Reviewed by: Erica An, APD, BNutr&Diet
Eating healthily throughout the week does not have to mean your grocery bill skyrockets! In fact, it’s quite the opposite. When you’re committed to good nutrition, planning your meals and cooking up healthy family meals each week, your health (and your wallets health!) will benefit.
Here are 7 simple strategies to cut your weekly grocery bill in half whilst still eating wholesome, nutritious food.
Plan, plan, plan!!
Planning your meals for the week will help you stick to buying the ingredients you actually need and not buying extra’s that are not necessary. Number 1 rule of shopping is simple: always stick to your list.
They’re special for a reason
Check what is on special each week and you can then customise your weekly meal plan to suit those ingredients.
Choose generic
Buy the generic brand where possible. These products are most often the same quality as the well known brands yet a fraction of the price.
Do your research
If you aren’t already, do your weekly grocery shop from a supermarket or local market that offers competitive prices. They might not feel as lovely to shop in as your local green grocer, but if budget is your focus, they definitely win the low cost race.
Throw in some staples
Include a few low-cost recipes each week. These are usually “meat-free” meals and may include recipes based on budget-friendly ingredients such as lentils or eggs or pasta.
Also read: 5 Weekday Dinner Recipes with 5 Ingredients or Less
Water only
Drink wisely! By switching all your beverages to water, you’ll save a heap on buying soft drinks, juices or any other beverages. Tap water is FREE and all your body needs to stay properly hydrated!
Bulk is best
Buy in bulk, because more often that not it’s cheaper to buy items in bulk or larger sizes. Think rice, pasta, flour, dried legumes or even meat to freeze until you’re ready to cook it. Just be sure to keep an eye on the use by date.
