Creating an Affordable, Healthy Diet That Works for You
Quality Verified
Updated: January 17, 2024
Quality Verified
Updated: January 17, 2024
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Housing, transportation and food are the top three expenses for Americans. Finding affordable options for these life essentials can be challenging and stressful. While housing and transportation tend to be fixed expenses you can plan for every month, food can vary significantly based on where and what you buy. With a plan, it’s possible to establish a consistently healthy diet that works with your budget.
MoneyGeek worked with experts to help develop a diet and budget that works for you, with recipes and resources to help you reach your goals.
Budgeting for Your Nutritious Meals
Embarking on a new healthy lifestyle can feel overwhelming, and even more so if you are struggling financially. More than 13 million Americans were food insecure at some point during 2019, but the good news is there is food assistance available.
Even if you are not worried about finding your next meal, food budgeting is a challenge. It’s tempting to buy cheap, quick, processed foods at the grocery store instead of well-balanced meals. According to American Heart Association, "opting for the healthy options in a grocery store can cost an average of $1.50 more per person each day" but can save you in the long run due to the high costs of chronic illness associated with unhealthy diets.
As you make an affordable healthy eating plan, it’s essential to understand what a healthy plate consists of: a balance of proteins, whole grains and vegetables. Your diet should also include healthy fats from things like nuts, avocados and vegetable oil. While vegetables and fruits tend to be combined, it’s best to rely more heavily on vegetables because fruits contain higher amounts of sugar.
How to Create a Healthy Eating Plan to Fit Your Budget
Balancing your diet and finances can seem daunting, but you can set yourself up for success with good planning. Understanding how to find healthy food on a budget starts with understanding finance basics and how to create a budget. Once you know your spending limits, it’s time to focus on your grocery budget. The following is a three-step process to create a healthy eating plan that fits your budget. While it takes time and effort initially, it will get easier to stick to your budget and diet with time.
1. Plan
The first step to budgeting is to have a plan. Whether you’re purging your house of junk food or thinking about some nutritious ideas, here are tips to consider when beginning to think about your meal plan and grocery list:
Make sure you're not overshopping for items
Check your pantry, refrigerator and freezer for items you already have at home. It’s easy to waste money on groceries if you are unaware what you already have.
Think about breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
A complete, five-day meal plan will get you through the workweek and allow you to finish your prepared meals before they go bad.
Take advantage of deals
Check ads and websites to find grocery store specials. Design meals around items that are on sale.
Know your schedule limitations
Decide on what meals will need longer cooking times. Set yourself up for success by planning a meal that takes a short time to prepare if you have various commitments like taking your daughter to girl scouts, going to soccer practice and finishing a work assignment.
Plan for leftovers
Not every meal needs to be prepared fresh. Cook a meal for double the servings and eat it two nights in a row to save time and money.
Check what’s in season
Items in season tend to be cheaper than those that aren’t. This tip can be especially handy if you are determining the best fruits and vegetables to buy.
2. Shop
If you have a plan, you should already know how much your grocery bill will be. Now it’s time to shop! Most grocery stores have apps to help you make your grocery list and know how much your total bill will be before you get there. Here are some additional tips to think about once you’re at the store:
Avoid shopping while hungry
Grocery shopping while hungry leads to impulse buying, and those impulse purchases are likely unhealthy and unnecessarily expensive.
Keep to what's on your shopping list
If you didn’t put soda on the grocery list, don’t go down that aisle. Sticking to your list as much as possible can also help you avoid overspending. You’ll want to adjust only for in-store specials and deals, not to splurge on unnecessary items.
Stick to “shopping the outside” of the store
Most grocery markets have the essentials along the outside walls and processed foods on the interior aisles. If you try to avoid those inner aisles, you’ll skip unnecessary chips, candy and cookies.
Avoid pre-chopped or pre-made meals
Grocery stores offer pre-cut fruits and vegetables, but you’ll pay a premium for saving a small bit of time. It’s best to buy unprepared items and prep them yourself to save money.
