Healthy Money Saving Meal Prep Ideas

For today’s nutritional focus, I wanted to share some money saving and healthy tips I’ve personally found for Grocery Shopping:

1. Shop in bulk— once you find something you like (if you buy bulk right away, it may ultimately be an unused waste).

2. Less meat to save money and your health— more dried beans, seeds and whole grains high in protein. Great for slow cookers and mass cooking for the whole family.

3. Shop fresh when it’s IN SEASON— this is an easy check online for what’s in season, but things tend to be cheaper and more flavorful when they’re easier to come by.

4. Shop frozen when it’s off season (typically frozen does not have preservatives and holds the most nutritional value because it was frozen at it’s peek point).

5. Farmer’s Market in the Summer— starting the first weekend in June, there’s one in Garden City on Saturday mornings in the Ace Hardware Parking Lot off of Fleming and Harding.

6. Put on blinders in the grocery store and stick to your list. Possibly have a phrase to repeat that reminds you of your goals as you walk by temptation or expensive items. Possibly set a time on leisure and eat/drink before you enter the store.

7. Create your meal plan list by using the sale papers as a guide. If it’s TRULY on sale and not 5c off of something, buy a few extra if it will keep preserved.

8. Stick to water for hydration and leave the sodas, energy drinks, etc. behind. Your body and wallet with thank you!

9. While some may be drawn in by the cheaper prices of less quality, prepackaged, processed foods— whole foods have more nutrition and leave you feeling full longer and more satisfied with more sustainable energy instead of crashing or needing lots of food to feel satisfied.

10. Have fun and try not to overthink it. As you make the adjustment, it will take time to learn how to make it cheaper, but I assure you from experience, you will learn with time. Ask questions, research answers, and enjoy it curiously. Think of what you’re gaining instead of what you’re losing.

Last year, I went from eating out every meal to becoming vegan, cooking/eating at home and learning all of which I’ve just shared and then some. It’s possible, when you’re ready!