthier journey, food was a big part of what I wanted to change. It was a bit discouraging at first, as it seems eating healthier means you spend a lot more money! I didn’t give up, though, and as I continued, I realized that while eating better did cost more, you can still save money when it comes to eating healthier.

Decide what your priorities are.

Are you looking to simply reduce your eating out expenses and cook at home more? Or, are you wanting to spend your money on organic produce? Wherever you are on the spectrum, figure out what is most important to you. If you are trying to go gluten-free, then that needs to be the first thing budgeted for on your grocery list.

For our family, we choose to spend the bulk of our money on grassfed meats, real butter, farm eggs, and raw milk. Right now, with our budget (and the fact that we live in an area where organic produce is rare), we rely on the dirty dozen to purchase our fruits and veggies. Our family is also reducing the amount of gluten we eat, so gluten-free products are also make our shortlist.

Use coupons.

Yes, you can save money on natural and organic products. In fact, we have a brand-new weekly feature rounding up the best in Natural and Organic Printable Coupons. I also try to post the best daily deals that feature organic, natural, and gluten-free products.

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Eat at home.

I know not everyone is a gourmet chef; I’m not either. But I have found that cooking my own meals, rather than eating out, has saved our family a ton of money. And if this idea sounds completely foreign to you, that’s okay! Try cooking one or two meals a week and go from there. It won’t be long, you will be a natural… or at least it won’t be so scary! And, if you need a few ideas for easy meals, here are five frugal meals that are tasty, and won’t put a dent in your budget.

Buy fruits and veggies when they are in season.

Not only do they taste MUCH better when they are in season, but they are MUCH less expensive! It costs extra money to ship produce in when it is out of season. Buy buying local, in-season fruit and vegetables, you are getting the most bang for your buck… and the best taste for your palate.

Consider growing a garden.

I have failed miserably at this the last few years, but I am determined to eventually have a great garden. Ha! Even if you only have a few pots on your back porch, think about planting a few seeds. There is nothing better than a fresh-picked tomato, or spinach right from your own backyard.

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Buy in bulk.

The options for buying organic and natural products are increasing. You can now order produce in bulk from Azure Standard and Amazon. Costco carries many organic options, and our family purchases hormone-free chicken from Zaycon. While buying in bulk is a great way to save money overall, it can cost a lot of money upfront, so be sure to carefully work it into your budget.

Save in other areas.

Each week, we show you how to work the drugstores with our $5.00 Challenges. And while $5.00 may not get you all of your health and beauty items, these challenges show you how to get the most for your money.

What are your tips for saving money on healthier foods?

This month, the Eat Well, Spend Less ladies are talking about Food Resolutions. Read more great tips, ideas, and recipes here:

• Aimee at Simple Bites
• Carrie at Denver Bargains
• Jessica at Life as MOM
• Katie at Good Life Eats
• Katie at Kitchen Stewardship
• Mandi at Life Your Way
• Shaina at Food for My Family
• Tammy at Tammy’s Recipes

Written by: Amy Norton
Amy is a youth pastor’s wife and homeschooling mom to three girls, ages 8, 6, and 3, and has a baby boy on the way. When she’s not writing at Kingdom First Mom, you can find her cooking, getting crunchier by the day, and trying to stay on top of the laundry. She enjoys writing about her homelife adventures at Amy Loves It.