Eating healthy on a budget can seem like an impossible task. After all, it’s hard to find affordable, nutritious foods that fit into your weekly grocery budget. But with a little bit of planning and knowledge, you can make healthy eating possible without breaking the bank. Here are three tips for how to eat healthily on a budget: plan ahead, shop smartly and cook at home.

Planning ahead is key when trying to stick to a tight food budget while still maintaining good nutrition. Before heading out for groceries, create a meal plan for the week ahead and decide which meals will be cooked from scratch versus those that will need to be prepared in advance or purchased pre-made. Make sure this plan takes into account any dietary restrictions or allergies that may apply as well as any special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries where you might want something more luxurious than usual! Planning meals also allows you to take advantage of sales at the grocery store by buying items in bulk before they go bad and freezing them for later use.

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Shopping smartly means looking beyond just price tags when choosing what foods to purchase each week – look out for nutrient density, quality and food safety. Consider the cost of each item relative to its nutrition value, paying special attention to foods that are packed with vitamins and minerals over those of lesser nutritional value – such as processed snacks or sugary treats. Also, look for deals on fresh produce, focusing on seasonal items that are both more nutritious and cheaper than out-of-season items.

Finally, one of the best ways to eat healthily on a budget is to cook at home. Preparing meals from scratch means you control what goes into them and how much money you’re spending in the process. Plus, with a bit of practice, you can make delicious dishes that the whole family can enjoy. When grocery shopping, don’t forget to stock up on pantry staples such as legumes, grains and nuts – all of which are great sources of plant-based protein and fiber and last longer than most fresh items. And when it comes to cooking, use leftovers creatively so nothing goes to waste!