7 Affordable Ways to Eat Healthy and Save Money on Groceries

That feeling of getting to the register, thinking you did so well at planning cheap meals, only to see the number way higher than you wanted. Your heart sinks, you swipe your credit card with disgust, and you sigh because you know you have to do it all again next week. 

various kinds of produce at the grocery store

That’s grocery shopping in 2024.  

And it’s complete shit. I refuse to fall into the trap of buying unhealthy food that makes me sick, just to save a buck. And if you clicked on this, then chances are that you feel the same way.

Although we can’t control the price of our eggs, we can choose to focus on the things we can control. Here are a few affordable ways to eat healthy and save money on groceries. 

1. You Don’t Need Organic Everything 

Let’s get this one out of the way and it might go without saying, but I’m gonna say it anyway… you don’t need to buy organic. 

I know it might be tempting because you’re in your “healthy girl era” and being able to say “it’s organic” means something to some people, but it’s not necessary. Most studies agree that there is little to no evidence that organic food is more nutritious than non-organic

But for now, save your money and don’t stress about whether what you’re eating is organic or not. If you’re curious about what’s all the buzz, check out my deep dive on organic food and its benefits.

2. How To Make It Cheap AND Healthy

a woman chopping up cilantro

Is it possible to eat healthy and make it a cheap meal? I sure think so. A common misconception I’ve found is that it’s expensive to eat healthy, and while, yeah it can be, it doesn’t have to be.

If you’re buying Healthy Choice meals in the frozen aisle, eating Cliff bars for breakfast, and buying pre-packaged salads and fruit, then expect to spend more because that stuff will add up. But if you’re making the meals yourself, chopping the vegetables and fruit yourself, then I promise, it’s possible to eat cheaply and healthily. Here are some examples:

  • Overnight oats (breakfast). This is a much cheaper option (and more filling) compared to Cliff bars. While you can certainly go crazy with your overnight oats, a lot of times I like to keep it simple with peanut butter, cinnamon, and maybe banana slices. Raspberries, strawberries, apples, and blueberries are also great additions. 
  • Broccolis + carrots (side). I love roasted vegetables. It’s healthy, it’s easy to make, and it’s cheap. Win-win-win. But don’t go buying the broccoli florets in a convenient little bag, that’s where it will start eating up your wallet. Cut those veggies up yourself! 
  • Rice bowls (dinner). Have some fun with this one! Rice is filling, cheap, and can be quite versatile. I love a good salmon sushi rice bowl or a Korean beef rice bowl. The sky’s the limit with this one. 
  • Quinoa veggie bowls (lunch, dinner). Quinoa is a great source of plant protein and a little can go a long way. It’s another versatile recipe you can make and not get bored eating all the time. 
  • Anything with cabbage. Every time I buy cabbage, I’m amazed at how far it goes. I usually buy it to make homemade coleslaw and then use the rest to make this egg roll-in-a-bowl recipe I found on Instagram. It makes a ton of food and all of the ingredients are cheap as hell. Plus, it’s delicious.
a bowl of homemade tomato soup with basil on top
  • Homemade soup (lunch, dinner). Tomato soup is my favorite because it is so easy, but other tasty options are broccoli cheddar, minestrone, butternut squash, and so much more. Make a big batch of soup and then freeze the other half of it. When you’re feeling lazy or in a time crunch just pop that bad boy out of the freezer and you’re good to go.

You can save money on groceries by making more food from scratch and avoiding pre-made meals that claim to be healthy. For more ideas to get you started, check out this post on healthy and affordable snacks.

3. Stop Buying Your Produce Prepackaged

I know, I know. It is too damn convenient and sometimes you just don’t have the time to cut up a bunch of freaking vegetables and fruit. Buuuuttt it’s cheaper (and better for the environment 😉) and you save money on groceries. It’s okay to start small here too because I’m not gonna lie, it is very time-consuming to chop everything yourself.  

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    Recently, I started buying whole carrots (not the ones in a bag!) and I could not believe how freaking cheap they were. I have been wasting so much money all these years. Last week I bought 4 carrots for $0.92 and that will get me two sides of roasted broccoli and carrots for two people. 

    And those salad bags? Yeah, make your own. The single snack packs of veggies with ranch or apples with peanut butter? Stop buying those too. Unfortunately, a good rule of thumb is that if it’s more convenient, it’s more expensive.

    I cannot recommend meal-prepping more than I can right now. It saves money and makes eating healthier easier! If you don’t know where to start, don’t worry, I’ve got your back. I break down my whole meal-prepping process in this post right here.

    a cup of carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers, and snap peas. Another cup below with blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries. A third cup with a combination of both fruit and vegetables.

