This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on my link and buy something, I will earn a small commission from the advertiser at no additional cost to you. Read my disclosure policy here.

When Chris and I were first married, we tried to do the grown-up thing and make a budget. At the time, we were broke, living off not quite full-time entry-level jobs that paid just enough to cover our monthly expenses without dipping into the savings account we built from wedding gifts.

It seemed impossible. But if we were going to survive without bleeding out our savings, we had to find a way. Making a grocery budget was the easy part. Keeping it was the hard part. First, we pinky-swore each other we would do everything we possibly could to keep this budget — even if it meant eating peanut butter sandwiches every day for lunch.

Next, I made it my part-time job to learn how to save money and eat well. I learned so much those first few months, and today I want to share some of those tips with you.

Eating well on a tight budget is totally possible! Stay focused, get creative, and trust that you CAN save money and eat healthy.

First of all, I want to clarify that this grocery budget was for two people, and it was several years ago. Saving money and eating healthy is not a competition.

Just do your best with what you have. They made all the difference, and they will help you save the most money possible in this season. Eating on this tight a budget was hard, but sometimes life is hard and we can do hard things.

We worked hard, got out of that season, and were eventually able to increase our grocery budget. We still keep it pretty tight for how well we eat and how many meals we eat at home nearly all of them. But during those really tight years, we approached our budget like a challenge, not like a burden.

Attitude makes all the difference. This was not the season to eat what we were craving. This was not the season for steak or even hamburgers. Rather, we made a list a frugal recipes we could afford to eat regularly, and we stuck to those.

So I tried a lot of things, substituted a lot of ingredients, and made decent food. It worked for us. I had grown up on a homestead where we raised our own chickens, goats, and grew a huge organic garden every year.

Real food was important to me because I knew how much better we felt when we ate well. But mostly, we ate oatmeal. I learned how to flavor it in all kinds of ways here. Toasted oatmeal is really good too! Read more about how to buy fruits and vegetables on a budget here.

We focused a lot on meatless or mostly meatless meals. Read more about how we made meatless meals our family loved here. So both of these ingredients can stretch your dollar and time as far as possible.

While many people are hesitant to stock up on fresh foods because they are perishable—potatoes are the exception to this rule. Sick of plain pasta again? Chef Chris Aquilino , director of culinary at Elior North America , likes to jazz up his meals with jarred items, including pesto, olives, jalapeños, artichokes, sardines, and anchovies.

They also stay fresh for a long time. According to Aquilino, herb purées, such as basil and cilantro, can even stay fresh for weeks at a time.

So don't be afraid to open up that tube. Aquilino also suggests stocking up on tomato paste. There are numerous ways to cook with tomato paste including topping fish and making barbeque sauce. While you can easily find canned tomato paste at most supermarkets, Aquilino prefers the kind available in a tube.

Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content.

Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance.

Carrots, potatoes and bananas are usually cheap and can be prepared in a variety of ways. Get seasonings from the dollar store. They're usually Looking for frugal grocery list for under $/month max grocery budget · Rolled oats. tbh oatmeal packets from places like Aldi are cheap too Budget Grocery List: 60+ Foods That'll Keep Your Grocery Bill Low · Produce · Meats and Meat Alternatives · Seafood · Eggs, Dairy and Dairy

Budget-friendly groceries - Currently, the cheapest supermarkets are Aldi, Walmart, Target, Trader Joe's, Food4Less, Costco (good for bulk buying), WinCo, and Lidl. Tip 3 Carrots, potatoes and bananas are usually cheap and can be prepared in a variety of ways. Get seasonings from the dollar store. They're usually Looking for frugal grocery list for under $/month max grocery budget · Rolled oats. tbh oatmeal packets from places like Aldi are cheap too Budget Grocery List: 60+ Foods That'll Keep Your Grocery Bill Low · Produce · Meats and Meat Alternatives · Seafood · Eggs, Dairy and Dairy

Did you know that brown and white rice are both healthy choices? Include whatever rice you love in your diet for a minimally processed, energizing carbohydrate to keep you full and help you stay consistent with food. How to use: top a scoop of your favorite rice with two fried eggs, a half avocado, and a drizzle of chili crunch for an energizing breakfast.

Or try my easy fried rice. If superfoods were real, oats would be one of them. This inexpensive pantry staple contains manganese, zinc, copper, and the unique soluble fiber, beta-glucan , with known health benefits.

Eating oats regularly can protect against diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. How to use: cook rolled oats in milk and top with fruit and nut butter for a protein-rich, high-fiber breakfast.

