7 Ways to Find the Best Bargains on Healthy, Sustainable Food for Your Hungry Kids

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Eating healthy foods can be expensive, especially when there are picky kids involved who may or may not ahem … waste some of your pricey grocery haul. Trying to find good food for your family that doesn’t go over your grocery budget is overwhelming, especially with how much kids eat (or don't)! But with a few changes, saving money on healthy food is possible.

Here are some simple tips you can turn to when shopping for the best bargains on good, nutritious food for your entire family, no matter your budget or what the economy throws at you.

Plan Ahead

Make a plan before you go to the grocery store. And don’t forget to look at what you already have in your pantry and fridge. Plan your meals around sales. List what you’ll make and the groceries you’ll need to buy for it. Then head to the store. Planning ahead combined with shopping sales will save you money. It’s just a little more work.

Buy Frozen Produce

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Many people assume “fresh is best” when eating healthy. While this might be ideal in a perfect world, it can also be more expensive. You’re trying to buy healthy food while also trimming up your grocery bill, remember?

Since picky kids like to change their favorite fruit every three days, it's especially difficult to save money on fresh produce. No one wants to throw away an entire bag of rotting apples your child swore were his favorite last week. Fresh is best, but frozen isn’t all bad. Since frozen fruits and vegetables last longer, you won’t be tossing them out as much. The nutrition content is similar between fresh and frozen, too.

Next time you’re at the store, grab some frozen fruit for smoothies and baking. Most likely, no one will notice the difference. You can prepare frozen veggies in an air fryer or skillet. They won’t go bad as quickly and are more cost-efficient.

Shop the Outer Edge

You may have heard that if you want to eat healthier, shop around the outer perimeter of the grocery store. But when looking to both save money and find healthy options for your kids, consider this as a beginning step. Check the produce, dairy, and freezer sections first for sales and discounts. Of course, it's OK to look for deals in the inner aisles, too.

Shop Around

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Going to multiple stores might not be what you want to hear in terms of convenience, but to find the best bargains on healthy, sustainable food for your hungry kids, it pays to shop around. Prices vary a ton from store to store. An item that might be $6 at one store could be $4 at another.

While you may think that you’re only saving a few bucks … you’re saving a few bucks! And that adds up. Consider your priorities: If finding healthy food at a good price is your goal, look for items at more than one store to find the best prices.

Consider Portioning Snacks

Portions are important to consider when eating healthy. But don’t be so quick to grab the big box of pre-bagged snacks. Yes, they are convenient, but sometimes you end up spending more on the boxes of pre-bagged snacks. Cut costs and make sure you have healthy food in your house by buying a larger bag of snacks. Then, portion the snacks yourself.

Buy the Store Brand

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When you can, opt for store brand instead of name-brand products. This will help lower your grocery bill. Usually, the only difference between a name brand and a store brand is the labeling. Their packaging may look different, but the lower price often makes buying the store brand worth it.

Stock Up

You may think buying food when you don’t need to costs more. But if you’re strategic about it, this method will save you money in the long run. That’s not to say to load your basement with boxes and stacks of food you don’t need or won't use. Consider the pantry staples you always buy. Items such as rice, pasta, spices, and other nonperishable items go on sale often. Many stores frequently offer “buy one get one” deals.

For example, if your store is having a sale on cheese, consider buying double. Then, incorporate it into more than one meal for the week.