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If you’re trying to eat healthy then you’ve probably noticed that it can be very easy to see your grocery bill skyrocket. If you aren’t careful, you might even see your grocery bill double! This can make it really easy to give up, thinking that you can’t financially afford to eat healthy. Because let’s be honest, having spaghetti every night can be extremely cheap. And while your wallet might like it, your waist line will not. So today I want to show you how to save money on your grocery bill and be less waste, all while still eating healthy. Yes it is possible! And I’m going to show you how!
CHECK YOUR CABINETS & FRIDGE
Every week before you go shopping you should take a look around your kitchen. Literally open your cabinets and dig through your freezer just to see what you have. You can even write it down to really help keep yourself organized. It can be easy to forget about that can of beans that go shoved to the back of your pantry, or that package of ground beef that got buried in your freezer. Check everywhere! Then think about which of these items you could use for your meals next week.
For example last week I found a half full container of pesto in my fridge that I had forgotten about. Then I realized I also had some shredded mozzarella cheese leftover from a dinner last week. When I went to the store I bought a box of chickpea pasta and some grape tomatoes and was able to whip together a deliciously healthy meal for almost nothing!
- Did you find a container of salsa? Try making my crockpot salsa chicken or salsa chicken bake
- Did you find some ground meat? Try making this crockpot chili or zoodles with meat sauce
- Did you find some potatoes? Try making my chicken, bacon, and potato bake
You’ll be surprised how much money you can save just by planning to use ingredients you already have on hand!
PLAN TO RE-USE LEFTOVERS
If you’re trying to save money, then it’s no surprise that leftovers will be your best friend. Basically try to use up all of the ingredients that you buy. So if you need to buy an entire package of cheese for your tacos, plan to also then use that cheese for a meal later in the week. Or if you’re buying a package of chicken breasts for dinner on Monday, then plan to use the leftover chicken breasts for dinner another night. You can easily find a different recipe that uses chicken, this way you and your family don’t feel like you’re eating the same thing all week.
For example, if you make Crockpot Sweet Potato Turkey Chili and have a leftover sweet potato, then use it to make Garlic Roasted Sweet Potatoes for dinner another night. Or if you make Turkey Burgers one night and have leftover ground turkey, make a Turkey Taco Skillet the next night! It’s usually cheaper to buy a larger container of ground turkey all at once, then to buy two smaller containers.
ONLY BUY WHAT YOU NEED
This one might be obvious, but I feel like I still need to mention it. Make sure to only buy what you need at the store. It’s okay to just buy one zucchini, or three apples, or four potatoes. Even if there is a sale on apples, you don’t want to stock up unless you will actually eat them all before they go bad. I know it can be tempting, but always be practical about how much you and your family can eat during a week.
However if there is a great sale on a packaged good that has a longer shelf life, like pasta or canned beans, then it’s okay to buy one or two extra just to have on hand. I usually buy cans of pasta sauce when it’s on sale just to always have it.
Oh and never go shopping hungry! It will be much easier to overspend when you’re walking down the snack aisle or pasted the baked goods. Trust me, I’ve been there!
Was this helpful? I know it can seem overwhelming, but I promise you that your wallet with thank you! A little planning definitely goes a long way. If you’re looking to get more into meal prepping, then check out my article on how to eat healthy on a budget. And if you need help losing weight in a manageable and realistic manner, then check out my macro programs today!