9 Tips to Eating Clean on a Budget Most people think they can’t eat healthy on a budget, but you can! In my mind I think of all the Doctor bills I could have for not taking care of my family and I! Sometimes you just need to know where to shop. Here are some of the places I find the best deals on 21 Day Fix foods. Don’t be afraid of Discounts Stores - ALDI Most people really like ALDI for the majority of the foods on their list. They don’t carry many specialty items, but you are able to get about 80% of the foods on the fix there... at GREAT prices. It’s great for staples like meat, eggs, and produce. Check out their Fit & Active line of healthy foods, and Simply Nature for organic products. Watch for Sales - Local Grocery Stores Most of the time, your grocery store is the most expensive option, except when it isn’t. Most grocery stores (Cub Foods, Publix, Kroger, etc.) use a high-low pricing structure. They use loss leaders to bring customers into the store, but raise the prices on everything else. That’s why only shopping the sales is a good thing for your budget. Stock up on produce when it’s on sale and freeze for later. Costco and Sam’s are my Obsession - Shop BULK Shop bulk bins at your local supermarket for things like nuts, seeds, and wholegrain. Shop warehouse stores like Costco, Sam’s Club and BJs but compare prices – buying in bulk is not always cheaper Fail to Plan; Plan to Fail - List Your Dinners I listed all dinners that I wanted to prepare. As you do this, look at what you already have this is key. You’ll look at my plan and go, “There’s no way that’s all under $20/person.” But the thing is, we look at what was unused from the week before and put it to good use! Don’t Freak out Be Flexible - Be Prepared to be Flexible There may be times when you do not follow the meal plan perfectly, don’t freak out! Simply sub out the food groups from that meal with something from those same containers. If I missed my 10 baby carrots, I can have a container of tomatoes. If I didn’t have enough leftovers for lunch, then I know I will have Shakeology + foods that fill whatever containers were budgeted for that lunch! Farmers Market Fresh - Eat Seasonally and Buy Local The cheapest way to eat fresh fruits and vegetables is to eat what is in season. Seasonal food will be more abundant and therefore less expensive – it also will taste better, too. Eating fresh fruits and veggies out of season also runs the risk of eating something sourced from far away, which can raise concerns about pesticides and freshness. Go to your local farmer’s market and chat with the farmers to learn about their farming practices. Make sure you are buying from farmers who have sustainable growing techniques and don’t just douse everything in pesticides. The Freezer is your Friend - Freeze Your Way to Savings If you have leftover fruits and veggies at the end of the week that you aren’t going to use, simply put them in a freezer-safe air-tight container and freeze them. They will be delicious in a morning smoothie! Also, if an item is on special like organic chicken, buy a few packages and freeze them for future meals Learn to Love your Leftovers Wasting food is one of the biggest ways to waste money too, so plan out your weekly meals ahead of time and eat all of the food in your refrigerator before buying more. Leftovers make a fabulously easy lunch too, so make a little extra for dinner and then take the rest for lunch. Grow your own herbs Growing your own herbs is an inexpensive way to add a lot of flavor to your cooking. With some good potting soil and a little water, herbs are pretty easy to maintain. You can purchase herbs already sprouted from non-GMO seeds at Whole Foods. From parsley to cilantro to chives to rosemary, herbs are the perfect way to create a tasty meal without spending $10 on a package of herbs that will go bad in a few days. Hopefully these tips can be helpful for you. I know they help my family stay on track with the 21 day fix without breaking the bank! .