    4. Buy In Bulk

    I’m probably starting to sound like a broken record on this blog, but I’ll keep saying it. Buy it in bulk. When I say “bulk” it doesn’t necessarily mean “buy a ton of this thing that you rarely use”. It also doesn’t mean you don’t need to go out and buy a Costco or Sam’s Club membership either. 

    Sometimes, what buying it in bulk means for me, is buying the biggest package of chicken thighs (or even a whole chicken) and freezing half because I know it’s something I’ll use again in the future. 

    Continuously buying the 1lb ground beef rolls will cost you more money in the long run. You know who you are, it’s okay, I used to do that too. Buy the big boy roll, portion it out, and freeze. 

    Bonus tip: Buy the 3lb ground beef rolls and cut it into 4 pieces if you don’t need a full pound of beef for recipes. This will save money on groceries and reduce food waste. 

    Rice, flour, and quinoa are other ingredients to consider buying in bulk that will support a healthy diet. I know I’m always running out of flour because I make a lot of homemade bread.

    5. Ingredients You Should Always Have On Hand

    various jars with coffee beans, pasta shells, oats, grains, seasonings, and cashews.

    I have a few items that I find crucial to always have on hand in my fridge and freezer and it makes eating throughout the week and saving money feel more possible. Especially if you’re buying it when it’s on sale!

    1. Rice is versatile and can be used in many different dishes. It’s cheap and filling and great if you’re on a budget.  
    2. One thing I’ve started doing is keeping various proteins in my freezer. Depending on what ingredients I need to use up I can always find a recipe that uses the chicken or ground beef I have in the freezer. 
    3. Pasta is cheap and can make a variety of recipes. It’s great to have on hand for days when you need something easy and quick to make. 
    4. Keep a stash of frozen fruit and veggies in your freezer for smoothies, overnight oats, stews, pot pies, pasta dishes, and anything else you might need them for. And no, you’re not losing nutrition by buying frozen instead of fresh. 
    5. Oats are great to have on hand for overnight oats and granola bars, and my favorite, but not necessarily healthy, is oatmeal cookies. 

    I have a lot more that I keep on hand, but what you think you should always have will most likely look different than what I deem necessary.

    I recommend thinking about what kind of meals you make regularly and what your go-to recipes are. Keep in mind what you’re buying all the time, and figure out if it’s something you can buy in bulk.

    6. Stock Up When It Goes On Sale

    I love going to the grocery store and seeing some dope ass sales going on for something I buy regularly. OMG it is the best feeling.

    A sale is going on in the produce section at the grocery store for oranges.

    I always pay attention to the meat and seafood section first, because this is where you’ll really save money on groceries. Last week at my local store they were doing a buy one get one free on pork loins. Was it on my list? Nope. Did I buy it anyway? Hell yes. I threw them in the freezer and saved $11. 

    Before making your grocery list, check out the weekly ads and see what sales are going on. Produce usually has something going on and you can plan out your veggies and fruit based on what’s on sale. 

    Pay attention to holidays too, because you know they’ll have some good deals afterward. There is always a shit ton of turkeys leftover after Thanksgiving, and of course, nobody wants to buy them now that the holiday is over, so watch for the price drop. 

    7. Buy Seasonally or Grow It Yourself

    I will admit, I do not have a green thumb at all. I’ve killed many plants in my lifetime, and there’s a very high chance I’ll do it again. But growing your own produce can be very rewarding and good for your wallet. 

    a person is gardening

    Thankfully, I’ve got a man with a very green thumb, so we decided to have a small garden this year. We ended up with a bunch of tomatoes, poblano peppers, beets, teeny weeny carrots (very disappointing), and sadly the brussels sprouts did not make it. 

    It was such a great feeling cooking with ingredients that came from our garden, and I am so excited to grow more next year now that I’ve experienced the possibilities. 

    If you can’t, or don’t want to, grow your own produce, that’s fine too! Buying seasonal produce at the store or farmers market is a great option to save money on groceries. Most of the time, it’ll be obvious because it’s what’s on sale and what is available, but it’s always good to be aware of what’s in season on your own too.

    Final Thoughts

    Eating healthy shouldn’t have to be expensive, and I hope I’ve given you some good ideas to lower that grocery bill. I know it’s some tough times right now and many of us are struggling to afford groceries, but I believe we shouldn’t have to sacrifice our health to eat cheaper. 

    And if you’re new to trying to eat healthier, then my piece of advice is to not be too hard on yourself. It took me years to get where I am today with my eating habits. That shit does not happen overnight and no New Year’s resolution is suddenly gonna make it easier. 

    Trust the process and love yourself wherever you are in your journey and know that I am rooting for you too! 

    Talk again soon! –Annie

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