Written by Jenn @ A Simple Haven, Contributing Writer
Anyone else ringing in the New Year with some kind of detox? After consuming more sugar and white flour in the past several weeks than I have during the rest of the year, my body is crying out for fruits and veggies.
Even if you’re not doing anything drastic, maybe you just want make better food choices in 2014–avoid processed stuff, replace some conventionally-grown produce with organic, eat more locally-grown stuff (good luck in January, right?), or just be mindful of how certain foods make you feel.
However, if you’ve started down the road to eating mostly “real food,” you’ve probably noticed it’s easy spend waaay more than usual on groceries.
The reality is quality food costs more than junk. It’s a bummer, but it’s true. And, in many ways, it makes sense.
Is that to say you’ll have to dole out hundreds more to eat well? Not necessarily.
In my experience, it is possible to eat real food while sticking to a reasonable grocery budget. It just takes a little planning and strategy.
9 Tips for Eating Real Food on a Budget
1.) Meal plan. Just do it
Seriously, it’s the easiest way to mind your costs. Make a list of favorite meals, write down the ingredients needed, and stick to that list at the store.
Though I’ve never tried it, I’ve heard Plan to Eat is great. You enter your favorite recipes and it produces your grocery lists. Sounds simple and there’s a free 30-day trial.
2.) Be strategic
As you plan, be mindful of spreading out more expensive items over multiple meals. For example, roast a whole chicken on Monday, then use it later that week (or month, if you freeze it) for chicken pot pie, chicken enchiladas, chicken soup, etc.
3.) While we’re talking chicken, buy whole chickens
It’s so much less expensive per pound than breasts and even if you’re not a dark meat fan, in soups, casseroles, and the like, you probably won’t notice it’s not white.
Not a meat eater? Great! Beans are cheap! 🙂
Seriously, though, a few hearty vegetarian meals in the rotation will help the budget loads.
4.) Buy in bulk
Whether it’s from a co-op, Costco, or the bulk isle at your local grocery, bulk almost always equals better prices. Some co-ops I’m a fan of are Azure Standard and Frontier–and, if you’re in the Midwest, Country Life Natural Foods.
Buying a whole or portion of a cow is also super cost-effective. Check out this site for options near you.
5.) Start a co-op
No Azure Standard drop-offs in your town? You can start one if you can get enough families ordering.
No room for 25 pounds of almond flour? Find some friends or neighbors to split.
No raw cheddar cheese available locally? You can found a cheese club that buys in bulk from an Amish farm in Pennsylvania. Not that I’m in a cheese club or anything…
6.) Price it out
As in, figure out the price per ounce. Tedious, perhaps, but the only way to know if you’re getting the best deal.
If, like me, you’re not math-minded, it can be hard to tell if that gigantic box of whatever at Costco really is cheaper than a single item at your grocery store. And while co-ops generally offer great prices, they don’t always offer the best price.
Plus, if you price it out and make an awesome spreadsheet of your findings, you’ll end up unintentionally memorizing fun facts like coconut oil is 29 cents per ounce at Costco.
7.) Start a garden
Unhelpful in January, but awesome come July. There is nothing like heading to the backyard and coming back with a gigantic dinner salad.
8.) Learn from others
Real foodie folks in your neck of the woods (who are budget-conscious) will often know of local deals or might be willing to split bulk items with you. I’ve also found nutritionally like-minded friends and blogs super helpful in sourcing real-food recipes and budget tips.
Other favorite resources are Plan it, Don’t Panic and Real Food on a Real Budget.
9.) Give yourself a break, prioritize, and be realistic
If you’re on a budget, you simply can’t do it all. So relax, decide what’s most important, and don’t worry about the rest.
Maybe you can cut back in other areas to increase your food spending a little. Maybe you don’t eat every single thing local or organic.
Maybe you prioritize quality meats and dairy and do what you can with produce.
What are your best tips for eating real food on a budget? I’d love to hear.
Especially since I’m apparently only eating quality meat and produce in January. 🙂
About Jenn
Whole chickens go far in this house. We have it for dinner one night, shred the rest for wraps or nachos the next day, then the bones go into the crock pot for broth that is 10x better than the $4 saltwater from the store.