10 easy ways to stay healthy on a budget

Staying healthy on a budget. Even though it seems impossible for some people, it certainly is not. In fact it is very easy to live healthy on a budget. Especially if you take some time to plan your meals and groceries. These easy tips could help you to save some money!

A lot of people who are starting to make their diet more healthy, struggle with expensive groceries. Fresh fruit & veggies, meals that contain fish and homemade snacks... This does sound quite a bit pricey, but if you take some time to plan it's actually really affordable. Buying healthy food without a clear plan will often lead to you paying a fine price for your food.

HOW TO DO HEALTHY ON A BUDGET

1. Eat seasonably

When you're planning on eating mango's regularly during winter, this obviously isn't very budget friendly. Oranges and mandarins are very cheap during winter, though. So make sure you spend some time selecting fruits and veggies that most readily available in that season. This is by far one of the easiest ways to eat healthy on a budget, it will save you quite some money each week!

2. Less is more

My meals often contain about 5 ingredients. Sometimes even less. When it comes to cooking my motto is 'less is more.' Of course a healthy salad made out of shrimps, avocado, fresh thyme and almonds will be quite expensive. Try to pick just one of these ingredients and then combine them with cheaper food to make saving on a scrummy meal.

3. Eat oats regularly

Starting off your day with a bowl of oats is very healthy and so cheap. I eat oats for breakfast everyday. Sometimes I use oats in my smoothie but during winter I love to eat a bowl of hot oats. It gives me a very satisfied feeling until lunch time. We love to share our favourite oat recipes on the blog, so make sure you check out our breakfast page!

4. Mix & Match

If I get myself a pack of fresh salmon, I make sure I use it a couple of times a week. The same goes for sweet potatoes. I love to make fries out of them for dinner and I also use them to make these pancakes for breakfast. You will save quite a lot of money if you use the same ingredient several times in one week. The possibilities are endless but you need to try and think outside the box a little. :) You could for instance make your own simple version of granola.

5. Don't buy pre-packed food

Although those pre-packed cookies are delicious and easy, they aren't that cheap. And most of them are quite unhealthy as well. It's very easy to make your own bananabread which will last en entire week. It contains only a couple of budget friendly ingredients. Easy peasy!

6. Make a plan

When you prepare well before doing groceries you will save some cash. Make a shopping list and plan out your meals and recipes. This will make it less tempting to buy stuff you really don't need. Not only will this save you money but also a lot of time in the supermarket. Score!

7. Store your food the right way

About 14% of the groceries in Holland go unopened and into the garbage bin. What a shame! Products which are thrown away most often are fruit, vegetables and bread. We should actually all start to invest some time in learning about how to store your food the right way. Vegetables need their own space in the fridge. So don't just lay them underneath your meat & cheese. And some kinds of fruit & veggies (mango's, melons, bananas and avocado) belong on the kitchen counter. If you're afraid your bananas will decay soon, peel them, cut them and put them into the freezer. This way you can even use them for a nice smoothie!

8. Arrive fashionably late at the market

Even though it's quite a lot of fun to go to the market in the mornings, it's not the most clever option. When you visit one hour before it closes, everything will be a lot cheaper. I always go around 4 o'clock on a Monday afternoon. This way I can get myself a nice stock of fruit & vegetables that will last the entire week.

9. Check the freezers

Raspberries and forest fruits can be quite expensive, unfortunately. But they're a lot cheaper when you check out the freezer at your supermarket. I always stock a couple of bags of frozen fruit in my freezer that I use for breakfast. These bags are perfect for lazy fit girls like me. You can also find quite a lot of mixed veggies in the freezer. Delicious and cheap, YAY!

10. Become a couponing pro

With a little time and attention to detail, it is true that any average shopper can lower his or her grocery budget. Subscribe to your local supermarket via email or post to keep up with the offers. And ask your friends to help you out when you need some more coupons! Nowadays it's even easier to save up coupons with the help of apps on your phone too as they offer different deals each week.

You'll definitely save some money if you put these tips into action the next time you go shopping. Share your own ultimate saving tips in the comments below because all Fit Girls love to know how to stay healthy on a budget!