How to Eat Healthier and Save Money in 2022

Every year, I update my readers on the most up-to-date ways to save money and eat better at the same time. Inflation and supply chain issues have caused grocery prices to creep up over the last few months. Not to worry! In my experience, there are always ways to save on healthier food options. 

Make a Shopping List Around Deals

When you make your weekly shopping lists, see what's on sale that week at your local grocery stores. Choose fresh or frozen produce and meats that are on sale that week and craft them into recipes. 

Buy lots of produce, both for meals and to snack on. Salads, fruits, and vegetables are excellent affordable and healthy replacements for convenient, ready made snacks. Not only are convenience foods usually more expensive, they're also packed with preservatives and high levels of sugar. If you want to keep it clean and inexpensive, stick to simple, well balanced meals using mostly meat and produce. 

Do Meal Prep

If cooking a lot more often seems daunting compared to expensive, preservative-loaded frozen dinners, consider doing once weekly meal prep. Once a week, spend a couple hours preparing protein, vegetables, and anything else you can make in advance for lunch and dinner that week. 

That only leaves reheating or quick assembly for when you're ready to eat. It's only a couple hours a week and you'll save money and eat better (and more conveniently) throughout the week.  

Load Up On Healthy Snacks

If you can, avoid buying unhealthy snacks altogether. If not, buy more vegetables, granola bars, and yogurt rather than chips, cookies, and snack cakes. Find healthy alternatives that you actually enjoy, and commit to buying them instead. 

Cut soda and flavored drinks out, too, and opt for water instead. These changes will make you feel physically better and forgoing them will save you money every time you shop. These are likely changes you'll have to make over time, but if you shop responsibly and wean off of the sugary/processed items, you'll be successful!

Keep It Simple

It really is as simple as it sounds to keep your diet healthy and balanced — and save at the same time. Keeping meals clean and simple doesn't have to mean things lack flavor, either. There are countless ways to prepare these foods to be flavorful and unique. 

Strategically plan your shopping lists, use coupons, weekly ads, and savings apps, and stick to your list. If you do, I bet you'll see positive results, both in your health and your wallet!