Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Need a grocery plan to eat healthy and still save money?

How are you doing on your new eating plan? Or another question...how is your grocery bill doing?

Many times I see people putting off a new, healthy way of life because they think it will cost more money.

I'm on a budget just like anyone else, and if I couldn't buy all my food within the "grocery budget" it would just be too difficult to maintain this way of life.

Here are some of the strategies I recommend for keeping this way of eating affordable:

1. Don't buy junk! It's not on your eating plan, and it isn't healthy for your family. You might be surprised to find out how much of your current grocery bill goes to snacks and "treats" that are NOT treating you well. I'm talking about the processed, preservative-packed stuff like snack bars, juice, frozen dessert treats, microwave snacks and meals, chips, crackers, candy, and other packaged stuff. Stop buying it!

2. Buy bulk. Items like almonds, quinoa, walnuts, oats and even apples can be purchased at bulk prices at stores like Vitamin Cottage, Costco, and even online. Even grass-fed meat can be purchased in bulk from local ranchers, farmer's markets or online stores. I always buy coconut oil in huge tubs online! Thinking BIG is a great way to keep costs under control.

3. Buy from the source. As much as possible, buy from places like farmer's markets, local ranchers, and even butchers, where you can buy direct from the source. This isn't always cheaper, but it gives you a chance to cut out the middle man and that can sometimes yield a significant savings.

4. Only buy organic for the stuff you need to. One word that especially scares people and sometimes gets them running in the opposite direction is the word "organic," as if they might go broke just by saying it. Again, I assure you, I cannot spend heaps of money each week buying luxury grocery items and that includes produce that doesn't even NEED to be organic