Eat Better, Save Money | Family Economics

By Christina

The candy. The cookies. The turkey with all the trimmings. Holiday parties and school events. 

It’s pretty easy to see why “Eat Better” and “Lose Weight” are some of the most common New Year’s resolutions people make.

The good news is you don’t have to spend a lot of money to eat better. With these simple techniques, you’ll find that you’ll feel a little lighter, but your wallet won’t.

Buy less processed foods. When you buy less processed foods, you immediately cut back on harmful preservatives, sodium, and costs. Buy dried beans instead of canned.  Buy fresh produce that hasn’t already been pre-washed and cut for you. You’ll have greater control over your food, and you’ll save as much as 2/3 off the price of the more processed versions.

Bring your own snacks. If you’re away from home all day at work, running errands, or traveling, remember to bring your own healthy snack from home. You won’t be at the mercy of an overpriced vending machine and your thighs will thank you for avoiding that chocolate bar.

Pack your own lunch. Bring your own lunch to work. If you’ve been spending an average of $7 a day on work lunches, that can end up costing you hundreds of dollars over the course of a year. When you bring your own lunch, you’re more likely to bring healthier choices in more reasonable portions than you would get at a restaurant or fast food joint.

Watch those portion sizes. Read the nutrition labels on the packages of the food you buy and pay close attention to the serving size. Simply following the proper serving size of a food item (rather than just eyeballing it) can save you hundreds of calories. You also will get more servings from each package, which will help you stretch those food dollars.  

Avoid 100 calorie-packs. You’re paying a lot of money for convenience. Instead, buy the bigger bags and pre-portion them into the proper serving sizes using baggies or small reusable storage containers. 

Switch to water. Get a good reusable water bottle and start drinking more water. By drinking more water (and less soda, coffee, or juice), you’ll save a ton of money, and your kidneys will thank you. Can’t stand the taste of plain water? Drop in a slice of lemon, lime, or cucumber.

Learn to cook. My great-grandmother used to always say, “If you can read a recipe, you can cook and I believe there is a lot of truth to that. Your local library and the internet are two great resources for hundreds of thousands of healthy recipes that are easy to make and won’t break the bank. A well-planned, tasty dinner at home always tastes better than an overpriced average crowded family restaurant meal.