In this article you will find five tips on how to save money on your grocery bill

It’s my dream that everyone will one day have access to healthy, whole foods.

However, how you eat can largely be affected by the availability, and the affordability of the food around you.

I’m learning more about this topic in my Holistic Health Coach Certification Program with Nutraphoria. In our course book, called Nutrition: Science & Applications, it delves into how income level, living conditions (such as those without stoves or refrigerators) and health conditions can all impact a person’s access to nutrient dense foods.

Learn more about the program and what I’m learning here.

This is even relevant to those living on a student budget. I remember at times when I was attending university, I would sometimes head to the grocery store with less than $25 in my bank account.

With all that being said, in today’s blog post I wanted to break down five easy strategies that can save you a lot of money over the long run on your grocery bill.

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1. Buy Produce in Season

Before you plan out your meals for the week, keep in mind what fresh foods are in season, and whether there are any sales. In season food is usually cheaper and priced to sell because it’s available to the grocery store in abundance. You’ll notice this especially with food like corn on the cob which is extremely cheap in the summer months, but marked up in the winter because it has to be shipped into the grocery store from another country. According to my course book, Nutrition Science & Applications, buying local can mean you are buying fresher more nutritional foods, while also supporting your local agricultural industry.

2. Coupon & Price Match to Keep Your Bill Down

Check your local newspaper for food coupons, or better yet, download an app on your phone like “Flipp” to access all the coupons for grocery stores in your area in one place. This will help you develop a more affordable grocery list. If you have a preferred grocery store, like Loblaws for example, look up whether they price match items at the checkout. This can also be a convenient and quick way of saving money at the cash register.

3. Make A List, And Stick To It

It’s important to plan ahead before grocery shopping to avoid distractions and unneeded purchases. Personally I find it helpful to plan out all my meals for the week ahead of the time so I only need to go to the grocery store once. When I’m at the grocery store with my list, and meals in mind, this helps me avoid any impulse purchases which might rack up my grocery store, as well as unneeded visits throughout the week.

4. Choose Vegetarian Protein

Being a plant-based food blog, we’re a little bias, but swapping out your meat and dairy products for vegetarian protein options is almost always cheaper. Think beans & legumes instead of meat, and almond milk instead of cheese and traditional dairy. Not only will you be increasing your consumption of healthy plant-foods, you’ll also be saving considerably on your grocery bill by skipping out on those expensive food items like steaks, chicken breasts and fish.

5. Buy No Name

Food without any packaging is always best, usually meaning your buying whole, plant-based foods, as well as cutting down on your plastic waste and cost. However, when buying packaged foods, checkout the no-name brands. In some cases the no name brands are considerably cheaper, without sacrificing quality.