Even when you know what healthy foods to choose, being able to pay for them can be hard, especially if you are on a fixed income. Start by deciding how much you can afford to spend on food. There are websites that can help you plan a food budget. The U.S. Department of Agriculture supports Iowa State University’s Spend Smart-Eat Smart. This website also has inexpensive recipes based on the dietary guidelines.
Once you have a budget, find store ads in the newspaper or grocery store websites to see what is on sale. Try to plan some meals around featured items and pick up some extra canned goods or staples that are on sale. Check the expiration or use-by date. A product might be on sale because it is almost out of date. Choose items with dates farthest in the future.
While shopping, make use of these budget-wise tips:
• Ask about discounts. Ask your local grocery stores if they have a senior discount or a loyalty or dis count card.
• Use coupons when you can. Remember, coupons only help if they are for things you would buy anyway. Sometimes, another brand costs less even after you use the coupon.
• Consider store brands—they usually cost less. These products are made under a special label, sometimes with the store name.
• Be aware that convenience costs more. You can often save money if you are willing to do a little work. Shred or grate your own cheese and avoid instant rice or instant oatmeal. Bagged salad mixes cost more and might not stay fresh as long as a head of lettuce.
• Look at unit prices. Those small stickers on the shelves tell you the price but also the unit price—how much the item costs per ounce or pound. Compare unit prices to see which brand is the best value.
• Try to buy in bulk, but only buy a size you can use before it goes bad. If you buy meat in bulk, decide what you need to use that day and freeze the rest in portion-sized packages right away.
• Focus on economical fruits and vegetables. These include bananas, apples, oranges, cabbage, sweet potatoes, dark-green leafy vegetables, green peppers and regular carrots.
• Think about the foods you throw away. For less waste, buy or cook only what you need.
• Resist temptations at the check-out. You know what I’m talking about— those snack foods and candy are put there for impulse buying. Save money and avoid empty calories!
The National Institute on Aging has a wealth of information. Check out their website at https://www.nia.nih.gov