Did you expect corn to make this list twice?! This delicious whole grain makes one of my favorite high-fiber snacks as a dietitian: popcorn! Keep the lid on and shake the pot vigorously until kernels are done popping, and sprinkle with salt before serving. Whole wheat pasta usually contains more fiber and nearly as much protein as legume-based varieties, for a fraction of the price.

The texture is closer to white pasta too. How to use: serve pasta with a big scoop of zucchini noodles and top with your favorite ground turkey bolognese. This high-fiber, nourishing staple is one of the cheapest and easiest options you can find at the store.

How to use: toast two slices of whole wheat bread and top each with a tablespoon of peanut butter, ¼ cup of fresh berries, and a drizzle of honey. Are you surprised Kraft Dinner makes the list?

Stir in leftover rotisserie chicken and steamed broccoli for a filling bowl the whole family will love. Top with a sprinkle of grated cheddar.

How to use: add a scoop of red lentils into your favorite soup and cook until soft. Chickpeas also known as garbanzo beans are an awesome source of high fiber carbohydrates with a big boost of protein too.

Beans are very nutrient-dense and known to protect against disease. How to use: blend canned chickpeas with lemon, garlic, salt, and olive oil for any easy homemade hummus.

Canned beans are another inexpensive and versatile bean with plenty of filling fiber and protein. Black beans are great for balanced blood sugar too. How to use: mix a can of black beans into your ground beef or ground turkey for an extra boost of fiber and beneficial phytonutrients.

There are lots of incorrect claims about soy being bad for your health and hormones. The truth is that minimally processed soy foods like tofu can protect your health and lower your risk of many diseases.

Eating tofu has been associated with improved heart, bone, and brain health. Eggs are a quick and nutrient-rich staple with protein, vitamin D, folate, and selenium. Although eggs are a cholesterol-containing food, more recent research suggests they can actually support your heart health.

Eggs are a filling food that can support weight loss too. How to use: scramble eggs and enjoy with whole grain toast and berries for a healthy 5-minute meal. Edamame are young soybeans and another great protein- and fiber-rich option on a budget. Edamame are usually sold frozen, and you can buy them shelled or in their pod.

How to use: microwave frozen, shelled edamame for up to two minutes and sprinkle with salt for a tasty well-rounded snack. Plain yogurt is a filling and protein-rich food that can be used in sweet or savory dishes. Although greek and skyr yogurts are highest in protein, regular yogurt is rich in calcium, vitamins, and minerals too.

Yogurts that contain active cultures can provide extra support for your gut health and microbiome. How to use: add a big scoop of yogurt to smoothies or mix it with ranch powder for an easy two-ingredient vegetable dip. You might not think of cheese as a health-food, but it is actually a nutrient-dense option that can support your health… when eaten in moderation.

Hard cheeses like cheddar offer filling protein and fat, and they contain important micronutrients like calcium and fat-soluble vitamins.

How to use: pair a few slices of cheddar cheese with whole grain crackers and apple slices for an energizing and well-balanced snack. Lean ground beef is a nutritious and inexpensive staple. How to use: brown beef in a pan with seasonings of choice and drain the excess fat before adding to burrito bowls or taco soup.

Poultry is a great alternative to beef if you want a lower fat option with high quality protein. Turkey and chicken contain iron, zinc, phosphorus and b-vitamins to support healthy cells and metabolism. How to use: try this amazing recipe for ground chicken meatballs or use ground turkey in your favorite chili recipe instead of beef.

Milk contains important nutrients like calcium and phosphorus to support your bone health and help maintain a healthy weight. How to use: use milk as your liquid in smoothies for extra nutrition and to keep you full for longer. Canned tuna is a great low-calorie protein source, and a quick way to make any meal a whole lot more filling.

It contains fat-soluble vitamins and iron, and some heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Choose light tuna like skipjack for less mercury , and opt for tuna packed in water instead of oil.

How to use: mix a can of tuna with mayonnaise, greek yogurt, celery, red onion, and lemon juice for a quick tuna salad sandwich or dip.

Have you ever tried sardines? This salty tinned fish is rich in nutrients like omega-3 fats, zinc, and magnesium. Peanuts and peanut butter are mainly a source of healthy fats, but they do contain some protein and fiber too. How to use: melt tablespoons of peanut butter and drizzle on top of greek yogurt and berries, or try the viral magic shell yogurt.

Peanuts contain health-promoting mono- and poly-unsaturated fats and plenty of important micronutrients like copper, vitamin E, and folate. How to use: add a handful of dry roasted, unsalted peanuts and chocolate chips to popcorn for a high fiber and heart-healthy snack. I know, I know… canned chicken seems a little scary.

How to use: add drained canned chicken, rinsed black beans, and shredded cheese to a tortilla and heat on the stove for a quick weeknight quesadilla. Cottage cheese is having a moment right now, and for good reason. Cottage cheese is a great food for weight loss and fitness goals.

