5 Tips to get good food on a budget

So, where can you start your journey to improving your health, digestion, and mental health?

Some of us do not have unlimited funds to dump out all the food we have and buy new stuff. Or the ability to afford some organic or higher-priced healthy choices in the frozen or snack aisles. So what can a person do when they can not afford those higher-priced options?

I am sharing the five tips I use when shopping for healthy options. I have been utilizing these practices for over fifteen years. You can eat healthy on a budget and have great options. You can even learn a new skill and create new friendships through learning a new skill.

1. Watch for sales

When certain vegetables or fruits, whether fresh or frozen, are on sale, grab them. You can see if any Facebook groups preserve that fresh produce for a later date on your own. If you do not know how to preserve food, see if any Facebook groups teach you how to preserve food. Watch some youtube videos on how to preserve foods. If going with canned options, try to get the ones with no added oils or syrups.

2. Buy in bulk

When you buy meat in bulk, you usually get better pricing. You can break it into smaller portions and place them in freezer paper or freezer bags, or if you have a vacuum sealer machine, you can use that.

Buy produce when it is in season, as it is cheaper than when it is out of season. Stock up on all those great fruits and vegetables, and freeze or can what you will not eat right away.

If you do not have any Facebook groups in your area to help you learn how to preserve foods, check with your local 4H, or see if your local community college has free classes to learn to preserve foods.

3. Buy dried goods

You get more for your buck when you buy the dry lentils/beans than the canned versions. You can also control the spices to fit your liking when you make them yourself.

Another great option that lasts for long periods is rice. Watch for those sales and stock up on those bags of rice.

4. Utilize your local food pantry

If you fall into the group of individuals that qualify to utilize your local food pantry, do so. Everyone needs help now and again. You do not need to accept everything they are handing out. Most food pantries have fresh and frozen produce and meats that you can save for a later date to use.

If the boxed items do not fit within your diet, just pass.

We used the food pantry in the past when we needed those services. This was a tremendous help to my family and me. We utilized everything we could in several different ways. I remember one time they had huge boxes of ripe bananas that they were giving to everyone. I took all those bananas home, made muffins, bread, and pies, cut up and froze some for smoothies, and made pudding. For the bread, muffins, and pies, I made them, and I then put them in the freezer to be eaten at a later date.

5. Check your local area for a discount store

Many places these days have discount stores where they sell products that can not be sold in the big box stores due to their expiration date. Here is a little secret dry goods and canned goods are still edible long past that sell-by date. So you can find lots of canned items, flour, oats, cereal, noodles, rice, and seasonings for dirt cheap.

If you have more ideas or suggestions, I would love to hear them. Good food options should be accessible to all, no matter their budget, and getting the word out helps those on fixed incomes.

I want to know. What do you think?