In a season where we’re all trying to save a few bucks after splurging on Christmas gifts it’s always a good to know new ways to save a few bucks when shopping for groceries. Believe it or not, it is possible to eat healthy without breaking the bank! Take a look at these tips to save your some green when buying yours...
There is a little known secret to buying organic. The EWG (Environmental Working Group) puts out a list of the Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15 each year to help you make informed decisions about the produce you buy. The Dirty Dozen are the 12 worst foods in terms of the amounts of pesticides found on them (typically ones that are softer on the outside so they are more permeable) so these are the ones you should buy organic. The Clean 15 (things like avocados, pineapples and melons that are harder on the outside) are those that have the least amount of pesticide residue and are safe to buy conventional. These lists help you to know when to buy organic and when to save your money, which totally helps your bank account in the long run.
There are so many healthy food delivery services out there now that just about no matter where you live you can find one that delivers to you. Many of them usually have some sort of deal for first time users too! Look for services that use whole foods (not a lot of packaged ingredients or seasoning packets) and mostly organic (they should at least have a disclaimer about non GMO or sustainable ingredients so you know about the quality of ingredients). This is a great tool to use even if it’s just for a few meals a week to save you time at the store and time putting together a good meal.
There are plenty of time saving tips for smoothies. First, try putting all of the ingredients you want in your smoothies in a ziplock bag then place it in the freezer until it’s time to blend. You can also do the same thing but use a glass jar or container and keep it in the fridge. You can pull it out and add some protein powder, zip it in the blender and you’re done!
Warehouse clubs have really stepped their game up these days in terms of selling healthy, organic food. Just recently Costco became the number one seller of organic food in the country; that’s a big deal! Their aisles are full of organic soups, canned goods, packaged foods, meats and produce. This is a great money saver if you don’t mind buying a lot at one time. And many times they have sales or coupons to use on some of their organic depletion on top of the warehouse club savings.