Many people have this misconception that healthy eating means having to spend a lot of money on fresh, nutritious foods. Totally not true! While the thought of preparing delicious, healthy meals on a limited budget seems challenging, this does not mean that you have to buy substandard ingredients all the time. With these simple tips below, you can prepare tasty meals for your family on a regular basis.

Stop Buying Junk Food

Just because a bag of Cheetos cost less than a bag of apples it doesn’t mean that you should go for Cheetos. Sometimes people don’t realize that the money they spend on junk food a.k.a. “food we can live without” could have been used to buy more nutritious foods. Challenge yourself and do your groceries without passing by the processed food aisles and you’ll be surprised how much money you are going to save. Ditch carbonated drinks, candy bars, sugary cereals, potato chips and snack cakes and opt for healthier alternatives like rolled oats, plain yogurt, sugar snap peas and unsalted nuts.

Go for Frozen Fruits and Vegetables

Frozen fruits and veggies are generally cheaper than their fresh counterparts. Another benefit is that they are already pre-washed and pre-cut so you can save time when cooking. Some foodies believe that frozen fruits and vegetables may be better than fresh ones, at least nutrition wise. When you keep fruits and veggies in your fridge for a while, they tend to lose their nutritional value. With the frozen ones, the nutrients are retained until you are ready to defrost and use them. To save more money, you can buy in bulk.

Buy Inexpensive Proteins

Don’t sulk if you can’t afford to buy salmon or a nice cut of rib-eye steak all the time. Just reserve those for your birthday or anniversary. There are other good sources of protein out there that are cheaper and way healthier. Some of the best proteins you can buy that won’t hurt your wallet include ground beef, canned tuna, ground turkey, frozen chicken breast, milk, eggs and cottage cheese.

Stock Up on Nutritious Foods Which Are Wallet-Friendly

Believe it or not, you can prepare gourmet-quality meals without the hefty price tag. There are thousands of recipes that you can find online that do not require you to spend a lot of money on. Make sure you always have items in your kitchen that are easy to cook and budget-friendly like pasta, fresh fruits and vegetables, soups, rice, beans, lentils, meat and fish. Soups are a staple in almost everyone’s kitchen because you can easily whip up a nice meal just by adding veggies and leftover meat. Watch out for promos and if you see any of your staple items go on sale, buy as much as you can afford.