When it comes to eating healthily, it’s no secret that the price of fresh produce is on the rise. And when you consider that this is a trend that shows no sign of slowing down, it’s more important than ever for us all to learn how to eat well despite rising food prices.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways you can keep your grocery bills under control while still eating healthy meals. Here are some tips and tricks to help you do just that:
- Buy less expensive cuts of meat, such as chuck roasts, pork shoulder or chicken thighs. They can be braised or stewed to make them tender and delicious.
- Choose whole grains over refined grains. Whole grains are loaded with fiber and other nutrients while refined grains have had their bran and germ removed, so they’re lower in fiber and nutrients.
- Buy frozen fruits and vegetables instead of fresh ones when they’re out of season. Fruits are picked at their peak, then flash-frozen so they retain their nutrients and vitamins. Frozen vegetables may also cost less than fresh produce because they’re usually grown locally and don’t travel as far before hitting stores shelves.
- Stock up on pantry basics like beans, pasta, rice, canned tomatoes and tuna fish when they’re on sale so you’ll have them ready to use in recipes when you need them (or just sprinkle a little cheese on top).
- Cook at home rather than eating out or ordering takeout. You’ll save money, calories and probably time because you won’t have to wait for your order or pay someone else to cook it for you!
- Buy in bulk when it makes sense: items like pasta, rice and beans can be stored for months without spoiling so buy these items when they’re on sale and store them until you need them again (this option is especially helpful if you have kids who eat a lot of the same thing).
