[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/saving-and-budgeting\/how-to-eat-healthy-on-a-budget\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/saving-and-budgeting\/how-to-eat-healthy-on-a-budget\/","headline":"8 Ways to Eat Healthy on a Budget","name":"8 Ways to Eat Healthy on a Budget","description":"We all want to eat healthy, but it\u2019s easy to end up buying fast...","datePublished":"2022-01-10","dateModified":"2024-12-27","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/logan-allec\/#Person","name":"Logan Allec, CPA","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/logan-allec\/","identifier":4,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e74dd0453a5871d1dcfde6d40d9494765ca8bfdb01927cefee4564d4bee9075?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e74dd0453a5871d1dcfde6d40d9494765ca8bfdb01927cefee4564d4bee9075?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Money Done Right","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Money-Done-Right-Personal-Finance-and-Investing-Blog.png","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Money-Done-Right-Personal-Finance-and-Investing-Blog.png","width":488,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/how-to-eat-healthy-on-a-budget.jpg","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/how-to-eat-healthy-on-a-budget.jpg","height":460,"width":1900},"url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/saving-and-budgeting\/how-to-eat-healthy-on-a-budget\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s1f3PGbJ2qg#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s1f3PGbJ2qg","name":"Shopkick Review: How I Use This Rewards App for Free Gift Cards","description":"Today I am reviewing and walking you through the Shopkick app, which you can use to earn gift cards at places like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and more. Keep watching to find out exactly how the app works, the pros and cons of the app, and if you should consider downloading this app!\n\n\u27a1\ufe0f Use Promo Code LOGAN to earn a $5 bonus (1,250 kicks) when you earn at least 10 kicks within the first 7 days of downloading the app!  Download Shopkick here: https:\/\/shopkick.com\/\n\nOther Videos Mentioned In This Video:\n\u27a1\ufe0f BeFrugal Review and Walkthrough: https:\/\/youtu.be\/wiOOCtkolDo\n\u27a1\ufe0f Citi Double Cash Review: https:\/\/youtu.be\/nSi1kdU5o3I\n\nPrograms (Use Coupon Code YOUTUBE for 50% Off!)\n\ud83c\udf93 The Money Course (Paid): https:\/\/www.loganeducation.com\/offers\/FUmjEuPB\/checkout\n\nFree Download:\n\ud83d\udcb8 75 Ways to Save an Extra $100 This Month: https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/75-Ideas-to-Put-an-Extra-100-in-Your-Pocket-Every-Month.pdf\n\ud83e\udd11 15 Referral Programs That Make Me Over $20,000 a Month: https:\/\/www.loganeducation.com\/15-referral-programs\n\nTable of Contents:\n0:00 Shopkick Review\n1:15 Installing The App & Location Settings\n2:00 Create Your Account\n2:45 Promo Code LOGAN\n3:05 How Much Are \"Kicks\" Worth?\n4:00 5 Ways To Earn Kicks\n6:35 Walking Through The App - Nearby Tab\n7:10 Shopping Online Through ShopKick\n8:00 Discover Tab\n8:30 Shopkick Options\n8:45 E-Receipts\n9:55 Account Settings\n10:00 Linking Cards\n10:20 My Saves\n10:30 Invite Friends & Promo Codes\n11:00 Questions & Support\n11:15 Going To Wal-Mart\n12:10 Arriving At Wal-Mart & Receiving Walk-In Kicks!\n14:10 Scanning My First Items\n15:25 Scanning Items I'm Going To Buy\n16:45 Purchasing My Items\n17:20 Scanning My Receipt\n18:45 Receiving Kicks For Purchasing Items\n19:15 Redeeming Shopkick Kicks\n20:00 Breaking Down Kicks Value For Different Rewards\n21:15 Redeeming $100 Amazon Card\n21:30 Shopkick Pros\n22:25 Shopkick Cons\n23:35 Should You Download Shopkick? \n\nI may be compensated if you use the links above.\n\n#shopkick #cashback #rewards","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/s1f3PGbJ2qg\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/s1f3PGbJ2qg\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/s1f3PGbJ2qg\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/s1f3PGbJ2qg\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/s1f3PGbJ2qg\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2021-04-29T16:30:24+00:00","duration":"PT24M40S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/s1f3PGbJ2qg","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCQ9WUXlSuLlbi5BLkgtEUEA#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCQ9WUXlSuLlbi5BLkgtEUEA","name":"Logan Allec","description":"Logan Allec is a CPA and the founder of Choice Tax Relief, which specializes in helping people with their IRS and state tax debt.","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/43_VKqrbO06RGMcxfdQbDXosrkVRq1yf5QgSQEiR4ILUGWV9fJtTh0o2ftYMYqVo6PwnEOPRdg=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s1f3PGbJ2qg#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s1f3PGbJ2qg#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s1f3PGbJ2qg&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s1f3PGbJ2qg#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":12091}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s1f3PGbJ2qg#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":370}]},"about":["Saving Money"],"wordCount":1313,"keywords":["schema"],"articleBody":"We all want to eat healthy, but it\u2019s easy to end up buying fast food or junk food when you want something quick. With that in mind, you might think that unhealthy food is the cheapest option you have.Fortunately, you don\u2019t have to break your grocery or dining out budget in order to eat a relatively healthy diet.While it may take you time to build better habits, cheap and affordable food is out there if you know where to look. Let\u2019s take a look at eight of the most effective ways to eat healthy on a limited budget.Table of ContentsToggle1. Use Shopkick2. Make Food at Home Instead of Going Out3. Check Unit Prices to Compare Costs4. Buy Fewer Processed Ingredients5. Plan Meals in Advance6. Buy Local Fresh Veggies in Season7. Find Uses for Scraps8. Don\u2019t Buy Snacks at CheckoutHealthy Doesn\u2019t Have to Mean Expensive1. Use ShopkickShopkick is a rewards platform that enables shoppers to earn cash back while buying from their favorite stores and ecommerce vendors.As a Shopkick member, you\u2019ll have the opportunity to earn rewards for purchasing certain products, purchasing from specific vendors, scanning barcodes in stores, or even walking into a supported storefront.No matter where you shop, you should be able to trim some of your