Eating nutritious foods that is great for our bodies doesn’t always have to put a strain on our pockets. In fact, there are lots of ways that we can eat a healthy balanced diet on a budget. Here are our top tips along with some budget friendly recipes to give you some inspiration!
Plan ahead – write a shopping list & avoid impulse buys
Use a planner to organise your meals for the upcoming week. Then make a shopping list off the back of that. When you go to the supermarket, stick to the list and try to avoid impulse buys.
Buy seasonal fruit and vegetables (strawberries in summer, root veg in winter)
When buying fruit and vegetables out of season they need to be exported from further afield, meaning that transportation costs drive up the prices. Buying in season and locally eliminates that cost. Check out our article on seasonal eating to find out what is in season throughout the year.
Reduce the meat – swap for pulses
Good quality cuts of meat are often more expensive than pulses. Pulses can be a great way to bulk out a meal with good quality nutrients, including protein. And we don’t have to eliminate meat all together – even using 50% less meat and replacing the other 50% with pulses will add up the savings over time.
Rely less upon “readymade” meals and cook from scratch
Readymade meals are often pricier than if we were to make them from scratch. Meals like lasagne, chilli’s, soups and tray bakes can be made in large batches and then portioned out and put in the freezer - making your own ‘ready for when time is tight. Cooking in large batches like this can also be more cost effective.
Buy some dried herbs and spices – cheap and add great flavour
Rather than using premade sauces, why not use spices and tinned tomatoes to make your own flavours and sauces. It not only works out cheaper but is also more nutritious than bottled sauces that often contain additives.
Check expiry dates
To avoid wasting food, check the dates printed on them. A best before date refers to the quality of the food and not safety. The food will be safe to eat after this date but might not taste it’s best. Use by dates however are for safety and foods with a use by date should be eaten before or on that date.
Budget Friendly recipes
Check out some of our recipes below for ideas of meals that are cheap and easy to make.
Why not give some of these tips and recipes a go to reap the savings that are there to be made whilst achieving a nutritious, balanced diet.
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