15 Hacks From A Frugal Parent For Eating Healthy on a Budget

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There is nothing worse than starting a new diet or finding a new healthy recipe only to find that it needs extra special fruit and veg flown in on a private jet and therefore will cost you more than going out for dinner! Ok a slight exaggeration, BUT that is basically the case. So here are some frugal tips to eating healthy without breaking the bank.

1. Freeze fruit

Buying fruit when it is in season and freezing it is the cheapest way to have your favourite fruit year round and you avoid the extra charges. Also, it lasts ages! – fruit can be expensive and if you buy in bulk it is generally cheaper, however how are you going to eat all of it before it goes off? Freeze it! Frozen fruit is perfect for chilling smoothies without watering them down with ice.

*Top Tip – frozen berries such as blueberries or raspberries are a great alternative to chocolate chips in cupcakes – Don’t put icing on them and it makes them even healthier!*

2. Switch To Whole Grains

Things like, quinoa and brown rice to bulk out a meal, they are very filling and inexpensive!

3. Don’t buy sugary drinks 

They are expensive and have no nutritional value, so don’t waste your money – Checkout our healthy sugary drink alternatives to find out the best things to buy instead!

4. Plant your own herbs 

if you have a garden (or even a decent windowsill) then plant your own herbs and you can save a lot  or money rather than buying them dried or fresh.

5. Bulk out meaty meals 

Use less meat in your meals and bulk it out with vegetables which are a bit cheaper. This is also a great way to sneak in extra veg to your portions too, BONUS!

*Top Tip – Eggs are a great (and cheaper) source of protein*

6. Frozen Chicken is Cheaper

Buy frozen breasts as they are usually a lot cheaper than buying fresh and there is not a lot of difference – just make sure you re-heat and defrost accordingly. If you don’t want to buy frozen meat then settle for buying cheaper cuts instead.

7. Buy in bulk 

It is almost always cheaper this way! Eggs are a perfect example: 30 eggs (buying the way chef’s do) are a lot cheaper than buying a dozen!

8. Pre-planning Saves Money

It is all about the organisation! Sit down and plan your meals so that you can utilize everything you buy! – come up with ideas that use a lot of the same ingredients so you have to buy less!

9. Cook in bulk 

Stay away from ready meals and cook your own (a lot claim to be healthy but they are packed full of additives and nasties anyway) Cook everything up on specific days and freeze or refrigerate until you want to eat them.

*Top Tip – cooking this way allows there to always be a decent meal handy to avoid snacking after a long day!*

10. Take a list Shopping

Go shopping with a list (I am sure you’ve pre planned your meals anyway) and make a promise not to deviate so you don’t buy things you don’t need!

11. Take in a leftover lunch

When you are bulk cooking, separate out some smaller portions so you can avoid buying lunch when you’re at work (it also means you have a guaranteed healthy option.)

12. Use what you have 

Everybody has that tin of beans or soup in the back of their cupboard that is always there but you never eat, why? Make a meal out of it! Use everything you buy, don’t waste things, if you aren’t going to use it then don’t buy it. There are plenty of cupboard clear out recipes online that utilize all the “left over bits” – get inventive!

13. Frozen vegetables Are A Godsend

Buying frozen vegetables is a great way to buy big portions cheaply and the added bonus is that you usually get them pre-chopped which makes your life even easier. *Make sure you watch out for the salted veg or those that aren’t quite as healthy as they seem!*

14. Buy loose Veggies

If you don’t want to buy frozen, then buy loose vegetables as they are usually a lot cheaper than buying pre-packaged (Check the prices of course) and you’ll help the environment too!

15. Trade-in Cereal

Buy healthy wholemeal cereals such as Weetabix and muesli, they are more filling, have less sugar and cereal is generally more expensive so you want to get the most for your money. Porridge is a great healthy alternative too. If you want to opt out of cereal altogether, cheap breakfast alternatives are: wholemeal toast, fruit salad or eggs

Hopefully with these tips you will be able to eat healthily without spending fortunes!

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