5 ways to make healthy eating cheaper

If your purse strings have been a bit tighter since Christmas, don’t let your health suffer. Check out our 5 ways to make healthy eating cheaper

If, like us, you indulged in one too many mince pies over Christmas then you might be after a healthier start this January. But after some splurging in December on presents, parties and other festivities, we understand that money can be tight. If you thought that made it impossible to eat healthily, though, think again…

1. Buy your fresh food locally

Not only is buying your vegetables from a local greengrocer or market better for your pocket, but it’s also good for your local economy. Locally-sourced food is much more likely to be fresher and also far cheaper than the food shipped in from abroad for supermarket shelves.

2. Buy in bulk

One of my favourite ways to buy wholegrains is in bulk. They have a long shelf life and you can easily use some old jars to store them in to save room. Buying a large sack of rice will save you regular trips to the shop as well as pounds off the cost price.

3. Eat more legumes and pulses

If you’re looking for a cheap source of lean protein, look no further. Buying meat is becoming increasingly expensive, especially the higher-quality stuff. Try swapping meat for legumes a few nights a week as a way to save money. I love chickpeas, and at a cost from 20p per serving, they’re such a cheap way to eat healthily.

4. Cook in large batches

For me, cooking in large batches is a great way to prevent any last minute take-away temptations. It’s so easy to just order in food on those nights when you don’t feel like cooking, but the cost of a take-away can easily stack up to over £10 per meal. Try cooking a few meals per week in large batches to not only remove the temptation of unhealthy and pricey take aways, but also save you from having to make something from scratch after long day at work.

5. Cut out that trip to the coffee shop

En route to work, many of us stop by the local cafe for some form of coffee drink. Not only are these liquid pleasures often packed with heaps of sugar and artificial ingredients, but they’re also charged at a premium price. Making your own coffee in the morning will not only help your bank balance, but it can be far healthier than the sugar-smothered coffee shop version, too.