Price check items based on units rather than total price
In many cases, the lowest price is not the best deal because the package sizing is different. For example, a gallon of milk is $2.99 while a half-gallon is $1.99. While the half gallon is cheaper, the gallon is more affordable by the ounce. If your family will drink the entire gallon within the week, it’s best to get the bigger size.
Skip the name brands
One of the easiest ways to save money at the grocery store is to buy generic items. Store-branded products are typically lower in price, and you won’t notice much difference in flavor or quality.
3. Cook
The hardest parts are now behind you, and you’re on to the final step: cooking. If you’ve planned and shopped well, you won’t have to stare into the refrigerator for long to decide what you’re having for dinner. Here is how you can continue to keep your costs down in this final stage.
Make quick meals
Tight on time but need a healthy meal? Don’t worry about cooking for an hour. Instead, just assemble. Salads are great for a quick, healthy dinner. Throw together your favorite greens, chopped vegetables, beans, cheese, croutons and salad dressing, and you can have a healthy plate in ten minutes.
Keep an eye on your leftovers and decrease waste
If you planned for leftovers in your meal plan, don’t forget to eat them. Food waste costs Americans about $1300 a year, according to a study by William and Mary University. Staying organized by keeping tabs on items in the back of the fridge and pantry will help you prevent waste.
Store your food
Use good Ziploc bags or a vacuum sealer to keep raw and cooked meat, vegetables and prepared meals available for dinner a month from now. Make sure your foods are packaged correctly, and simply put them in the freezer.
How to Adapt a Healthy Diet for a Tight Budget
If you have a limited budget to stick to every month, you can still create a grocery plan that works within your limits. Spending a short amount of time and effort can help stretch your finances. Use the suggestions above, but take the following steps to make your limited funds go even further.
Ask for help
If you're struggling both financially and nutritionally, it’s okay to ask for help. Educational programs like Cooking Matters can teach you and your family about ways to maximize your budget as well as food prep and cooking classes.
Access resources
There are multiple regional and local resources available to help families find access to healthy, affordable food. More resources are listed later in this article, but an excellent place to start is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through the USDA.
Know how much is too much
Most of us don’t know how our budget compares to others. You can learn whether you’re spending more than similar families by checking the USDA’s food plan chart or checking out this Iowa State University grocery calculator to find the average cost of healthy food.
Do extra food prep
One place grocery stores make additional money is by selling pre-prepped food. If you’re on a tight budget, avoid these items. That means buying whole heads of romaine or iceberg lettuce, as well as blocks of cheese rather than grated bags.
Stick to tap water
Want to quickly and easily cut out calories and costs? Reevaluate what you’re drinking. Soda, juices and alcohol quickly add both unnecessary sugars to your diet and costs to your grocery bill. If you are concerned about the quality of your tap water at home, buy a water filter for a minimal one-time cost. Doing so can also help you avoid the weekly cost and environmental impact of bottled water.
How to Find Deals
There are multiple ways to lower your grocery bills with the help of deals, deals and more deals. If you combine these bargains, those pennies in savings will add up quickly.
Making Lifestyle Changes
Implementing a change toward a healthier lifestyle takes patience and practice. While it can be daunting at the outset, you can find success by setting daily goals like choosing not to drink soda or alcohol. You can also remove the junk food from your home and plan for healthier meals ahead of time! Making good food choices is one of the best ways to improve your health.
Find Healthy Recipes for Your Meal Prep Routine
As you decide what you want to eat for lunch, dinner and snacks throughout the week, consider a few things like what’s in season, your family’s preferences and allergies. While it’s good to try new things, you also want your family to like the meals you're providing. Here are some good resources to help you find affordable, healthy recipes.
- Cooking Matters: As a nonprofit, this organization provides education and local guidance to families struggling with food insecurity. Their recipes are affordable, healthy and delicious for the whole family.
