It's especially expensive when you have a husband, as well as 2 kiddos who are growing like weeds.
Food can be super-duper expensive if you're trying to follow a "real food", "organic", or "healthy" lifestyle. But, it doesn't have to be.
Hubs and I basically live off of one income- his. I'm a wedding photographer, so my income is seasonal, changing every year, and also mostly set aside for extra mortgage payments and our savings account. Despite the fact that we live off of one income, we still manage to afford "real food" without breaking the bank.
I shop every week and my typical grocery bill is anywhere between $70.00 and $110.00. This includes fresh fruits and veggies (mostly organic), grass fed beef, all natural organic chicken, organic milk, etc. I know some people might think that only spending $70 on healthy food might leave my kids starving, but I promise you they aren't. ;)
You, too, can eat "real food" on a budget (that sounds kind of like an infomercial, doesn't it? My apologies, but it's true!) if you follow a few of these tips:
Meal Plan: Take a few minutes to plan your meals- I do this weekly. Create a shopping list of ingredients you need for those meals, as well as your pantry staples. Stick to your list!
Use Leftovers: When planning your meals, try to use your leftovers for the next night's meal. Try to do this at least once a week and it will make a difference in your grocery bill.
Go Meatless: Plan a meatless meal once a week- have breakfast for dinner, a big salad with a baked potato, meatless chili, or veggie soup. Grass fed and organic meats are expensive- so going meatless for at least one night per week will make a difference in your bill.
Buy from a Local Farmer: Purchasing your fruits, veggies, eggs, and meat from a local farmer cuts out the middle man and passes the savings to you! Plus, it's super rewarding to support your local farmers.
Grocer's Weekly Ad: Check your store's weekly ad for produce specials and try to incorporate those into your meal plan. Stock up on things like grass fed beef or organic chicken when it's on sale.
Buy In-Season & Freeze: Fruits and veggies that are in-season are much more affordable. Stock up and freeze to use throughout the year.
Choose Mostly Organic: Not all produce needs to be organic. The "dirty dozen" should be bought organic when possible. Things like pineapple, mango, onion, bananas, kiwi, etc. are ok to buy non-organic. Keep a mix of these in your pantry so you aren't buying everything organic.
Shop the Perimeter: Try to do all of your shopping in the perimeter of the store. The inside aisles contain mostly processed foods, but the frozen fruit and veggies section of the store is totally ok! Just be sure what you're purchasing doesn't have added sweeteners or other things- just plain, frozen, fruits and veggies.
Look at the Unit Price: On each price tag, there is the main price, but there is also a unit price. The unit price tells you the price per ounce, pound, etc.- pay attention this price rather than the main price. If you're comparing two brands, the more expensive brand may actually be a better deal. You'll find this a lot with frozen chicken breasts, orange juice, milk, cheese, etc.
Say "No" to "Healthy Junk Food": There are many, many, processed products that claim to be "healthy", but they aren't . Steer clear of "healthy junk food" and try to keep your snacks fresh or homemade. There are tons of "real food" recipes for common "healthy junk food" items... and they taste a whole lot better, too.
Make Real Food a Priority: If you're passionate about feeding your family real food, it will become a priority. Once it's a priority, you'll take the extra time to plan your meals, make your shopping list, adjust your budget (if needed) and follow some of the tips I mentioned above. Sometimes you need to start with small changes, and that's totally ok!
Comment below and let me know which tips you'll be incorporating into your next shopping trip, and let me in on your secrets to buying real food on a budget!
If you've read my previous "Cut the Junk" series, you'll know that we're an 80/20 household- 80% of our food is unprocessed, while 20% we consider an indulgence. We find this works best for our family, but it may not be the best for every family.
I shop every week and my typical grocery bill is anywhere between $70.00 and $110.00. This includes fresh fruits and veggies (mostly organic), grass fed beef, all natural organic chicken, organic milk, etc. I know some people might think that only spending $70 on healthy food might leave my kids starving, but I promise you they aren't. ;)
You, too, can eat "real food" on a budget (that sounds kind of like an infomercial, doesn't it? My apologies, but it's true!) if you follow a few of these tips:
Meal Plan: Take a few minutes to plan your meals- I do this weekly. Create a shopping list of ingredients you need for those meals, as well as your pantry staples. Stick to your list!
Use Leftovers: When planning your meals, try to use your leftovers for the next night's meal. Try to do this at least once a week and it will make a difference in your grocery bill.
Go Meatless: Plan a meatless meal once a week- have breakfast for dinner, a big salad with a baked potato, meatless chili, or veggie soup. Grass fed and organic meats are expensive- so going meatless for at least one night per week will make a difference in your bill.
Buy from a Local Farmer: Purchasing your fruits, veggies, eggs, and meat from a local farmer cuts out the middle man and passes the savings to you! Plus, it's super rewarding to support your local farmers.
Grocer's Weekly Ad: Check your store's weekly ad for produce specials and try to incorporate those into your meal plan. Stock up on things like grass fed beef or organic chicken when it's on sale.
Buy In-Season & Freeze: Fruits and veggies that are in-season are much more affordable. Stock up and freeze to use throughout the year.
Choose Mostly Organic: Not all produce needs to be organic. The "dirty dozen" should be bought organic when possible. Things like pineapple, mango, onion, bananas, kiwi, etc. are ok to buy non-organic. Keep a mix of these in your pantry so you aren't buying everything organic.
Shop the Perimeter: Try to do all of your shopping in the perimeter of the store. The inside aisles contain mostly processed foods, but the frozen fruit and veggies section of the store is totally ok! Just be sure what you're purchasing doesn't have added sweeteners or other things- just plain, frozen, fruits and veggies.
Look at the Unit Price: On each price tag, there is the main price, but there is also a unit price. The unit price tells you the price per ounce, pound, etc.- pay attention this price rather than the main price. If you're comparing two brands, the more expensive brand may actually be a better deal. You'll find this a lot with frozen chicken breasts, orange juice, milk, cheese, etc.
Say "No" to "Healthy Junk Food": There are many, many, processed products that claim to be "healthy", but they aren't . Steer clear of "healthy junk food" and try to keep your snacks fresh or homemade. There are tons of "real food" recipes for common "healthy junk food" items... and they taste a whole lot better, too.
Make Real Food a Priority: If you're passionate about feeding your family real food, it will become a priority. Once it's a priority, you'll take the extra time to plan your meals, make your shopping list, adjust your budget (if needed) and follow some of the tips I mentioned above. Sometimes you need to start with small changes, and that's totally ok!
Comment below and let me know which tips you'll be incorporating into your next shopping trip, and let me in on your secrets to buying real food on a budget!
