Have you been wanting to improve your lifestyle and diet, but concerned about how to make it work for your budget?
Or are you already following the Eat Savvy Diet and looking to make it as cost-effective as possible?
It’s OK, we understand: eating heaps of organic vegetables and grass-fed meats can get pretty pricey. But it doesn’t have to be that way!
In this short guide we will share some tips on how to Eat Savvy on a budget, without sacrificing food quality or breaking any of the ‘rules’. So, pull up a chair, grab a notebook, and let us show you…
9 Ways to ‘Eat Savvy’ on a Budget
1. Are you Bulking?
A great way to save some money is to buy items in larger quantities.
This takes a bit of planning though:
- You’ll want to pay attention to pricing and know where to go to get the best bulk deals
- You’ll need to understand how to store large amounts of food
- You likely need to calculate how the larger upfront investment will cut down on your regular expenses
But these are small elements to master when it comes to keeping cash in your pocket.
2. Frolic in the Freezer
While fresh is best in most cases – a great way to save money is by purchasing HUGE bags of veggies from the frozen-food section. Keep a check on the price per kilo or per 100 g though – you can be tricked!
Farmers often freeze certain foods in order to make them available during their off-season. Take advantage of this and buy snap-frozen veggies when the price is right.
3. Consider Conventional
Sometimes the difference between an organic food and it’s conventional cousin is incredibly small. Opt for Organic is one of the 12 principles of Eat Savvy – but on a budget, you can cut your grocery bill by stocking up on certain foods that are just fine to eat without the organic label.
If you’re really serious about protecting your bank account, you may want to check out a report released by The Environmental Working Group. The report was called the Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce.
Below, you’ll find a list of 11 conventionally grown foods that have the lowest pesticide load and therefore safest to consume as non-organics:
- Avocado
- Eggplant
- Banana
- Kiwi
- Asparagus
- Onion
- Mango
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Pineapple
- Sweet peas (frozen)
4. Seek the Source
Do you know any farmers? If you don’t, then it’s time for you to make some new friends!
Getting to know your local farmers will save money.
Here’s a quick plan for you:
- Do a Google search and find all the farmer’s markets in the area and their dates/times.
- Go check them out – you’re on a mission. Visit the booths of all the people selling food that you generally enjoy eating. Make small talk, shake hands, exchange names and contact information, and become friends.
- Meat is one of the best foods to buy in bulk. Buy a whole cow, split it up with your friends, and stock your freezer. It may cost a bit more up front, but it will save you hundreds of dollars and lots of time that you would have spent running to and from your grocery store.
- You’ll also have an incredible choice of cuts, which you may have never experienced!
- Stock that freezer and get creative!
5. Careful with Cravings
Eat nutrient dense foods and choose foods that don’t stimulate hunger. When you eat nutrient dense foods, you will feel more satisfied, and you also won’t need to eat as often! When you eat less food you buy less food; when you buy less food, you save money. That’s Savvy!
Junk food may be tasty, but it plays amazing games with your tongue and cravings. It doesn’t do much for your body nor your bank account. You see, when you eat food that isn’t high in nutrients, your body craves more food.
Why? Because, technically, the whole purpose of eating is to get the nutrition necessary to build and maintain a healthy body. If you’re not getting enough nutrients through your food choices, your body will beg for more by creating hunger.
This may be challenging, but it’ll be good for you, we promise – good for your bank account and good for your health too.
PS: Supplement with a natural trace mineral drink and you’ll crave less as well!
6. ‘Skip It’ (meals that is!)
Skipping meals where possible, not only can save you money – but extends your life and is anti-ageing !
Intermittent fasting has a host of benefits – cost efficiency included.
The less food you eat, the less money you spend on food. The less you tend to ‘get hangry’ when away from home – the less you need to eat sub-optimal food at cafes and restaurants.
7. Take Off Your Fancy-Pants
Let’s be real: there are certain foods that are much pricier than others. And perhaps you’ve been indulging in more of these foods than their cheaper counterparts. But you don’t have to.
Buy the whole chicken or chicken legs and save the bones, make stock.
Buy the tougher cuts of meat that you slow cook. These are often more delicious as well as nutritious!
8. ‘Cut the Coupons’
Stop trying to impress the neighbours and keep up with the Jones’. Don’t be embarrassed to look for discounts and stock up when your regular use items are on special.
Look through your local paper and find deals, cut them out and go buy the items in large quantities; go to your favourite grocery store near closing time and ask for a deal on meat – they’ll usually give it to you; go to huge warehouse stores and get items at discounted rates.
All in all, become a deal hawk. Seek and you shall find.
What about YOU? Do you have some suggestions? Please share with us in the comments!
Do you have questions? Are you looking for a clear path to follow?
Reach out to your Savvy Team contact, chat with us via Facebook Messenger or use our contact page.
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