- Spend Smart. Eat Smart.: From the University of Iowa, this website provides guidance on planning, shopping and cooking healthy meals. It offers recipes for every meal and includes both a calorie count and a hypothetical price tag.
- MyPlate: The United States Department of Agriculture oversees the country’s nutrition policy, including its ‘MyPlate’ guidelines. With more than a thousand recipes, these meals show how they fit into the guidelines as well as their cost.
Healthy Recipes From Experts
To get you started towards a healthier lifestyle, we reached out to Cooking Matters to provide suggested a few recipes that are both healthy and affordable.
These recipes are in line with SNAP allotments as well as the USDA’s healthy plate, and they serve approximately eight adults. While prices are listed, the cost of produce and meats vary significantly by location and time of year.
Take a look at these four recipes and estimated costs.
Tex-Mex Skillet
Here's how to make a healthy Tex-Mex skillet and what you will need.
Estimated Cost: $2-3 per serving
Ingredients Needed:
- ½ medium head lettuce
- 1 medium green bell pepper
- 1 large tomato
- 1 small jalapeño pepper
- ½ medium red onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 ounces low-fat cheddar cheese
- 1 (15½-ounce) can black beans, no salt added
- 1 pound lean ground beef, chicken, or turkey
- 1 (12-ounce) bag frozen corn
- ½ cup water
- ¾ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- Pinch ground black pepper
- 8 (6-inch) whole wheat flour tortillas
Instructions:
- Rinse lettuce, bell pepper, tomato, and jalapeño. Rinse and peel onion and garlic.
- Chop or shred lettuce into bite-size pieces. Mince garlic. Halve the jalapeño and bell peppers. Remove seeds with the tip of a knife. Dice peppers.
- Over a small bowl, grate tomato and onion using the coarse side of a box grater. Collect all pulp and juices.
- Grate cheddar cheese.
- In a colander, drain and rinse beans.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook meat, bell pepper, and garlic, until meat is lightly browned. Drain to remove fat.
- Stir in frozen corn, beans, water, and spices. Bring mixture to a boil. Lower heat and cover. Simmer for 10 minutes, or until most liquid is gone.
- While the meat mixture is simmering, make a salsa. Add jalapeño and a pinch of salt to the grated tomato and onion. Stir and set aside.
- Divide the meat mixture evenly among the 8 tortillas. Top each with grated cheese, salsa, and lettuce. Roll up and serve.
Vegetable Lasagna
This is a great way to make a healthy vegetable lasagna. Take a look below to see what you'll need.
Estimated Cost: $1.75- $2.50 per serving
Ingredients Needed:
- 1 (8-ounce) package whole wheat lasagna noodles
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 8 ounces button mushrooms
- 1 large zucchini
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 (6-ounce) block mozzarella cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt, divided
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 (28-ounce) can tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes, no salt added
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
- Non-stick cooking spray
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Cook lasagna noodles following package directions. In a colander, drain and run under cold water until cool to the touch. Complete steps 3–9 while noodles cook.
- Rinse spinach, mushrooms, and zucchini. Peel garlic.
- Chop spinach. Thinly slice mushrooms. Dice zucchini into ½-inch pieces. Mince garlic.
- Grate mozzarella cheese. Set aside ¼ cup grated cheese for topping lasagna.
- In a medium bowl, add spinach, mushrooms, and zucchini. Stir in ¼ teaspoon of salt. Set over a colander to drain. When completely drained, pat veggies dry with paper towels.
- Stir garlic, basil, oregano, remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, and black pepper into canned tomatoes to make a sauce. Do this directly in the can.
- In a medium bowl, crack the egg and beat with a fork. Add cottage cheese and grated mozzarella. Mix.
- Lightly coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Spread ½ cup tomato sauce on the bottom of the dish.