food budget by using Shopkick when you shop online or in-store.Take a look at my Shopkick review to learn more about how Shopkick works and how it can help you save money.If you think Shopkick makes sense for you, use our referral code to get a $5 bonus using the invite code LOGAN. You\u2019ll get the bonus if you create an account and make an in-store scan within seven days of signing up.2. Make Food at Home Instead of Going OutIt\u2019s always tempting to go out for food, but the average person ends up spending thousands of dollars every year just on dining out.Cooking just one or two more meals per week could help you cut a lot of money out of your monthly budget.Preparing food at home can be intimidating if you\u2019re not in the habit, but it won\u2019t take you that long once you get used to it.Here\u2019s a good place to start: The USDA\u2019s collection of quick, easy, healthy recipes.3. Check Unit Prices to Compare CostsWhen you see prices at the grocery store, they\u2019re usually listed first as the price for a single item or package.However, that price can be deceiving if it turns out that a more expensive item is less costly on a per-unit basis.Imagine you go to the grocery store and see a four-pound bag of sugar for $2, plus a ten-pound bag next to it for $4.Even though $4 is more than $2, the larger bag is actually cheaper when you take the size into account.Instead of looking at the sticker price, consider how much you\u2019re paying for each pound, or whatever unit makes sense for the item you\u2019re buying.At $2, a four-pound bag costs 50 cents per pound, compared to just 40 cents per pound for a ten-pound bag at $4.That makes the larger bag the more affordable option\u2014as long as you end up using all ten pounds.The one issue with per-unit pricing is that you might not be able to use a larger version of the same item. For example, a gallon of milk might be cheaper on a per-unit basis, but that doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re only able to use half the bottle before it spoils.Related: How to Make a Budget4. Buy Fewer Processed IngredientsNext time you\u2019re at the grocery store, compare the unit cost of whole chicken breasts to the unit costs of pre-sliced chicken.If you\u2019re trying to save money while shopping, one of the most reliable strategies is to opt for ingredients that are left relatively unprocessed.The more work the store or supplier has to do to prepare the item for the shelf, the more you\u2019ll end up paying at the register.The same thing is true for all kinds of items. Raw greens are cheaper than salad mixes, blocks of cheese are cheaper than slices, and nuts and dried fruits are cheaper than packaged granola bars.Cutting out these processed items will help you spend less money at the store while making sure you know exactly what you\u2019re eating.5. Plan Meals in AdvanceOne of the most difficult things about grocery shopping is predicting what you\u2019ll end up using and what will end up in the trash.Meal planning is the best way to use your grocery budget more efficiently and avoid buying too much or too little of any ingredients.Over each weekend, write down ideas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the week. Try to come up with dishes that use common ingredients so that you\u2019ll have a chance to use leftovers for future meals.Make sure to leave space for any times you might want to go out to eat. Planning those occasions in advance will also help you avoid spending too much money dining out.Once you have a clear meal plan, just make a trip to the grocery store and pick up everything you\u2019ll need for that week. You\u2019ll only go to the store once per week, so there won\u2019t be as many opportunities to make impulse purchases.Related: The Ultimate List of Budgeting Apps to Help You Save Money6. Buy Local Fresh Veggies in SeasonPeople used to expect different fruits and vegetables in each season, but the rise of a global produce market led to the expectation of year-round availability.The logistics of transporting produce around the globe add significant costs for the end consumer.Local, in-season veggies cost less to transport, and they\u2019re also much fresher than anything that\u2019s being shipped from another country or region.Looking for local produce could also connect you with the locavore movement, which encourages consumers to buy groceries from local producers in order to eliminate the unnecessary environmental impact of moving products around the world.7. Find Uses for ScrapsAccording to the FDA, current data indicates that between 30% and 40% of the American food supply ends up being thrown out.It might be impossible to eat 100% of what you buy, but we should all make an effort to come as close to that goal as possible.Fortunately, there are several uses for food scraps that will help you throw less food away while preparing ingredients for meals you may not have had a chance to try before.Carrot tops, onion peels, and meat scraps, for example, will give you a great start for a homemade soup made from scratch.If you\u2019re unable to use food scraps, consider composting them in order to minimize the environmental impact of your leftover food.8. Don\u2019t Buy Snacks at CheckoutGrocery stores put gum, chocolates, candies, and other snacks near the checkout counter in order to pull you in for impulse purchases.There\u2019s nothing wrong with buying these items if you really want them, but you should make an effort to resist the last-minute temptation as much as possible.Checkout snacks typically offer little to no nutrition. Furthermore, they won\u2019t fill you up, so you\u2019ll still need to eat something with more nutritional value in order to stop being hungry.Healthy Doesn\u2019t Have to Mean ExpensiveYou might think that you have to spend more money to eat healthy, but that couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.These eight tips will help you reduce your grocery spending while eating a more balanced diet.Don\u2019t forget to let us and other readers know about other money-saving grocery tips in the comments below."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Personal Finance","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Saving And Budgeting","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/\/saving-and-budgeting\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"8 Ways to Eat Healthy on a Budget","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/saving-and-budgeting\/how-to-eat-healthy-on-a-budget\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]