12 Tips For Healthy Low Budget Meal Planning

 12 Tips For Low Budget Meal Planning

Eating healthy and low budget meal planning can be very hard if you aren't properly prepared. Without a game plan, you can easily go over your budget. Here are 12 tips that have worked for me over the years to stay under budget and eat healthy.

1. Plan your meals and snacks for the week. Make a list and stick to it.

2. Don’t shop when you’re hungry. 

Not only does this limit unplanned purchases, it also limits unplanned bad eating when you’re trying to control your weight.

3. Spend most of your money on the Five Food Groups.

 4. Don't buy junk food. If it isn't in the house, you can't eat it

 

5. If you have a craving for junk food, buy the smallest amount that will satisfy your craving
 

6. Try to limit junk foods and alcoholic drinks to special occasions and small amounts.
 

7. Drink water instead of juice or sweetened drinks, it’s free and has no calories.

8. Use what you already have in your house, what’s in season and what’s on sale.

9. Freeze leftovers for other meals or for lunches.

10. Buy smaller amounts of lean meat, skinless chicken and fish

You can extend meals by adding legumes, extra vegetables and grains. By adding extra vegetables to meat dishes, you will also reduce the calories in the dish.

 

11. Know how you will use what you buy, how much and when. 

12. Only buy what you need.