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Eating Healthy on a Budget
Cut Costs While You Shop Without Sacrificing Health By Cheryl Loux
Staying away from prepackaged food saves money, too. "Families will often discover it costs less to eat healthy because there's not as many prepackaged foods finding their way into the grocery cart," Jones says.
"We buy what's on sale and plan our weekly menus around those items," Jones says. "I look at the grocery flyers each week and decide which meats and produce I'm going to buy and which sales I can pass on ... I select some additional healthy items that might not be on sale but are necessary for a balanced diet, such as salad, nuts, yogurt and milk."
Erica Montanye, a mother of one from San Antonio, Texas, does something similar. "I shop at least once a week and get items to make meals for that week," she says. "I also take advantage of store coupons."
Using a calendar is another good way to plan your meals. "Calendars have multi-purposes," Peck says. "[They] help you plan meals, decide what you'll buy and keep you from making the same meal over and over."
And you shouldn't shop hungry. Making a list on a full stomach will help you cut down on that grocery bill.
"I've developed a plan for when my children are with me," Jones says. "I remind them ... that they can choose one item they'd like to buy ... [A]fter they choose that item I remind them they can only have [that] one item."
Another step you can take is to prepare a snack for your children before leaving home. This works well for toddlers. The snack can be dried cereal or raisins. Also allow one toy for the trip to help keep your children preoccupied while you shop.
