Going to college and eating right may seem like mutually exclusive endeavors. After all, tuition costs have skyrocketed in recent years, and food prices are higher than ever. With expenses coming from all directions, it may seem next to impossible to eat healthy on a budget as a college student. However, opting for a diet devoid of all nutrition in the name of frugality is not a legitimate excuse; maintaining a nutritious, affordable diet is possible with a bit of planning. Follow these tips to keep your diet healthy without having to take out another student loan to do so.
The Fundamentals
As you shop for your healthy but economical cuisine, keep the following fundamentals in mind:
Don’t shop hungry. You will succumb to temptation much easier if you are famished.
Stick to the perimeter of the store. All of the healthy foods will be set up on the perimeter of the store—spend most of your time in this area. The processed foods in the center aisles tend to be unhealthy and overpriced.
Hunt for produce bargains. Grocery stores often get special discounts on certain types of produce and will pass the savings onto customers.
Buy the big bag. With fruits, go for the big bag of apples or pears, for example, instead of buying single fruits by the pound.
Seven Tips
After you’ve mastered the fundamentals of healthy, cheap shopping, incorporate these seven tip into your shopping routine:
Buy generic. Buying only generic items can add up to big savings on your monthly grocery bill. Choose the store’s brand of products whenever possible.
Don’t bother with organic. Nutritionally speaking, organic foods are identical to non-organic foods, but the prices are far from similar. Organic foods tend to be very expensive, and, for the most part, they’re not worth it.
Cut down on drinks. Avoid buying soda, sports drinks, and juice drinks. Additionally, instead of buying overpriced 100% juice, purchase the whole fruit. If you do buy soda or juice, choose the low- or no-sugar options and buy the large size (half gallon, usually) to avoid the high prices of individual containers.
Choose homemade snacks. Stay away from the snack-foods aisle at the grocery store. You can portion out your own healthier (and cheaper) snacks in sealable plastic bags at home.
Go frozen or canned. When fresh produce is too pricy for your budget, go for frozen or canned fruits and veggies. Look for the products packed in water or 100% juice instead of syrup. With canned goods, also watch out for high sodium content. You want the no-salt-added or low-sodium option whenever possible.
Don’t get exotic. The more exotic the produce you buy, the more you will pay. Choose fruits and vegetables with standard colors (green or red) to save.
Buy items on sale. Stores often run specials on meat and poultry if you are willing to buy a large enough portion. Buy the item on sale and then split it up into servings that can be frozen for later use.
