Eating Clean on a Budget
- Christine Baade, lmt, chhc.
- Apr 13, 2018
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 7, 2019
The biggest hurdle most people have to clean eating isn’t the food. Fresh, homemade, organic food is delicious! It isn’t giving up those ‘unclean’ foods. There may be that one food you just can’t let go of, but that isn’t the issue either. The issue is the bottom line, that line item on the budget when you try to switch it all to clean, organic, GMO-free food, hit the checkout line for the first time, and almost faint when the total comes up. Maybe you didn’t even make it that far. Maybe you picked up the package of organic cereal and took one look at the tag on the shelf and walked the other way thinking, ‘How do people afford to eat this way?’
I can tell you, unless you have a whole lot of discretionary income, changing over your way of eating and shopping doesn’t usually happen overnight. We make small changes and keep looking for ways to eat clean on our budget and find ways to funnel more money over to the food line. It is an investment, but I can tell you that it is one worth making.
To help you out, here are my top 7 tips for eating clean on a budget:
Make it from scratch – Cooking at home saves money over eating out any day. You can even take it one step further and start making food from scratch, which is even cheaper than buying those fancy, boxed sides and mixes. You will save money and, better yet, you will know exactly what’s in the food you’re eating. Try mastering one new dish a week!
Plan your meals and shop with a list – It is always a good idea to have a plan. You will save money by knowing what you need and making less trips to the store.
Buy in bulk – If you can, purchase larger quantities, and freeze and store the extra for another week. Stores always have bigger packs that cost less per unit. Be wary, though: sometimes the big package isn’t less. Be sure to check the unit price and be a smart shopper.
Shop local and in season – Foods that are in season are generally cheaper than the foods that have to be shipped from halfway around the globe. Also, it pays to know your farmer and buy directly from the source.
Use discounts or coupons if you can find them – Sometimes, you can find a deal or get a coupon on healthy snacks and some of those great, organic convenience foods.
Join a group – There are plenty of local groups that share in the savings by pooling their buying power. Check out a local co-op or CSA or start one in your area. You can find them at coopdirectory.com or localharvest.org.
Go meatless – If you haven’t cut meat out of your diet yet, you can start by eliminating it from a few meals a week. Beans are cheaper than beef!
Make informed choices when it comes to buying organic. You can pick and choose which produce items you put in your shopping cart every time based on the likelihood that they are the most covered and treated with chemical pesticides such as Glyphosate, a known carcinogen. As a bonus, consider each purchase a vote. This is why I call our food budget, Wellness Dollars. Eventually with informed decision making at the checkout, the public will increase the demand for more clean foods and less dirty ones. The EWG.org updates it Dirty Dozen & Clean 15 list every year. click here to learn more
Do you have any local resources to share or any tips that can help save a buck? Leave a comment below.
Join me as I embark an a 14 Day Holistic Cleanse for Beginners!!
Clean eating is more than a strategy; it’s a movement. A revolution. You’re about to embark on a life-changing experience, because you’re about to ditch the diet mentality forever. Don’t spend another ounce of energy thinking about when or what to eat. This program guarantees results AND takes the headache out of “What should I eat today?” It’s time to get your energy, your body, and your life back. So take the first step. Start feeling your best today. Glow from the inside out. Feel outstanding no matter how busy your life is, because you deserve to feel incredible with every breath.
I promise you this:
You will not starve. You will not be deprived. You will thrive.
No more diets.
No more wondering which foods are right for you.
Just a simple, 14-day holistic jumpstart program for beginners based on whole foods delivered straight to your inbox the moment you click HERE.
XOXO, Christine Baade, LMT, CHHC
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