Step 1: Come up with a plan First, come up with a monthly budget for groceries, possibly between 10-15% of your monthly budget. You can then break that down per week. Second, come up with a meal plan and prioritize what items are most important to your weekly consumption. Lastly, evaluate what stores you will be shopping at for these items.
Step 2: Be smart about your shopping Though it may seem obvious, buy the cheaper generic brands for items, such as soups, dips, baking supplies, jams, condiments, sauces, frozen and canned vegetables, nuts, cheese, milk and more. Then think whole foods. These are less processed foods sold in larger quantities that could offer more savings per serving. Try to buy fruits and vegetables that are in season, but if you are looking out of season, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables are cheaper and may last longer. Finally, have a variety of superfood staples on hand. Items such as canned beans, frozen vegetables, garlic and onions, eggs, sweet potatoes, whole grain pastas, and canned meats can be used to create a quick and healthy meal.
Step 3: Prepare these healthy meals Your meals do not have to be complex. Stick to the basics and avoid purchasing items for a single recipe you know you won’t reuse. Meat can be expensive, so substitute meat with other protein sources such as beans, veggies, or eggs. You can also opt for cheaper and tougher meat cuts and cook them longer, at a lower temperature in a slow cooker. Make your meals stretch further by adding nutritious staples such as rice, pasta or frozen vegetables to some of your favorite dishes. Remember, if you double your recipes, you can always freeze the other half and reheat it for a meal later on. Information from everydollar.com.