Eating Healthfully on a Tight Budget
by Amy Scholten. MPH
When you’re on a tight budget, shopping for food can be a daunting
experience. It’s a common misconception that cutting back on food expenses
means sacrificing good nutrition. However, you can be healthier and
wealthier by getting wiser about planning meals and shopping. Here are
some guidelines that can help:
Let the Pyramid Be Your Guide.
Many people plan their meals around meat, and leave grains, vegetables,
and fruit for side dishes. However, according to the Food Guide Pyramid,
the bulk of your diet should be made up of whole grains (whole wheat
breads and pasta and brown rice), and lots of vegetables and fruit. These
are the foods at the base of the Pyramid. Meats and dairy products, which
are higher on the Pyramid, should be treated as side dishes and eaten less
frequently. This is not only more economical but more healthful. Here are
a few examples of meals made mostly with foods from the bottom of the
Pyramid:
- Chili: Beans, vegetables, meat, served with a salad
- Stir-fry: Vegetables with a small amount of meat served over rice or
pasta and a salad - Stews or soup: Beans, vegetables, pasta, rice, meat or chicken, served
with salad - Taco: Beans or meat with lots of lettuce, tomato, onions, and a corn
tortilla
Make It From Scratch.
Many of the prepackaged, boxed, canned, and frozen foods you buy from the
store are high in fat, calories, sodium, sugar, and cost, compared with
foods prepared at home. They may also be comparatively lower in vitamins
and minerals. You pay for the fancy packaging and convenience of these
items, but you get much less for your money. For example, you can make
many more bags of popcorn from a bag of un-popped corn compared to buying
a bag of already-popped popcorn. The pre-made popcorn is much more
expensive and has more fat and sodium than what you can make at home. Of
course, making food from scratch may take a little more time, but it can
be well worth it in terms of cost and nutrition.
Have a Game Plan for Shopping.
Have a game plan for shopping that includes what you’re going to buy and
where you’re going to buy it. “You need to make choices that provide you
with the most nutrition for your dollar.” says Angela Forbes, R.D., County
Extension Agent with Clemson University Cooperative Extension in
Lancaster, South Carolina. “Without a plan, you risk making impulsive or
less nutritious choices and spending too much money.”
Here are some tips on developing a shopping plan:
-
Plan meals and snacks several days in advance. Then write out a shopping
list—and stick to it! -
Compare prices among grocery stores. Shop at national chains and
discount food outlets. Don’t shop at convenience stores. -
Go to stores that sell generic foods, store brand foods, and foods in
bulk. -
Use coupons with caution. They are often for foods that are more
expensive. Don’t buy junk food, or something you normally wouldn’t buy,
just because you have a coupon. -
Never shop on an empty stomach.
-
Look for sales on items that are on your list.
“Make sure the food you buy is fresh,” says Ms. Forbes. “Sometimes food on
sale is starting to get old. Always check the dates on perishable items
such as meat, because you want it to be safe. If you can’t use food before
it spoils, you’ll just end up wasting it. If you have food in your home
that’s starting to get old, either find a way to use it right away—put it
in another dish, for example—or freeze it.”
Check the Unit Prices of Items.
The unit price calculates the cost of a product per unit. For example, a
unit could be by the ounce, pound, or number of items in a package. Unit
prices are usually marked on the shelf below the product. For example,
let’s say you’re looking for canned beets and there are three different
brands to choose from. If you look at the unit price below each one, you
can find the brand that is cheapest, especially if you buy the largest
can. However, it only makes sense to buy the largest can if you’re sure
you’ll use it all.
Read Food Labels.
It’s easier to make the most nutritious choice when you know how to read
the nutrition facts label. These labels contain the nutritional
information and are found on most packaged foods. Use the nutrition facts
label to focus on the facts that are most important to you such as the
fat, sugar, or sodium content. Nutritional labels make it easier for you
to compare similar products.
Buy in Bulk.
When It Makes Sense. Save time and money by buying in bulk. You can buy in
bulk through supermarkets, buying clubs, food cooperatives, farmer’s
markets, and warehouses. When you buy in bulk, you can purchase a product
in multiple or large units that can be stored, or from an open container
in the store, such as a bin of rice where you can scoop out as much as you
want. Before buying in bulk, keep the following tips in mind:
Buy only products that your family will like and use often enough so that
they will be used before spoiling or becoming outdated. Otherwise, you’ll
waste food and money.
Not all bulk items are bargains. Make sure the item is really a good buy
and saves you money. Check the unit price; don’t just look at the size of
the package.
When you buy in bulk, you buy more than you can use before your next
shopping trip. Be sure you have enough money to do this.
You should know what type of storage is needed for the product and have
enough space to store it.
Beware that buying in bulk can lead families to overeat or eat too
quickly. If this happens, you could run out of food or money before the
end of the month. Make sure you can store food so that it won’t get eaten
too quickly.
Know proper storage times for different foods. For example:
- Ground meats: 3–4 months in the freezer
- Hot dogs: 1–2 months in the freezer
- Eggs: 3–5 weeks in the refrigerator
- Dry onions: 2 months in the refrigerator
- Opened lunch meats: 3–5 days in the refrigerator
- Flour: lasts longest in the freezer
- Dried peas and beans: up to 1 year
“You can also prepare food in bulk and freeze the leftovers,” says Ms.
Forbes. “For example, you can make a big pot of soup or lasagna. Leftovers
can be separated into small proportions that are dated and frozen. Don’t
freeze and then thaw a large portion of food (more than you’ll eat in a
serving) because you’ll end up wasting most of it.”
Eat at Home.
Eating out can be expensive and the food is often high in fat, salt, and
sugar. A spaghetti dinner at a restaurant could cost $10 or more, but only
a few dollars if you prepared it at home. At a restaurant, your extra
costs go toward profits and tips. Consider having a potluck. When you
entertain guests at home, ask them to bring a dish.
Be Prepared.
If you’re going to be out running errands or shopping with your family,
bring some healthy snacks and drinks with you. That way, if hunger hits,
you won’t be tempted to stop at a fast food restaurant or buy snacks from
a vending machine—something that can hurt your wallet and your waistline.
Whether you make snacks at home or buy them from the grocery store, it’s
less expensive than buying them in the mall.
Copyright © 2004 HealthGate Data Corp. All rights reserved.