How to use: try this high protein cottage cheese queso for a flavor-packed protein dip. Sunflower seeds are rich in healthy fats, fiber, and protein to help support your immunity, heart health, brain health, and more.

How to use: sprinkle sunflower seeds on salads for an extra boost of healthy fats and fiber. Chicken thighs are a lot cheaper than chicken breasts, and a bit more tasty too.

Chicken thighs contain important nutrients like iron, niacin, and zinc. Using this list of 52 affordable foods can help you save money on groceries. Use this list of 52 nourishing foods to build your next healthy grocery list on a budget.

And consider other tips from this article like cooking at home, shopping your cupboards, and eating more plant proteins to save extra money too. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Also, the government derived pyramid was designed to keep the medical and pharmaceutical industries rich and thriving. It creates mucus and is the basis of inflammatory disease.

Peanuts have a mold in them and should never be consumed. I cook my brown rice with this method and it turns out perfectly every time! I use them often for oatmeal, baked oatmeal , granola , cookies, muffins, and even in meatloaf! While the very cheapest bread is not going to have the most nutritional value, watch for markdowns on nicer loaves made with whole grains.

Check the different stores around you to see which ones have a markdown cart in their bakery section — many of them do! Store-brand tortillas are typically pretty inexpensive and you can use them for all sorts of meals.

At a dollar or less a box in my area pasta is a great way to add something filling to your meal without spending a lot of money. I always like to have a few jars of pasta sauce in my pantry.

Peanut butter is an absolute staple in our home. Again, buy the store-brand or use coupons for the more expensive stuff. Canned tomatoes are definitely an important pantry staple. I use them the most often for recipes like Taco Soup.

Nothing like a bowl of cereal when you need a quick meal, am I right? And it beats ramen noodles in my opinion! Not all cereal is cheap of course, but if you look for the store-brand you can always find some varieties that are very inexpensive.

Store-brand pretzels are relatively cheap sometimes just a dollar for a bag and make a great snack option, especially if you have kids. A well-stocked pantry should always include some basic baking goods like:.

Make those inexpensive chicken thighs taste extra good by using some basic, inexpensive spices like chili powder, garlic powder, etc.

And a hanging spice rack like this is great for storing them! Now what? You may also be interested in: How to Meal Plan on a Tight Budget. Note: Grocery prices are constantly changing, so some of the prices in the articles below have already changed. However, all of these meal plans are very frugal, even with rising prices.

Want to get better at meal planning regularly? Check out my Meal Planner and Recipe Binder. What are some of your favorite cheap foods to buy on a budget? Any favorite recipes? Please share in the comments! Looking for more ways to save at the grocery store?

Check out this post for 15 ways to save money on groceries! Apples Apples are one of the cheaper fruit options and are one of the staple favorite foods in our home. Bananas Bananas are another inexpensive fruit option. Frozen Vegetables Frozen green beans, peas, etc.

Carrots Carrots are a staple around here. Healthy and cheap, they make the perfect snack! Lettuce Buy it uncut and unwashed if you want to save money! They have eggs, cheese, meat, and veggies wrapped up for convenience.

Potatoes are very versatile and affordable. They can be prepared mashed, baked, fried or roasted and included in many different meals to add bulk and nutrients and to fill you up. Canned tuna is an inexpensive source of lean protein to keep on hand.

It can be used to make tuna salad, included in pasta dishes, mixed into salads or eaten straight out of the can in a pinch. They keep a long time in the freezer. Rice is a pantry staple that provides energy and fills you up. Rice keeps for a long time and goes with sauces, beans, meats and veggies.

Basic pasta sauce is inexpensive when purchased in cans or jars. Transforming pasta into a tasty meal is as easy as heating up some sauce and tossing with noodles. Add protein or veggies if you have any. Read: 7 Must-Buy Grocery Items at Aldi in January. Black beans provide protein and fiber.

Black beans can be used in tacos, burritos, salads, soups and more. Bread is an affordable basic for sandwiches or toast. Opt for whole wheat when possible for added nutrients. Even plain bread provides carbohydrates for energy.

Bananas are one of the cheapest fruits. Keeping bananas on hand prevents grabbing a more expensive snack when hungry. Heather Taylor contributed to the reporting for this article. I'm a Shopping Expert: 9 Items I'd Never Put in My Grocery Cart. Luxury Living on a Budget: 6 Tips for the Upper Middle Class.

Experts: Make These 7 Money Resolutions If You Want To Become Rich on an Average Salary. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.

markets close in 9 minutes. Dow 30 38, Nasdaq 15,

Video