Grocery prices, along with everything else, seem to be on the rise. As food prices rise many people are now looking at ways to cut back on their grocery budget and save at the grocery store. Low cost food doesn’t always mean you have to have low quality food though. I have a list of the healthiest frugal foods that you can purchase at a good price and not have to skimp on the nutrition in your meal.
1. Oats
2. Eggs
3. Kale
4. Potatoes
5. Apples
6. Nuts – (Can get expensive, so watch for sales or go to places like the Dollar Tree, where you can buy certain types of nuts for only a dollar.)
7. Bananas
8. Garbanzo Beans or any beans for that matter. Canned is an okay price, but you’ll get a better deal by buying dried beans in a bag.
9. Broccoli
10. Watermelon
11. Wild Rice or any rice for that matter, however wild or brown rice is better for you than white.
12. Beets
13. Butternut Squash
14. Whole Grain Pasta
15. Sardines
16. Spinach
17. Tofu
18. Low fat Milk
19. Pumpkin Seeds
20. Water - (This is free from the tap at home! Don’t pay for bottled when you’re already paying for running water at home.)
21. Flour
22. Sugar
23. Spaghetti sauce (Many of the can varieties can be purchased for one dollar usually.)
24. Dried soup vegetables
25. Peanut butter
26. Coffee
27. Cans of tuna, salmon or chicken on sale
28. Packages of turkey meat on sale
29. Chickpeas
30. Lentils
31. Whole chicken or turkey that you can use for several meals and make broth with
32. Ramen noodles (Definitely good to have on hand for an easy lunch or dinner and insanely cheap!)
33. Pasta (Very filling and inexpensive, you could almost live off this stuff.)
34. Macaroni & Cheese
35. Hot dogs (May be not so healthy, depending on what kind you get, but can be used several different ways for meals and can be bought at a good price.)
36. Beanie Weenies
37. Tomatoes and tomato paste
38. Bread (You can make your own VERY cheap or you can buy a loaf on sale or at a bread market where it is only slightly outdated for cheap, usually a dollar or less. You can make a sandwich, toast or grilled cheese. Bread is filling and offers many options.)
39. Carrots (Have been purchased for one dollar, but not always, so watch for sales again.)
40. Salad (Catch it on sale and it can be bought for one dollar or use a coupon.)
41. Cheese (Can get expensive, so watch for when the blocks or large amounts of cheese in a bag go on sale and stock up then.)
42. Cabbage
43. Lettuce
44. Frozen bags of fruit like strawberries and blueberries or fresh produce that you buy and freeze yourself. Sometimes the frozen bags can be purchased for a good price.
45. Cereal (The prices of cereal seem to keep going up, but you can still find some good deals on cereal. There are a couple of cereal options at stores like the Dollar Tree and Dollar General for only a dollar still. Also, be on the lookout for deals where you can get two boxes for two dollars or less each at regular grocery stores. Watch for coupons too and remember that the bagged cereals are less expensive than the boxed and oftentimes you get more.)
46. Frozen bags of vegetables can be purchased at inexpensive prices sometimes too. Keep in mind though it is always better to grow your own food and that will definitely cut down on your food bill. The more vegetables and herbs you can grow, the less you will have to buy.
47. Flour tortillas - You can buy many of these cheaply or make them yourself even cheaper.
48. Chicken thighs are cheaper than breasts and can be used in soups and stews.
49. Oranges
50. Tomato juice (Purchased in a large can it is inexpensive and you can make a stew or soup with it.)
Other tips include cutting the sugary snacks out. Junk food like potato chips and soda need to be replaced with healthier alternatives like a fruit, vegetable, cheese, yogurt or even popcorn or pretzels. If you choose popcorn, buy the bags of kernels and air-pop it at home for a healthy snack, minus the sodium and fat like you get at the theater. In choosing healthy foods you will be spending less because you are eliminating the costly junk and convenience foods. Also, reducing the amount of meat you eat each week can significantly cut back on your grocery bill. Fresh vegetables are not as expensive as meat or poultry. Pre-packaged salads will cost you a little more than if you purchase the lettuce and other veggies separately and make the salad yourself, so keep that in mind. Only buy the pre-packaged stuff on sale, otherwise it can become a convenience food too, even though it’s good for you. The Dollar Tree and the Dollar General and other dollar stores like the Family Dollar are great places to purchase some of these food items for a good price. Watch your local grocery stores and see when fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods go on sale and you will be ready. Any coupons you can find online or in your local ads would also help lower your cost as well.
