Every Thursday in 2025, I will answer questions about money and/or budget. If you have a question you would like me to answer in an upcoming post, please submit it here.
This is the reader’s question today:
I need help getting a deal with healthy food. I need to lose weight, but buying fat foods is much cheaper than healthy foods. – Reader
I keep hearing from women, they feel frustrated because they want to eat healthier but think it’s too expensive. I see! When you walk into a grocery store, it seems that the cheapest option is treated with high-calorie foods that don’t support your weight loss or health goals. But here’s what I want to encourage you to do: change your mindset!
Instead of telling yourself that “healthy food is too expensive”, start asking yourself “How do I make a healthy diet more affordable?” This slight shift in thinking can help you start thinking! An open mind often opens up new possibilities and solutions!
To get you started thinking about ideas, here are some of my favorite ways to make your diet cheaper:
1. Start with canned attitude
The first step to success is to believe that you can do it. If you tell yourself that it is impossible to eat healthy on your budget, you have prepared yourself for failure. But if you approach it with curiosity and creativity, you will start to see opportunities everywhere.
My friend blogs on Cheapskate Cook are constantly sharing innovative ways to eat healthy on a budget. If you need some inspiration and down-to-earth ideas, it is recommended that you check out her blog and follow her on Instagram or YouTube.
2. Adjust your budget priorities
If your financial situation is very, very close, my advice is to do your best, rather than eating perfectly like you “should”. Frankly, stressing that not being able to afford healthier foods can also have a negative impact on your health! So if you have more time and money, do your best and can do it well.
For those who have more room for swing in their budget, one way to have more money to afford healthy food is to think creatively whether you can redistribute funds from other parts of your budget to increase your grocery budget in a large way. For example, maybe you decide not to eat out at all (or half the frequency of the usual) in order to free up money to buy healthier food. Maybe you give up on vacation (or choose to stay in accommodation) and put the extra money into bulk buying beef (see next point!)
Every family has different financial priorities, so figure out what works best for you. During the season of our life, we choose to drive an older car and live in a smaller home, so we have greater financial flexibility in our family’s priorities. It’s all about trade-offs – spending to match what matters most.
3. Buy in bulk and plan ahead
Buying in bulk can save you a lot of money, especially looking for local farms or cooperatives on staples like rice, beans, oats and meats, which are bulk meats – you may be able to buy beef in bulk, saving a few dollars per pound compared to the price at a grocery store.
Other bulk purchase options:
- Check out the discount for local orchards “seconds” (imperfect fruit, tastes just as good!)
- Check out warehouse stores or food cooperatives in your area that may offer huge discounts.
- Check if Azure Standard is available in your region.
4. Grow your own food
Even if you don’t have a huge backyard, you can still grow some of your own food. Herbs, lettuce and tomatoes are done well in smaller spaces even indoors. If you have children, please get involved! This is a great way to save money and make a healthy diet more fun.
When I was a kid, I loved lettuce every summer. Planting and watering and watching it grow is an interesting process before harvesting! I’ve even heard of some produce that parents pay their kids to grow. It will be much less than buying it in the store, which will give your child a way to make money!
psst! Speaking of paying others to grow things, check if your area loves gardening and is willing to sell, barter or give extras from their garden!
5. View transactions on online websites
You don’t have to rely solely on your local grocery store to find a good deal about healthy foods. Websites such as Amazon, grove.co, Vitacost, and Martie sometimes offer excellent sales and transactions for organic and natural products. Expert Tip: Use CamelCamelCamel.com to track price drops on Amazon and get notifications when items start selling!
6. Keep it simple
Don’t overcomplicate a healthy diet. Focus on simple whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains. Please note when items are sold and stocked. Freeze or extra fruit and vegetables when sold.
One of the easiest ways to start is to make small gradual changes. Swap sugary cereals with oatmeal, learn to make some of your own snacks instead of buying them, start making homemade whole wheat bread, or cook more meals at home instead of eating out. Over time, these small transfers add up.
7. Prepare meals in advance
One of the best secrets for me to stick with a healthy diet is to prepare for meals. When you have easy, ready-to-eat options in the refrigerator, you are unlikely to get unhealthy convenience foods.
Some thoughts:
- Wash and chop vegetables ahead of time for easy grasp.
- Hard soaked eggs for quick snacks.
- Cook a large batch of brown rice or quinoa for use throughout the week.
- Roast whole chicken and use meat to make multiple meals.
8. Define healthy eating based on your priorities
Eating a healthy diet is different for everyone. Maybe your goal is to eat more vegetables, avoid processed foods or reduce sugar. Don’t feel the pressure to follow other people’s food rules – focus on what makes sense to you and your family.
I just have to say: If weight loss is your goal, remember that numbers on scale are not the only indicator of progress. Focus on how you feel. Do you have more energy? Do you sleep better? Are your clothes differently? These are signs that you are making positive changes!
9. Give yourself grace
A healthy diet does not have to be all or nothing. Life happens. There may be a few days when you really get out of the healthy eating trend – that’s OK! The goal is not perfection, but consistency. Do your best and let go of your inner gui.
Ultimately, it is absolutely possible to eat healthy on a budget. It only takes a little planning, creativity and perspective shift. Instead of focusing on what you can’t do, start looking at what you are able Do. You have this!
What suggestions and suggestions do you have for this reader? I really want to hear it!
Want to do this the year you finally stick to your budget?
Tracking your budget doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated! Use these Free budget spreadsheet Easy to plan and track your spending every month!
