Tricks to Save on Healthy Food When You Shop

Last Updated on September 24, 2022 by Ellen Christian

If you’re wondering how to save on healthy food, keep reading!  Here are some simple tips to stick to your budget at the grocery store and still stock up on healthy food.

How to Save on Healthy Food

Did you ever look at your grocery receipt and think “Oh my word, that cannot be how much I spent!”  If you did, you aren’t the only one.  I am passionate about buying healthy food for my family.

With my daughter being gluten intolerant and me following the Paleo diet, keeping our food costs down can be a real challenge. 

Learning how to save on healthy groceries is definitely possible and these are the methods I’ve been using to help keep our spending in check. I don’t spend hours comparing deals, clipping coupons, and driving from store to store. I don’t have the time to do that even if I wanted to.

I have a few different stores I shop at regularly, depending on what part of town I’m in. Always, always make a list of what you need before you leave the house. You won’t save money if you wander through the store putting things in your cart.

How can I buy healthy groceries on a budget?

Look at the advertised sales on the store’s website. It takes just a few quick minutes to scan the deals and see if there is anything there you need. It’s essential to plan.

If you realize that the sale or markdown rarely happens, stock up as much as possible.

Look for these apps to save:

• Checkout51
• Ibotta
• Shopkick
• Receipt Hog
• Coupons.com
• CoinOut
• Fetch Rewards

How can I eat healthy every day?

Make a menu plan based on what needs to be used up and what’s on sale. Stick to the menu plan.

I find that the times I don’t make healthy eating choices are spur-of-the-moment decisions based on poor planning. Check out these ways to eat healthy on a budget.

Eat healthy for less

We have a few name brands we prefer, I check the manufacturer’s website for printable coupons when I’m making my list.

Don’t fall into the trap of buying things you don’t need or won’t use just because you have a coupon. You won’t save money buying food no one eats.

How to save on food

Keep your eyes open for unadvertised specials.  Maybe your store is discontinuing a product on your list and has marked it down to move it out quickly.

Stock up on as many of these items as your budget allows so you can use them in the future.

How to save money on food

Look for markdowns. I always check the markdowns and clearance items. My kids don’t care if the corner of their cereal is dented in as long as the cereal is OK.

The best way to save money on food is to combine a coupon with your markdown or clearance sale.

Limit food waste

Only buy in bulk when you use the food before it goes bad. Five pounds of apples may be cheaper per pound than 3 pounds but it’s not a deal if you toss 2 pounds because it goes bad.

Learn how to make bananas last longer. These tips will work for many of your produce items.

Buy seasonally

Buy seasonally. Winter squash is in season right now, so I will be serving that instead of asparagus, which is not in season. Seasonal produce is generally less expensive. Learn how to reduce produce waste.

Cheap healthy meals

Cook from scratch when possible.  I don’t bake my own bread or make my own pasta but I do try to cook from scratch as much as I can.

Learn how to eat healthier meals when you have no time to cook. Learning to cook from scratch is one of the easiest ways to save on healthy food.

How to eat healthy on a tight budget

Look for new ways to save.  I recently learned of several apps to save at the grocery store. These are my favorites that I use each week. 

• Checkout51
• Ibotta
• Shopkick
• Receipt Hog
• Coupons.com
• CoinOut
• Fetch Rewards

So, why not check out these alternative food sources when money is tight? Check out these frugal baking choices.

Now that you know how to save on healthy food, which tips will you try first?