Lose weight. Get healthy. Eat better. 

These are all common New Year’s resolutions. And they are all great choices. But sadly, 80 percent of resolutions fail as early as February. 

There are many excuses that result it failed resolutions. Don’t let the cost of food be an excuse. There are easy ways to save money but still eat well. 

Read on for your complete guide to eating well on a budget.

1. Meal Plan

Wondering how to eat cheaply and healthy? The most important step is meal planning. 

Start the week by planning out all of your meals. And we mean every meal, including your normal snacking times. Once you know what you’re eating for the whole week, create your grocery list and go shopping. 

Do any meal prepping you can over the weekend. This includes cutting up produce, pre-cooking protein, and separating out serving sizes. This will make mealtime easier throughout the week, which means you’re more likely to stick to your plan.

2. Embrace Leftovers

The cheapest way to eat healthily is to embrace leftovers.

When doing your meal planning, double a few of your favorite recipes. Then package the leftovers for a future meal. You can either take this for lunch the next day or eat it for dinner later on in the week. 

Either way, you have a healthy meal that is already cooked. Keep leftovers stocked in your fridge and you’ll never have a reason to order takeout again. 

3. Eat at Home

Speaking of takeout, eating out is expensive! And it gets more expensive when you order healthy meals. 

So resist the urge to wave the white flag and go out for dinner. Stick to your meal plan and do your best not to stray. 

This doesn’t mean you never get to go out with friends or family again. Instead, eat a snack or small meal beforehand. Then you can order a cheap salad or small entree without breaking your bank or your diet. 

It’s all about planning ahead. 

4. Go Generic

It’s easy to be dazzled by name-brand health foods promising great results. But don’t be fooled, these foods often contain the same ingredients as their generic versions. 

Store brands are a popular type of a generic brand. Odds are your preferred grocery store as their own brand of food staples. A recent study showed that over 70 percent of consumers were highly satisfied with store brand products. 

Just be sure to check the ingredient label. Some generic versions stuff their foods with sugar or filler ingredients. 

5. Know What’s in Season

If you know produce is in season, you know how to eat healthy for cheap. 

All foods ripen at different times. So if you’re buying apples in the winter, you’ll end up paying more because they are shipped in from a different location. Here are a few of the fruits and vegetables available in each season. 

• Spring – asparagus, broccoli, green beans, peas, spinach, and strawberries. 
• Summer – avocados, corn, eggplant, peaches, tomatoes, and watermelon. 
• Fall – apples, grapes, kale, mushrooms, pumpkin, yams, and turnips. 
• Winter – brussels sprouts, grapefruit, oranges, potatoes, and winter squash. 

Remember that these seasons will vary depending on where you live. 

6. Buy Whole Foods

Buying whole foods is a great way to save money and eat healthily. 

The term whole foods apply to foods that haven’t been processed. Such as a block of cheese versus a bag of shredded cheese. These are often cheaper because less work goes into creating them, and they don’t contain chemicals or added unhealthy ingredients.

The catch? Whole foods don’t last as long because they haven’t been processed. So instead of grocery shopping once every two weeks, you may have to shop every week.

Sometimes, even whole foods can get expensive. Before you give up on your diet completely, consider financial alternatives to eat healthily. Cut coupons or research the best credit cards to get your diet back on track. 

7. Use Frozen Foods

Not into whole foods because of their shorter shelf life? Try frozen foods instead.

We are not talking about frozen pizzas or ice cream. We mean frozen fruits and vegetables. 

By buying produce from the freezer section, you can get out of season produce for cheap. You’ll sacrifice a little bit on flavor but your wallet will thank you. 

8. Grow Your Own Produce

Don’t like whole food prices and against the idea of frozen produce? Use your green thumb and grow your own produce. 

Seeds and plant startings are inexpensive. With a little time and effort, you can have fresh produce available right in your backyard. 

And the best part? Your produce will be organic without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. 

9. Shop the Perimeter 

Grocery stores are very carefully mapped out to get you to make impulse decisions. The best way to stick to healthy foods and resist impulse buys? Stick to the outer perimeter of the store. 

The perimeter of the store is where most of the whole and fresh foods are stored. Think about the layout of your favorite grocery store for a moment. Most likely all of the fattening snack foods full of preservatives are located in the interior aisles of the store. 

This doesn’t mean you can never eat yummy or delicious foods. You’ll soon realize that many healthy foods still taste great. Check out this article for some healthy snack ideas. 

10. Visit a Farmer’s Markets

The last tip for eating well on a budget is to visit your local farmer’s markets. 

Farmer’s markets are full of local vendors who grow their own fresh food and sell it for affordable prices. Popular products include produce, baked goods, fresh meat, and spices. Most markets have rules that vendors must follow to ensure that their products are locally grown. 

Not only will you get fresh foods, but you’ll also support your local economy. If you’re unsure where your local farmer’s market is located, search online. 

More Help Eating Well on a Budget

Now you know all about eating well on a budget. We don’t expect you to start out practicing all these habits all at once. In fact, we urge against it. 

Instead, pick one habit to concentrate. Then each week add one new habit to your routine. You’ll quickly see the benefits of your healthy habits add up. 

Need more inspiration? Check out our diet and nutrition blog for all the answers.