- Layer 3 noodles over sauce. Then, layer 1 cup cheese mixture, 1½ cups veggies, and ⅔ cup tomato sauce. Repeat layers 2 more times, ending with 3 noodles. Cover with remaining tomato sauce. Sprinkle reserved ¼ cup grated mozzarella over top of the lasagna.
- Bake until cheese is melted and lightly browned on top and lasagna is bubbly, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven. Let cool for 10 minutes before cutting.
Smoked Ham Hocks with Lima Beans
Try this smoked ham dish for you and your family. Check out what you'll need below and how to make this delicious meal.
Estimated Cost: $1 - $2 per serving
Ingredients Needed:
- ½ medium onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 pounds smoked ham hocks
- 8 cups water
- 1 pound frozen lima beans
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions:
- Peel, rinse, and chop the onion. Peel and mince garlic.
- In a large pot over high heat, add ham hocks and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Add onion and garlic. Cover and cook until meat is tender, about 30-40 minutes.
- Transfer ham hocks to a clean cutting board. Let cool.
- Add lima beans to the pot. Cook according to package directions.
- When ham hocks are cool, shred meat from the bone, removing any fat. Return to pot. Stir in pepper. If using salt, stir in now.
Stir-Fry
There are many ways to make stir-fry. If you're looking for a healthy version, try this one below.
Estimated Cost: $3.25- $4.50
Ingredients Needed:
- 2 cups brown rice
- 1 pound broccoli
- 4 medium celery stalks
- 2 medium carrots
- 2 small jalapeños or other chili pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
- 12 ounces boneless chicken pieces or firm tofu
- 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 4 Tablespoons canola oil
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions:
- Cook rice following package directions. Set aside. Cover to keep warm. While rice is cooking, make a veggie mixture.
- Rinse and chop broccoli and celery. Peel, rinse, and chop carrots. Rinse and mince jalapeño. Peel and finely chop garlic.
- If using chicken, remove any skin. Cut chicken into small pieces.
- In a small bowl, stir together soy sauce, brown sugar, and cornstarch. Add 1 teaspoon of the minced jalapeño. Stir.
- In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add ground ginger and stir. Add chicken or tofu. Cook and stir occasionally until it is slightly browned and cooked through, about 2 minutes.
- Add chopped veggies. Stir frequently. Cook until veggies are tender and chicken is completely cooked but not dry, about 5–7 minutes.
- Add soy sauce mixture. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve over warm brown rice.
Plan Your Grocery List
Because it’s best to have a meal plan to maintain a healthy diet, a grocery list is essential. Create this list based on your recipes before going to the store, and don’t forget snacks. Here are additional tips to get you started.
Double check your pantry
Most of us have some pantry essentials and species already in our cabinets. As you make your list, double-check for items you may already have at home.
Think about alternatives
Animal proteins will likely be the most expensive item in your cart. Think about plant alternatives to keep costs down while maintaining a good nutritional balance.
Organize
As you make your grocery list, organize it by store layout. For example, start with all your produce, then meats, proteins, carbs and finally dairy. By grouping your items together you are less likely to wander the store and pick up things you don’t need.
Think seasonally
If your recipe calls for fresh corn and it’s the middle of winter, you’ll likely pay a premium. Rather, turn to the frozen food section for produce that is out of season. Frozen is just as nutritious as fresh.
Grow a Garden
One of the most fun ways to save money on food is to grow your own. Gardens can be a fun project for the entire family.
Know your space
Even if you live in an apartment, you can grow your own food, but you need to consider your limits. Pick items that take up limited space, like your favorite herbs.
Pick your favorites
Love peppers? Here is your chance to indulge. Gardens are the perfect place to select your favorite foods and save money on more expensive vegetables.
Do your research
Every plant is a little different. Some require more sun and water, while others require more shade. Look for produce like leafy greens for low-light conditions and tomatoes for more humid spots.
Battle bugs wisely
Bugs are a pest to gardens, but not all do damage to your plants. Before you start spraying insecticide, look for evidence of damage. Depending on the bug, some simple cayenne pepper may keep the insects away.
