Healthy Eating on a Budget

Eating healthy doesn’t have to cost more. Use these tips and materials to help you make choices that are not only healthy but also economical.

• The 3 P’s - Plan, Purchase, and Prepare Food on a Budget
  • The reminders help you stay within your food budget.
• Smart Shopping for Veggies and Fruits
  • Get the fruits and vegetables you need without breaking the bank!
• Eating Better on a Budget
  • These 10 tips will help you stretch your food dollars.
• Sample 7-Day Menu
  • This sample weekly menu meets all nutritional needs at a cost below current average food costs

Eating Healthy on a Budget – A Consumer Economics Perspective

• Can people eat healthier and spend less money?
• Are fruits and vegetables so expensive that people cannot afford to eat a healthy diet?
• How can people actually know what foods are healthful choices and that they are likely economical as well?

Read a USDA Economist’s View: Nutrition Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive

Also check these materials from other agencies:

• Eat Right When Money’s Tight
• 30 Ways in 30 Days to Stretch Your Fruit & Vegetable Budget
• SNAP-Ed Connection Recipe Finder
  • Search recipes by various categories – including cost per serving or per recipe.
• Iowa State University Extension’s "Spend Smart. Eat Smart."