How to Cook While on A Budget

This post was provided by the Des Moines apartment experts at Haverkamp Properties

Cooking while on a budget is not always easy.  One principal concern is lowering costs and still eating healthy.  As it turns out, budget cooking is actually not too difficult and can be one of the healthiest ways to cook! The trick is to have a well-thought out shopping list before you go to the grocery store. The goal here is to save extra money while also making healthy choices. Here are some tips to help you move in the right direction.

1. Buy food in bulk. This is one way to save on your grocery shopping. Making a list of the food to buy beforehand, perhaps every week or two, makes buying easy. The key is to choose foods that are not likely to spoil.  Buy items that can endure long-term storage in your pantry shelf.  Examples include canned soup, beans, and pasta.   Many grocery stores offer good deals if you buy in bulk.  For example, you might find loaves of bread that come in pairs. You can eat one loaf and freeze the other and use it next week. Buying bulk meats can also be a good idea as these goods can also be frozen as well. However, make sure that you separate them into individual serving sizes for easy defrosting later on.

2. Buy generic brands. This is also another great way to actually save a few extra bucks. Most generic foods are of very similar quality to brand name items but differ mainly in packaging and price. Price difference typically varies by a few dollars or so. Great choices for generic brand foods include beans, tomato sauces, and canned vegetables. As a practice, you should always check the food labels to ensure you are eating healthy and nutritious foods.

3. Consider More Fruit & Veggies.  A diet of fruits and vegetables is key to good health.  When possible, buy from your local farmers market for fruits and veggies.  While they are often slightly more expensive than the grocery store, but you’ll be getting a higher-quality more nutrient dense product.  When you save on bulk grocery items, you’ll have more to spend on high quality produce.

As you’ll soon see, cooking on a budget can actually lead to a healthier lifestyle.  With the right choices and food list, it truly is possible to go on cooking a healthy diet while not hurting your budget!