I currently live in New York City, where most of my salary goes to my rent and the (literally) countless expenses that seem to so often sneak up on you in this city. A quick crunching of numbers will suggest that there isn't all that much left over to invest in healthy ingredients for those lavish meals offering the highest nutritional value. You know the ones — those recipes we stumble upon on the dreamy, sparkly food blogs that assume you have the time and means to basically forage the forest for the freshest of ingredients. You ambitiously bookmark this page, despite knowing you'll probably never open it again.
It took a while for me to realize that I didn't actually have to live on a remote farm or make six figures to eat well within my means. I too, could create those beautiful, healthy meals using high quality ingredients, without breaking the bank. All it takes is a little savvy shopping and planning. Here are some quick tips that have gone a long way for me:
Make a plan: Know what you plan to cook during the week and how much you'll need.
Make a list: Grocery stores are designed to entice customers to purchase more — stick to the list!
Stick to store's perimeter: Packaged foods, typically found in the inner aisles of the grocery store, can be expensive; pre-made sauces, cereals, and packaged snacks quickly drive up the grocery bill. The perimeters house the produce, deli counter, and dairy section.
Buy whole foods: Opt for whole fruits and veggies, they're cheaper! Just chop them at home.
Look for coupons: Many companies offer coupons for products online that can be printed out.
Shop for local, seasonal produce: In-season produce is typically featured right in the center of the produce section — it's often abundant so it costs less.
Buy in bulk: Dry goods in the bulk food section tend to cost less than the same amount of food in a package; rather than paying for the package, opt to buy foods like rice, quinoa, nuts, seeds, and spices from bulk foods section.
Pick plant-based proteins: Beans and legumes are nutritional powerhouses high in minerals and fiber, and they're also inexpensive.
Check out the frozen foods section: Fruits and veggies are typically flash-frozen right after harvest, which means they still pack a nutritional punch. They keep much longer than fresh produce.
Compare unit prices: Stores will include two prices beneath the product — the retail price (price you pay) and the unit price (price per particular unit size). This makes it easier to see what the better deal is between different sizes/different brands.
Starting to implement just one of these tips will already make a significant difference in your food shopping that will only get easier and more intuitive as you go.
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