Eating Better for Less

Everyone knows that eating well and eating healthy can be difficult on a small budget, and this has been increasingly noticeable for me since becoming a student. Here are my tips for spending less and still eating good, nutritious meals at the same time.

1. Write a shopping list and make a meal plan before going to do the grocery shop.

- This way you cut down on impulse buying, or buying food only because it's on offer. Just because something is cheaper than usual doesn't mean you are making a saving, especially if it goes unused or is eaten just for the sake of it. Try not to be lured into buying something you don't usually eat, but definitely make the most on offers on your regular purchases!!

2. Meat is expensive. 

- I'm not saying to cut out meat altogether, as they contain lots of essential fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. But they can be cut down in dishes and supplemented for pulses such as beans, chickpeas and lentils. Try to bulk up food with cheaper protein sources. They can be added alongside meat in dishes such as curries, lasagne , bolognese and stirfries, so less meat is needed in the dish to fulfill protein requirements.

3. Use your leftovers.

- If you make a little too much, it can be easily used as a lunch the next day, or frozen and used again another day for a quick and handy meal when you're in a rush. Leftover vegetables can be added to meals the next day, or used to make soups.

4. Make use of a store's Own Brand.

-Tesco have great versions of the Big Brands, and you wouldn't believe the savings you will make!

5. Shop around, Compare prices.
-Vegetables might be cheaper in the likes of Lidl, or the offers may be better somewhere else.

With a few tweaks to the weekly shop, it can be easy to reduce the price, even if only by a small amount.