Eating healthy can be expensive but it doesn’t have to be. Is there a way to make healthy eating affordable? Here are my top tips on keeping a healthy diet and budget, along with foods and prices.
Is healthy eating truly affordable… or is it expensive?
Many people are under the impression that the latest protein, greens powder, or supplement is essential to optimal health. Not enough are under the impression that the most quality nutrition you can reap is not in a pill or powder form. It’s in the meals you eat on a daily basis.
The latest supplement is not what you need to be healthy. Let me let you in on a little wisdom: many supplements such as protein powders, pre-workouts, or granola bars have just as much crap in them as a Pop-tart or bag of chips. The macronutrient makeup may be different, but many of these foods have chemicals and additives that are not friendly to the human body.
“Healthy” is often a marketing ploy. While there are some supplements, powders & bars that are healthy, there are also a lot that should not be in the supplement and health aisle. With so many options available (and so many health claims) it’s almost too much to handle. This has unfortunately caused many people to have the mindset that being healthy is too expensive!
On the flip side, it is common thought that the unhealthiest foods are often the cheapest and most affordable foods. And in part- it’s true. They are super accessible, and they also have great packaging. If you’re eating out, the burger is half the price of the salad AND it’s more filling. Healthy eating is expensive, see? (It’s a joke).
Rather than eating our way to disease, let’s talk about how we can avoid such processed foods and pursue healthy ones without breaking the bank. It may not seem like it- but healthy living doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive! Below I’ve listed my favorite foods that are both good for your body and good for your budget.
8 foods you can buy to make healthy eating affordable:
- Organic Carrots
- You can most likely always find a good sale on carrots. They are also long lasting, and buying 5lbs at a time can last you a month or more!
- Pro tip: store carrots in a sealed glass jar with water to keep them fresher for longer.
- Frozen fruits & veggies
- Frozen fruits & veggies still have the nutrient density that they would have fresh, and they last longer! Don’t stray away from these because they are in the frozen aisle. They are still good for you, and also are affordable and versatile.
- Organic Potatoes
- I like to buy my potatoes organic because they are a part of the dirty dozen. This ensures they have no pesticides!
- Also, often times potatoes are demonized because they are a starchy carb. That’s a problem. Nothing wrong with starchy carbs. Potatoes for the win.
- Organic Apples
- Apples are also one of the fruits in the dirty dozen, so that’s why I like to buy them organic! They are still very affordable, and there are so many different kinds to choose from.
- Bananas
- An easy grab & go snack, the perfect base to a smoothie or a side to a filling breakfast- bananas do it all.
- My favorite thing about fruit, especially bananas, is that it is often a balanced amount of natural sugars and fiber to help your body break it down better.
- Pasture Raised Eggs
- Eggs are really the best. They are packed with vitamins and minerals and are a great source of both protein and healthy fats. They are also easy to use and easy to hide!
- Check out here why I recommend pasture-raised over all the other confusing labels.
- Grass Fed Ground Beef
- Just like potatoes, I’ve heard a thousand times to ‘stay away from red meat!’ Is it the red meat and potatoes to worry about or is it that McDonald’s burger and fries that has a bunch of preservatives, additives, and processed oils… moving on…
- Ground beef is a great option for a protein source. Opt for grass-fed to ensure high quality & fair treatment of the cattle.
- Rotisserie chicken / whole chicken
- Whether you buy a rotisserie chicken at the store or bake a whole one yourself, whole chickens are very underrated. There are so many options you can use this in and it also makes so many meals. They are also very well priced.
Some things you can make with just these items on your grocery list & a few oils and spices.
- Slaws & salads: carrot & apple sweet slaw, shredded carrot salad, potato salad, egg salad
- Sweet or savory roasted carrots. Check out my recipe here I used for a Thanksgiving side!
- Burgers, meatballs, chili, or beef fried rice for easy, protein-packed meals!
- Literally any form of potato; mashed, home-fried, sautéed, baked, cheesy… they are all delicious!
- Any form of egg; scrambled, sunny side, fried, poached. You can also add eggs into things like fried rice or sautéed veggies for an added boost.
- You can make so many things with that whole chicken. Simply use it alone as a side or add a few ingredients and make some chicken salad. If you have a few extra staples in your fridge, your recipe options are endless. A couple of my favorites are buffalo chicken stuffed peppers or a white chicken chili. You can also make some bone broth with the chicken bones & carrots. The whole chicken is really the star of the show here…
Hopefully I was able to simplify your journey to healthy living and help you make healthy eating affordable. If you have any other suggestions of healthy & affordable foods or recipes with these ingredients please share them in the comments! Thanks for checking out today’s post. Much love, and see ya next blog.
Great advice! Doesn’t seem so difficult now…