Ever since I decided to quit smoking and buckle down on my healthy eating, my body and mind have thanked me. I fell into a rut, like all of us do at one point or another, where I just felt stuck. I wanted to get healthy, but quickly got discouraged by the pricing, research, and dedication it took to get there. So instead of following guides and fads on how to eat healthy and fresh on a budget, I created my own way to get to my healthy living goals effectively without breaking the bank.

 

Eating healthy can be somewhat of a struggle at times. Especially when you are trying to eat as fresh as possible. That is why I have decided to compile a list of ways I try to eat as healthy and fresh as possible, while on a budget.

 

You will not find any ‘WholeFoods Market’ type of fake advertisements to fashionably get healthy and lose weight in this article. No, sir! Only realistic, fresh, and healthy tips to being your best self in the ways you prepare and eat your food!

 

All you will find in this article is the most effective ways to eat as our ancestors did. Fresh and healthy without giving up what you love about eating and enjoying your life.

Here are my top 10 ways to eat healthy and fresh on a budget!

Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time.

Planning your meals and snacks ahead of time ensures that you will stick to your plan and not fall off the wagon or give in too quickly to unhealthy options.

Make a list.

Making a list makes sure you stay organized and focused during your shopping trips for healthy and fresh foods. This way you don’t get distracted by things you don’t really want or need, and don’t end up overspending.

Check out the bargains at your local farmer’s market.

There is a local farmer’s market event that runs every Saturday morning featuring a variety of vendors and they are always adding special discounts depending on the day you go. Be sure to look up your local farmer’s market and their events going on in your area. You can do so by googling ‘local farmer’s markets’.

Try out coupons or rebate apps.

Cutting coupons or using a coupon or rebate app on your phone while you are out shopping can get you the best deals for fresh food. If you like meal delivery services, I suggest checking out Ebates to help you save the most money possible on your meal delivery purchases. If you like going to markets like Trader Joe’s, sign up for their newsletter featuring tons of saving opportunities.

Use the calculator on your cell phone to keep track while shopping.

Once you set your budget for grocery shopping, stick to it by keeping track while on your shopping trip. I do this by entering each item into my calculator on my cell phone as I go. It is an easy way to make sure you don’t overspend on the food you don’t need.

Buy seasonal produce.

Buying seasonal vegetables and fruit when they are the freshest. Use what you can and prep the rest that you have left over. I usually freeze vegetables like peppers but not all fruits and veggies are freezer-friendly so make sure to do your research before freezing any that you are not sure of how they will freeze.

Try out vacuum packing for meat or other items you want to buy in bulk and save.

You can preserve meat for up to 2 years with some vacuum packing products. Look up the best products on google or amazon. I have heard great things about the FoodSaver Food Preservation System.

Invest in a slow cooker or crock pot.

You can throw any type of vegetable, meat or broth into the crock pot and within a couple hours, you have lunch, dinner, and meals for the rest of the week. Reheat them in your crock pot as well to restore that delicious roasted taste.

Grow your own food.

If you don’t trust preservatives, pesticides, or any type of GMO’s, grow your own food. There are some great DIY tutorials for growing your own food on Pinterest. My favorite method is using wooden pallets and converting them into gardens for your vegetables, fruits, grains, etc. Get creative! You may check this post for some great ideas.

Repurpose your leftovers.

Make a big batch of meals that can be eaten and prepared a couple of different ways throughout the week so you don’t get bored with your meal planning. If you make a nice roasted chicken and vegetable one night, convert that into yummy chicken tacos for the next night or maybe chicken kabobs the night after? My mouth is already watering.

 

What are some ways you try to eat as healthy and fresh as possible while on a budget? I would love to hear from you! Drop your ideas in the comment box below.

 

 

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Who is ILIKETODABBLE?

 

Hello, my name is Daniella and I am the creator of ILIKETODABBLE because I like to dabble! I am a systems and software analyst by day and blogger by night. I enjoy blogging because with my web development background, playing around with WordPress and the potential of my site is exhilarating! I like to experiment with everything I do and try as many new things as possible. I wanted to create an online social experiment with the idea of not only expanding my own mind but others’ minds as well. And with that idea, I created the blog ILIKETODABBLE. A blog mostly about frugal/thrifty living and blogging to help other bloggers like me!  But the blog will also feature an array of other categories as suggested by the readers :). Happy blogging!

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