I bet you want to feed your healthy meals and snacks. I also bet you want to know how to do that best while on a tight budget. It seems that the junk type foods are just cheaper to buy. You know that eating better will actually save you money in the long run as your health will be better…but that doesn’t help your budget now.
Part of eating healthier is eating fruits and vegetables. Your family only likes certain produce so it can be so hard to make the budget stretch. To make it easier to save on produce, follow these two super simple tips.
Buy in season
I know you have heard this tip before but it is so true! When you buy produce in season, you save so much money! I know my daughters love strawberries. In season, I can typically find them around $1.99/lb. If I was to buy them out of season, they would be twice that amount. We have all learned to like different things based on the season. In the winter, we know apples and oranges are the fruits we will be eating.
We also know that while we will have lettuce and carrots all year for salads, cucumbers are a summer thing. Potatoes may be an affordable price year round but they are a lot cheaper in the fall and around holidays. As long as they are kept cool, dry, and dark, potatoes have a very long “shelf life” so you can stock up when they are cheaper.
When you begin buying produce in season, you and your family grow to expect that. It also has an unexpected side effect. You begin to view certain fruits and vegetables as special treats instead of commonplace. That means there will likely be less waste.
Buy frozen
Buying frozen produce is a great way to get things year-round without extra cost or without sacrificing nutrition. All year long, you will find peas, corn, green beans, broccoli, spinach, blueberries, and strawberries in my freezer. The vegetables are stables for our dinner. The blueberries are for the muffins my husband takes to work every day as well as in smoothies. The strawberries are for smoothies.
Frozen is often a fraction of the price of fresh and most produce is frozen at the peak of freshness. Basically, that means if you can’t get or afford fresh, frozen is the next best thing nutrition-wise. You can even find organic produce. Certain brands will have the occasional coupon, making it more affordable.
Simple ways to save on fruits and vegetables. Feed your family healthy food! Click To TweetBonus: Buy local
I know, I know. I said two simple ways to save on produce. I decided you deserved a bonus way! Local produce isn’t always cheaper than what you can get in the supermarket but sometimes it can be. This is especially true if you go to a “you pick” farm. This cuts out the middle man for the farm as they don’t have to pay someone to pick the fruit. It can be quite a bit cheaper. Plus, you can pick a ton and freeze whatever you won’t eat right away.
Another place to check is roadside farm stands. Without the grocery store mark-up, the farmer can sell their produce at a very good price. You can also check into farmer’s markets, co-ops, and CSAs. Sometimes these can save you money, sometimes they don’t. It all depends on your area and your family’s needs.
Providing produce for your family doesn’t have to take your whole grocery budget, nor does it have to be sub par. Follow these simple tips to save on produce the next time you go shopping or see a roadside farm stand. What are your favorite ways to save on produce? I’d love to hear them!
Elements of Ellis says
It’s so true that junk food is cheaper which makes it more tempting to buy when you’re on a budget. Love these tips! I always forget about buying frozen fruits.
http://elementsofellis.com/