Healthy Eating Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive: Eating Well Without Spending More

Healthy eating can sometimes feel out of reach.

There are endless “health” products, specialist ingredients and beautifully styled meals online, so it can leave you wondering whether eating well requires a much bigger food budget. 

The good news? It really doesn’t. 

Some of the most nutritious and useful foods are simple, everyday staples, and many can be used across several meals.

Start With The Basics

When you’re planning your next food shop, try focusing on the basics first.

Look for foods that are affordable, versatile and easy to use across different meals.

Oats • Potatoes • Eggs • Natural yoghurt • Beans and legumes • Lentils • Tinned tomatoes • Brown rice • Bulgur • Wholegrain pasta • Frozen fruit and vegetables

You don’t need every ingredient on the list. Just build a selection around foods you genuinely enjoy.

Don’t Overlook Potatoes

Potatoes don’t always get the best reputation online, but they’re an affordable, nutritious staple. 

They provide nutrients including potassium and vitamin C, and keeping the skin on can provide extra fibre. Not to mention they’re incredibly versatile. 

The humble potato absolutely deserves a place in a balanced diet. 

Oats are a staple for a reason

Oats are inexpensive, filling and easy to build around. 

They’re a great source of fibre, including beta-glucan, and can be paired with other nutritious ingredients for a simple breakfast.

Add berries for polyphenols and antioxidants, nuts and seeds for texture and healthy fats, or natural yoghurt for extra protein.

Protein Doesn’t Have to Break The Bank

Eggs and natural yoghurt and two simple ways to add protein to your meals. 

Natural yoghurt also provides calcium, while live yoghurt and kefir contain beneficial bacteria for your gut. 

Beans, lentils and chickpeas are another fantastic, affordable and nutritious way to add protein and fibre to meals - helping you feel fuller and satisfied for longer. 

Don’t Overlook The Freezer 

Fresh fruit and vegetables are fantastic, but frozen absolutely counts too. 

Frozen produce is just as nutritious, convenient, affordable and a great way to reduce food waste. Keeping a few favourites in the freezer also means you always have something nutritious to add to a meal. 

Cook From Scratch When You Can 

Cooking from scratch is a simple way to make your food go further, while giving you more control over the ingredients you’re using. 

It doesn’t have to mean spending hours in the kitchen - even making something yourself when you have the time can be useful, and cooking a little extra means you have another meal ready to go. 

Batch cooking can be especially helpful for those busier days. It saves time and makes healthy eating much easier throughout the week. 

Make Your Food Shop Work Harder

Before shopping, take a quick look through your cupboards, fridge and freezer.

Then:

• Plan a few meals around what you already have
• Make a shopping list
• Choose versatile ingredients you can use in more than one meal
• Consider more frozen and tinned options
• Cook extra portions and batch cook when possible

You don’t need a perfectly organised meal plan. 

Even a little preparation can help your food go further, and make those “what am I going to eat?” moments much easier. 

Healthy Eating Can Be Simple

Eating well shouldn’t feel out of reach. It doesn’t require expensive ingredients, complicated recipes or the latest “superfood”.

Sometimes the healthiest meals are simply built around good, everyday staple ingredients.