10 TIPS FOR HEALTHY EATING ON A BUDGET

The cost-of-living crisis isn't going away anytime soon, so we asked DL's Dr Kate Marsh for her best advice on getting the most dazzle from your food dollars.

- Dr Kate Marsh

Healthy eating is an important part of managing diabetes, yet for some of us, especially at the moment, budget can be a barrier to eating well. The good news is that despite increasing food costs, it is possible to eat well without breaking the bank.

1 PRIORITISE MEAL PLANNING 

Planning your meals for the week not only helps you eat well, but can also save you money. Start by working out the meals you plan to cook over the next week, determine which ingredients you already have, and write a shopping list for the things you still need to buy. This can help you save money by only buying what you need - just make sure you stick to your list when you head to the supermarket or do your online order and avoid impulse purchases.

2 COOK MORE AT HOME

Cooking at home is one of the best ways to save money on food costs, particularly if you eat out or buy takeaway meals regularly. This is where meal planning can help, along with setting aside some time to prepare meals each week. For example, you could make a batch of overnight oats for breakfast and some salads or a pot of soup to take for work lunches, along with batch cooking and freezing meals such as curries, stews and casseroles for nights when you don't have the time or energy to cook.

3 AVOID FOOD WASTE