Money Saving Tips on Eating Healthy

Is it possible to maintain a balanced diet and a balanced budget at the same time?

There's no question that eating healthy can be expensive, but there are many ways to save money while still providing your family with healthy options. With a little bit of effort, you can feed your family nutritious meals without breaking the bank.

We asked our very own staff here at Olive My Pickle how they like to save money on healthy food. Check out these money saving tips for making healthy eating more affordable.

How to save on fresh fruits and vegetables

In season produce is not only fresher, but often cheaper too. You can save money on fruit and vegetables simply by shopping for what's in season. Planning your meals around what is plentiful can help you save money at the grocery store. Plus, it often tastes better too!

Next time you're at the grocery store, take a look at what's in season and stock up. Your taste buds and your wallet will thank you.

Plan ahead and shop the sales.

One of our top tips to save money on healthy foods is to plan ahead. Plan your grocery shopping around the weekly ad to see just how much money you can save on your next grocery trip.

Looking at the ad each week helps to save money on the things you need. And stocking up when items are on sale will save money over time. For example, you can buy the things you use regularly when they are Buy One Get One Free and never have to pay full price.

You'll feel like you've scored a major victory when you can find everything you need on sale. Plus, it's fun to see what kind of fun new recipes you can try with items you may not typically buy.

You might be surprised how much you can save on healthy food by shopping the sales. By paying attention to sale cycles and planning your grocery trips accordingly, you can save a significant amount of money on your healthy food bill.

Shop at different stores for different healthy items.

Speaking of planning ahead, this grocery shopping tip is a game changer. Pay attention to the trends at your local grocery stores and plan your shopping trips accordingly. It takes a little longer, but you will save money on healthy eating with a little bit of intention.

And remember you don't always have to shop at natural health food stores to find healthier options. If you know where to look, you can find some great deals on healthy food no matter where you shop.

A few ways to save on eating healthy

• Walmart has great deals on quality extra virgin olive oil.

• Aldi has the best prices on 100% grass fed hot dogs. It's also a great place to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Sprouts is the best place to buy almonds and other nuts in bulk, rather than paying a premium for packaged goods.

Your local grocery store options may be a bit different, so try out a few different stores and compare prices. By making some simple tweaks to your routine, it could mean saving big in the long run.

Buy in bulk when you can.

There's a reason everyone loves Costco! There's just something about buying 10 boxes of blue ink pens and a whole year's supply of red pepper flakes that can leave you feeling pretty good about your life. (Or maybe that's just us....?)

Jokes aside, we love buying in bulk! When it comes to saving money, buying in bulk can be a great strategy. By purchasing items in larger quantities, you can often get a discount. This can help you reduce your overall spending and stretch your budget further.

However, it's important to only buy in bulk if you are sure you will use the items before they expire. Otherwise, you may end up wasting money instead of saving it.

Best items to buy in bulk

• Coffee

• Rice

• Frozen fruits and vegetables

• Nuts and grains

• Seasonings, especially your basic ones like salt and pepper

• Paper goods like toilet paper and paper towels

• Vitamins

Staff Tips: Michelle

Save money on healthy eating with online shopping and subscriptions.

These days, you can order just about anything you can possibly imagine online and have it sent right to your door. From cleaning supplies to meat, there's a subscription out there for it.

This can be a great way to save money on things you regularly use or consume. Subscriptions take the guess-work out of shopping for healthy foods and ensures that your fridge will stay stocked with the foods that your family loves. Plus, they often offer major discounts and free items.

A few of our favorite subscriptions to help you eat healthy

• Thrive Market -healthy groceries and household products

• Butcher Box - pastured and grass fed meat

• Olive My Pickle - fermented foods

If you're looking to cut down on your spending, it's worth considering if a subscription could help you achieve that goal.

Staff Tips: Charlotte

Eat a high fat meal before grocery shopping.

You've probably heard that you shouldn't go grocery shopping on an empty stomach, because 10 times out of 10 you'll end up coming home with much more than you intended. We've got another money saving tip for you: eat a high fat meal before heading to the store.

So how exactly does eating fat help save money on your grocery budget? Fat sends the message to the brain of satiety, meaning that you'll feel full and satisfied.

If you find yourself drawn to the snack aisle and picking up too many extras that you don't really need, try this tip the next time you shop and see the difference it makes.

2-3 eggs, fried in grass fed butter with a side of kraut is a great breakfast/meal to eat before heading out to shop.

Staff Tips: Bryan

Use your leftovers! Pack yourself a healthy meal for lunch.

This is definitely one of the most common tips on eating healthy and saving money too. Packing your lunch for work is an absolute must for anyone trying to maintain eating a healthy diet. This allows you to control what's going on your plate and avoid excess processed foods.

At the same time, you'll be surprised how much money you can save by not spending your grocery budget in the fast food lane. If you're not already packing your lunch, do yourself a favor and start today.

Staff Tips: Kelly

Save desserts and cocktails for at home.

Whipping up your desserts and cocktails at home rather than going out and splurging at a restaurant is one way you can cut down on extra spending. This also allows you to control the ingredients that are going into your mixed drinks and cookies and reduce your intake of sugars and processed foods.

While both of these are an indulgent treat, the end result is a much healthier drink or sweet snack if you choose the right ingredients.

Check out these healthy cocktail recipes for a guilt free drink.