Eating Healthy on a budget of $400 a month

[laperez25]

Is it possible for a family of 4 to eat healthy with just $400 a month? I'm so tired of eating unhealthy and I have made a commitment that I need to eat healthy in order to get toned up. I workout 6 days a week, but not seeing results I would like too. Thanks

[ldy_solana]

if you are lucky enough to get amish and farmer's markets sometimes you can go a long way for a little. i always keep an eye on sales and mark downs at the store. lately i have had the chance to shop in bulk esp for my meats and poultry and other items i know i use alot of. that will help me carry through the month. also some amish markets have closeout bargins. sam's no longer carried curves snack bars and i got two boxes with a total of 48 bars for $5 at an amish market. i also found 100 calorie snack pack granola bars 32 count for $5 to use as treats for viola. 100 calories slightly less sugar and comes in oreo,chips ahoy, and nutter butter. a much better option over the cookies for viola LOL. plus i am helping a local business so that is a good feeling too. amish stores will have good stuff like barley and fresh couscous.i have no shame shopping big lots either for non-perishables like pasta sauces, just read labels b/c some products are high in sugar/salt and some are not. we are forunate to have a lot in our area so i shop wisely and somehow i still manage LOL.

kassia

[laperez25]

Originally Posted by ldy_solana

if you are lucky enough to get amish and farmer's markets sometimes you can go a long way for a little. i always keep an eye on sales and mark downs at the store. lately i have had the chance to shop in bulk esp for my meats and poultry and other items i know i use alot of. that will help me carry through the month. also some amish markets have closeout bargins. sam's no longer carried curves snack bars and i got two boxes with a total of 48 bars for $5 at an amish market. i also found 100 calorie snack pack granola bars 32 count for $5 to use as treats for viola. 100 calories slightly less sugar and comes in oreo,chips ahoy, and nutter butter. a much better option over the cookies for viola LOL. plus i am helping a local business so that is a good feeling too. amish stores will have good stuff like barley and fresh couscous.i have no shame shopping big lots either for non-perishables like pasta sauces, just read labels b/c some products are high in sugar/salt and some are not. we are forunate to have a lot in our area so i shop wisely and somehow i still manage LOL.

kassia

Thank you! I heard in my area the farmer's market will open some time in September, so I'm going to have to see how it is. I've NEVER shopped at a farmer's market. Someone sent this link on a different forum and it shows where are your local farmer's market and so on http://www.localharvest.org/. Thank you again

[ldy_solana]

thanks for the link. i just found some local farms i haven't heard of. i heard there was this thing going up northern VA more about paying so much a month and the farmers will give you so much produce that is in season and available. it showed ppl paid say $50 and hauling at least 2-3 boxes chock full of local veggies. i have been trying to find a local farm in my area for that. esp. with this weather lately i have to have fresh cold crisp veggies. i just can't do anything cooked right now. its just to HOT!!!!

[fitover40]

I sure wish I could feed my family of 4 (2 of them teenage boys) on $400/mth.

[deanie]

I wish we could!!! I spend $400.00 on food in 2 weeks. I have 2 boys, 12 and 8 plus myself and DH who eat healthy. Fruit and veggies don't last long in this house and those are the most expensive items in my cart! (the only meat we (and by we I mean DH and boys) eat is chicken once a week. Grocery prices are out of control for healthy eaters. (I guess I should add I live in Montgomery County Md. where every thing seems to be expensive!)

[aimtobe]

I agree that you can eat healthy on a small budget, it just takes a little more work. For instance I used to purchase canned beans but I recently switched to dry beans and I cook them myself, much cheaper and I also try to go to farmers markets for fruits and vegetables because they are cheaper.

[sparrow13]

Originally Posted by aimtobe

I agree that you can eat healthy on a small budget, it just takes a little more work. For instance I used to purchase canned beans but I recently switched to dry beans and I cook them myself, much cheaper and I also try to go to farmers markets for fruits and vegetables because they are cheaper.

I agree. Granted there's just the two of us at home but I still think families can eat healthy on the cheap. As has been mentioned, beans. Fruits and veggies in season. Buy as little meat as possible. If you have a food co-op around, you can usually buy whole wheat pastas and all kinds of rice in bulk, which is much cheaper. If you have the time and energy, make tasty whole grain treats from scratch, instead of buying them at the store. Actually if you have the time and energy, make as much as you can from scratch! I like to take one day a week or so and cook a bunch of stuff and stick it in the freezer. It really is cheaper and,I think, healthier.

HTH! And good luck!

Sparrow

[EricaH]

Originally Posted by deanie

I wish we could!!! I spend $400.00 on food in 2 weeks. I have 2 boys, 12 and 8 plus myself and DH who eat healthy. Fruit and veggies don't last long in this house and those are the most expensive items in my cart! (the only meat we (and by we I mean DH and boys) eat is chicken once a week. Grocery prices are out of control for healthy eaters. (I guess I should add I live in Montgomery County Md. where every thing seems to be expensive!)

I agree - produce is the most expensive thing in my cart, too. I don't buy organic because I can't afford to spend more than I already do. I have three teenage boys who eat constantly and a little girl, plus DH and myself. We try to eat as inexpensively as possible and still run up huge grocery bills. I can't believe how quickly things add up.

[Jazcam]

I think main problem is the sharp increase in gas prices. As long as the gas prices increase the cost of food will also increase. They always pass the extra expense to the consumers.

I have a family of 3 and it cost me about $300 every two weeks.