7 Ways To Eat Well On A Budget

It’s possible to tuck into a healthy meal without burning a hole in your pocket. These smart ideas will help nourish your body while saving you money.

- Sasha Gonzales

1 Don’t buy packaged foods – make your own

We pay more for pre-packaged items for the convenience of it, but you can save quite a bit if you do the work yourself, says dietitian Jane Freeman.

Instead of buying muesli, you can make your own with inexpensive and easy-to-find ingredients like rolled oats, honey and dried fruit. There are many good muesli recipes online and it’s not difficult to find one you like. Best of all, because you’ve made it yourself, you know it’s free from preservatives and other additives.

Other clever ways to save on packaged foods: Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre-grated; tear up leaves from a whole lettuce instead of using salad kits, and cut up whole potatoes to make wedges instead of buying pre-cut frozen fries (which are usually loaded with oil and other unnecessary ingredients).

Of course, there are some packaged foods that are inexpensive and healthy, that you could stock up on, Jane adds. Think tuna, kidney beans and black beans, corn kernels and tomatoes.

2 Be your own butcher