Many people have the misconception that healthy eating means having to spend a lot of money on fresh, nutritious foods.

This is not true!

While the thought of preparing delicious, healthy meals on a limited budget seems challenging, it doesn’t mean you will have to buy substandard ingredients all the time, either.

With these simple tips below, you can prepare tasty meals for your family on a regular basis.

Stop Buying Junk Food

Just because a bag of Cheetos cost less than a bag of apples it doesn’t mean that you should go for Cheetos. Sometimes people don’t realize that the money they spend on junk food a.k.a. “food we can live without” ,could have been used to buy more nutritious foods.

Challenge yourself and do your groceries without passing by the processed food aisles and you’ll be surprised how much money you save. Ditch carbonated drinks, candy bars, sugary cereals, potato chips and snack cakes and opt for healthier alternatives like rolled oats, plain yogurt, sugar snap peas and unsalted nuts.

Go for Frozen Fruits and Vegetables

Frozen fruits and veggies are generally cheaper than their fresh counterparts. Another benefit is that they are already pre-washed and pre-cut so you can save time when cooking, or making soups or smoothies. Some foodies believe that frozen fruits and vegetables may be better than fresh ones, at least when it comes to their nutrition. This is because they are harvested and flash-frozen straight away to preserve the nutrients at their peak.

When you keep fruits and veggies in your fridge for a while, they tend to lose their nutritional value. With the frozen ones, the nutrients are retained until you are ready to defrost and use them. To save more money, you can buy in bulk.

Buy Inexpensive Proteins

Don’t sulk if you can’t afford to buy salmon or a nice cut of rib-eye steak all the time. Reserve those for once a month treat, or for special occasions like your birthday, anniversary or other special occasion.

There are other good sources of protein out there that are cheaper and still healthy for you and your family. Some of the best proteins you can buy that won’t hurt your wallet include grass-fed ground beef, canned sardines and salmon, ground turkey, frozen chicken breast, organic milk or nut milk, beans and lentils, eggs and cheese. (Only eat dairy if you are not sensitive to these products).

Stock Up on Nutritious Foods Which Are Wallet-Friendly

Believe it or not, you can prepare gourmet-quality meals without the hefty price tag. There are thousands of recipes that you can find online that do not require you to spend a lot of money on.

Make sure you always have items in your kitchen that are easy to cook and budget-friendly like gluten free pasta, quinoa ,sweet potatoes, fresh fruits, and vegetables, soups, rice, beans, lentils, meat, and fish.

Soups are a staple in almost everyone’s kitchen because you can easily whip up a nice meal just by adding veggies and leftover meat.

A final tip: watch out for promos and if you see any of your non-perishable staple items go on sale, buy as much as you can afford and have space to store.