The spiraling costs of the food in the supermarkets doesn’t make it easy to eat healthily and most are drawn to the BOGOF deals on the crisps and biscuits.  It can be a struggle on a tight budget to eat healthy and nutritious food, however a few little tips can help you to save pennies and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Here are some of my tips that I apply to my weekly shop and have helped keep my bank account happy:

• Shop by weight- you can get more bang for your buck by comparing the weight of items versus the cost.
• Meal planning- this is can be a great way to only buy what is needed from the supermarket rather than going off on a tangent.
• Shopping lists- lists are my best friends and I would never go without one.  Study your freezer, fridge and cupboards and make a list based on what is needed.
• Set a budget and stick to it.
• Bulk buy- if something is on a 3 for 2 offer that you buy regularly, snap it up!  It may seem expensive in the beginning but in the long run you will save money.
• Buy dried pulses and beans soak and cook them yourself to save money.

I’ve put together some easy and quick recipes that are also healthy and cheap to give you some inspiration for your next food shop:

High Protein Three Bean Chilli

Roast Chicken and Squash Salad

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Curry

Sesame Lime and Basil Falafel

Celeriac and Apple Soup

Spicy Turkey Meatballs

This is a rather sensitive subject and needs to be approached with care.  Obviously different things work for different people and my tips aren’t for everyone.  In this day and age, with obesity rates at their highest I think it’s important to educate those who struggle to eat well on a tight budget. Every situation is different for each household and a “one size fits all” approach will not meet everybody’s needs, however with a few simply changes a healthier lifestyle can be achieved.

How do you feel about the cost of groceries and the rising obesity problem?

Do you find it easy/hard to stick to a budget and have a healthy lifestyle?