Babe On A Budget: Healthy Grocery Shopping Tips
Dear Babe on a Budget, I understand that all the new and trendy ‘health food’ products may not be feasible for you (& your wallet) right now and that’s okay! Healthy Grocery shopping on a budget is one of my greatest skills & it’s about time you become an expert budget shopper too!
1. TAKE A LAP —
Scope out the scene before putting items in your cart. Always take a lap around the whole section or aisle to scan for sales, new products, & things that catch your eye before picking up and placing anything in your cart!
This lap will allow you to make thought out, educated decisions instead of just going through your list aimlessly and throwing things into the cart & can save you some major cash!
2. BE FLEXIBLE —
You arrived at the store with a taste for shrimp, but the wild salmon is on major sale! Go for the salmon! Be flexible in your approaches and willing to pivot when a more budget-friendly option comes along.
Also, don’t get hung up on brand names. Generic brands tend to be cheaper than well-known brands, but the quality is just as good as the well-known brands. Being flexible with brands can cut down on price. The cents saved really add up!
3. COMPARE SINGLE & BULK PRICES —
This is a big one and requires reading some fine print so bring your glasses if you wear them! You always want to check the price of the product, the quantity of the product, and the price per quantity. These 3 things will help you navigate through brands that have higher prices for less product and lower prices for more product!
Just because a product is advertised as ‘on sale’ or there’s a deal like ‘buy one get one free’ doesn’t mean the alternative products are more expensive. You have to check that price per quantity price every time!
4. CLIP COUPONS —
May seem old school, but it feels so good when you find a great coupon and the $$ is deducted at the end of your transaction! Check your grocery store for online deals & also check the in-store magazine for clipper deals.
This only takes a few minutes and can make your shopping experience a more enjoyable one right off the bat! (Shopping is so much more fun when you know you’re getting a deal!)
5. EAT A SNACK BEFORE GROCERY SHOPPING —
This may be the most important step of all! Neva Eva go grocery shopping when hungry. Hangry shopping will turn into a cart full of bad decisions & a big grocery tab $$$
Instead, eat a snack — something with carbs and protein before shopping. This will allow you to stick to your plan and follow the first 4 grocery tips effectively!
— Babe On A Budget Shopping List —
This list is for reference and should not be followed to the T.
Tailor the list to meet your taste preferences & nutritional needs.
CANNED ITEMS
Canned beans/chickpeas - look for low sodium OR rinse the beans prior to consumption
Canned tuna and/or salmon
Canned tomatoes
Canned salsa
Canned corn
Canned pizza sauce
GRAINS
Corn tortillas or whole wheat tortillas
Whole wheat or whole grain bread
English muffins
Oats
Whole grain pasta
Large bag of rice (white or brown)
Popcorn kernels (buy in kernel form, fun to make and lasts a long time!)
Cereal — Look for cereals with >3g fiber per serving
Tortilla chips or other whole grain chips/crackers
PROTEIN/DAIRY
Eggs
Shredded cheese like mozzarella or crumbled feta / goat cheese
Cheese sticks
Almond milk or your preferred milk
Greek yogurt
Ground beef or Ground turkey
Whole chicken or Chicken breasts, thighs, legs
PRODUCE
Know what fruit / vegetables are in season! This is when produce has the best taste & at the lowest price.
Here’s a list of in-season produce for each season.
—>Spring in Season: asparagus, lettuce, leafy greens, carrots, apricots, apples, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cabbage, celery, spinach, strawberries, & more!
Some other produce staples to add to your list:
Celery
Onions & Garlic
Potatoes
Lemons & Limes
Fresh herbs that you use often
FROZEN
Frozen fruit & vegetables are perfect for throwing in smoothies or as a quick side for dinner. The best part about frozen products is that they’re picked at their peak for freshness and provide all the nutrients that fresh fruit and vegetables provide!
Frozen berries / other Frozen fruit mixes
Frozen spinach or kale
Frozen riced cauliflower & other vegetable sides for dinner
Frozen wild fish / seafood - salmon, tilapia, shrimp, etc. (check for sales)
— Most fish thaws within a half hour so it’s perfect for an after work meal!
Frozen meat (make sure you’re buying in portion sizes that meet your needs)
ADD-ONS
Hot sauce
Olive oil - extra virgin cold pressed
Maple Syrup or honey or stevia (whatever you like to use as a sweetener)
Dried herbs for seasoning (parsley, oregano, basil)
Peanut butter or other nut/seed butters
Hummus
Fruit preserves (w/o added sugar)
Nuts (check for sales)
Dark chocolate bars >50% cocoa
Flax seeds & Chia seeds
Do you have any Babe On A Budget grocery shopping tips that I didn’t cover here? Let me know!
XOXO
