Healthy Meals on a Budget

Woody Short

6 years ago

These healthy meals on a budget are flavorful, colorful and most importantly won’t break your bank account!

Let’s face it, eating healthy can be challenging. Not only because fast food is so cheap and available everywhere at all times, but because healthier and cleaner ingredients are actually more expensive. So, how you can have healthy meals on a budget that will be actually reasonable?

Heart healthy meals on a budget is not impossible! The number one step is knowing what to buy and where. Yes, your ingredients are super important, but also where you get them plays an important role on how much you will pay.

Buying local and organic produce is often more economic than going to those big retailers that, even though offer fresh and organic, it is usually imported merchandise, thus elevating the cost of the ingredient.

Check out your local markets and shops, and go to the next Farmer’s Market you see advertise. These locales are always, always cheaper than buying from the supermarket.

Buying directly from a Farmer’s Market eliminates the brokerage, meaning that you are basically purchasing your goodies directly from the source. These results in cheap easy healthy meals on a budget that you can actually afford.

Whenever you try to meal prep as part of your healthy meals on a budget, remember that is always best to buy fresh over frozen goodies. Yes, you can always freeze the goods yourself to use them at a later date, but buying fresh from your local shop will also eliminate the maintenance cost.

Whenever you want to have heart healthy meals on a budget, plan accordingly. That means, searching for your recipes and ingredients beforehand, making a shopping list and actually sticking to eat.

It is almost impossible to notice, but we spend more on the things that we “come up with at the very last minute” than when we shop without a plan.

If you like to cook and experiment, cheap easy healthy meals on a budget can actually be a life saver. Imagine having your own, homemade pesto ready and mixing it with your favorite pasta. Or preparing your own nut butters, without all those additives and pairing it with a great artisanal bread.

Sometimes, to save some money it is also smart to buy in bulk. Whether you do this at your local market or you contact reliable wholesalers, bulk buying is a great savings hack.

If you have space, you could also grow your own ingredients. Whether it is leafy greens, herbs or fruits, there is a great reward that comes from eating something that you’ve grown and cared for yourself.

Once you have mastered the shopping and prepping technique, you can try some of these decadent, yet budget friendly recipes, and who knows! Maybe they will become a part of your repertoire:

Easy Oven Fajitas: for the meat and veggie lovers out there, this recipe comes packed with flavor, color and spice. And costing less than 10 bucks? Yes, please!
Spanish Chickpeas and Rice: an explosion of flavors that will leave your palate wanting more. That is exactly what this plate Have it ready for lunch or dinner as it will be a crowd pleaser.
Black Bean Turkey Burgers: a mix of delicious spices, lean protein and hearty legumes makes this recipe perfect for busy weeknights. Pair it with your favorite artisanal bun or leafy greens for a low-carb option.
Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze: what is more comforting than a delicious piece of salmon with rice? This version is buttery, tender and with just the right amount of sweetness.
Parmesan Chicken Cous-Cous: this plate is the perfect option for those that enjoy a cheesy flavor. Garlicky, perfect amount of parmesan and simply delightful, will be a favorite of everyone at home.
Mandarin Pork Stir-Fry: Asian taste with a twist, that is the pleasant surprise this dish Slices of mandarin and oranges provide the perfect amount of glaze to this super savory meal.