Shopping on a budget

[Rebeccaabrooks86 269]

I am currently shopping on a budget and usually buy my households groceries at Walmart (sometimes at Pathmark or Stop and Shop). Can anyone recommend what items they buy that are HEALTHY and diet friendly on a budget?

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I am pre-op so don't have specific experience on post-op food shopping but I have plenty of experience in having a tight budget.

-Read labels (but try to eat food that doesn't have a lot of ingredients ie, whole foods, commodities)

-Buy in-season

-Try generic and store brands

-Compare price per serving (example: large tub of yogurt versus individual cups)

-Use your freezer

-stay away from highly processed/packaged foods

-shop local (do you have a farmers market or CSA available?)

Best of luck. I am sure others would have some experience to share.

[Rebeccaabrooks86 269]

Thanks. It would not have occurred to me to buy a tub of yogurt instead of individual packages. I should also check out our local farmers market.

[Corridor72 518]

The only advice I have is to buy most of your foods from the outer perimeter of the store. The inner aisles contain mostly processed, packaged junk. You want to stick with mostly fresh fruits & vegetables, Proteins, and dairy. As the above poster stated, shop for things that are in season. Those will be cheaper. If you have a freezer, buy meats in bulk when they're on sale, repackage them into appropriate sizes for meals for your family and then freeze. When you must buy canned goods, store brands are usually just as tasty as name brands and are cheaper.

[Rebeccaabrooks86 269]

Do you guys have any "mock shopping lists"?

[NewLife'sGr8 241]

If you buy your paper / non-perishable products at the big box store you'll have more money in the end for healthier foods. Especially feminine products and TP, but also alum. foil, plastic wrap, cleaning supplies, Shampoo, etc.

I know it's tough when you're first starting out but eventually, you're all stocked up on this stuff, then buy on rotation what your running out of next, 1st. Don't wait until you're depleted and have to buy at the reg store- less for more money.

I've used plastic grocery bags for garbage bags so have eliminated the need to buy expensive garbage bags. what has always gotten my goat was buying stuff I'll just throw away- like feminine stuff, garbage bags, TP. You'll get a much better quantity per dollar for big box stuff this way. I used to do a stock-up on non-perishable supplies once per quarter (every 3 mos) or so.

You now have a bigger budget to buy healthier foods. It's true, the non-healthy processed foods are cheaper which is a shame. you can build your bigger food budget on the back end this way.

When I was a young mom on a low budget, I discovered buying a whole turkey, whole chicken, ham, beef roast, etc was a lot cheaper than buying it all cut up, de-boned, skinned, etc. You basically pick a cooking day and go to town roasting, baking etc- then freeze portions. Next to that, buy family packs & freeze portions. I still do this even though I'm just one now.

When you buy in-season, buy in bulk fresh & freeze portions for later- or try canning if you haven't. Saves big time & better quality foods cheaper.

If you can, make a day of it for seasonal "You Pick"s like apples, berries etc then go to town cooking & freezing.

[enjoythetime 1,457]

If you're a Wal-Mart shopper price match. I know it's a pain but it REALLY does save you a lot of money in the long run! I do this with meat and produce especially. Not sure if you have an Aldi's but for example they will have avocodos advertised on sell for like .25 ea. where as wal-mart may be $1 ea. Same with apples, etc. so I just take their ad in and they will price match for the same item. I do this with the family FRESH pack of chicken breasts in the meat section (not the frozen stuff)and it makes 2-3 meals for our family. Go on Pinterest and look for healthy recipes, you can make just about anything with chicken. Crock-pot meals and Soups are easy and inexpensive and you can add all the fresh meat and veggies it can hold:-) Now is a great time to make large pots of Soup. I made one the other day and have enough leftovers for the entire week, yes I will be souped out but it's cheap, easy and healthy and I don't have to think about what's for dinner.

[Rebeccaabrooks86 269]

I should get a crock pot.

[enjoythetime 1,457]

Oh yes girl you definitely should! It will soon become your new bestie! Good luck!

[NewLife'sGr8 241]

I should use mine more

Thank you for reminding me!