Reward Yourself Once in a While
All or nothing is not the best approach to lifestyle changes. Instead, moderation is the best policy. Rewarding yourself once in a while can keep you motivated to keep eating healthy the rest of the time. If you can keep up a good meal plan during the week, take a “cheat day” on Saturday or Sunday.
“Cheat days” are a good opportunity to eat out, and you can still do it without blowing your budget. Restaurants make a lot of their money off drinks, both soda and alcohol. If you stick to water, you’ll save money and calories. Restaurant servings are also larger than you need, so ask for a box with your meal and take half of it home for leftovers the next day.
Common Healthy Food Myths
It’s hard enough to find and stick with a healthy eating plan. It’s even harder when food myths are repeated and shared online. You can avoid falling for the myths by staying informed.
A Healthier Future: Advocacy and Policy Change
If you are facing food insecurity, you are not alone. According to the USDA, 10% of American households were worried about how and where they would find food for their family. That was in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic, which strained family resources even more. With so many families struggling to find affordable food, a combination of government and nonprofit agencies are trying to help.
School Lunch
One of the easiest ways to feed children at least one healthy meal is at school. Because of this, the USDA is working on expanding its free school lunch program. In April 2021, it announced that it would extend free school meals for all children through June 2022. Advocates are pushing government leaders to continue the free program indefinitely. In the meantime, the USDA is working to publicize its summer lunch program to help kids.
Re-evaluating the Thrifty Food Plan
Recent studies from the USDA indicate that the SNAP program is not providing enough for families facing food insecurity. SNAP allotments are determined by the Thrifty Food Plan which was introduced in 1975. In 2018 congress called on the USDA to re-evaluate the program to ensure it affords families a realistic, healthy diet on a budget.
Feeding America
The nation's largest charitable hunger-relief organization is Feeding America. Along with its network of more than 200 local food banks, it researches food insecurity in America and ways to combat the problem. If you are looking for a way to help those in your community worried about food insecurity, this is a good place to start.
Additional Resources for Healthy Eating on a Budget
Whether you are looking for ways to eat healthier or finding a way to grocery shop on a tight budget, multiple resources are available to help you on your journey.
- MyPlate: The U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees the government’s promotion of healthy eating and offers explanations of what makes up each part of a healthy plate. It also has tools, resources and recipes for families to begin a healthy meal plan.
- Healthy Eating Plate: Harvard’s School of Public health has a good breakdown of the government’s healthy plate and how to make it work for you.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): The USDA’s Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program provides supplemental finances for low-income families to purchase healthy meals. SNAP is also referred to as food stamps.
- SNAP-ED: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program also offers educational programs for families to better grasp a healthy lifestyle. Find SNAP-Ed programs in your state using its interactive map.
- Additional Government Food Assistance: Beyond SNAP, the USDA offers multiple programs to assist families struggling with hunger. These include programs specifically for seniors, kids and rural families.
- Spend Smart. Eat Smart: This program from the University of Iowa offers a step-by-step plan to shop and eat healthy.
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program: This supplemental diet program provides nutritious meals to low-income older adults and seniors citizens.
- Feeding America: This is a hunger-relief organization that partners with more than 200 food banks and food rescue programs.
- Foodbank Locator: This searchable database of food banks can help you find a location near you.
- Hunger Hotline: If you are hungry right now and need access to food, call the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479). Information is available in English and Spanish.
- Double Up Food Bucks: SNAP benefits only go so far, so this program steps in to double up your SNAP benefits for produce purchases.
About Danielle Kiser
sources
- American Heart Association. "Eating well can benefit both your health and your bank account." Accessed June 15, 2021.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Fast Food Consumption Among Adults in the United States, 2013–2016." Accessed June 15, 2021.
- Harvard School of Public Health. "Strategies for Eating Well on a Budget." Accessed June 15, 2021.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Consumer Expenditures 2019." Accessed June 15, 2021.