Today everyone’s budgets are tight! Just because your budget it tight doesn’t mean you can’t eat healthy. Fruits and vegetables are typically more expensive than a box of mac and cheese, but it is important to still maintain your health in these tough times.

Here are a few tips in eating healthy on a tight budget:

-          Cut coupons from your Sunday newspaper

-          Buy fruits and vegetables at your local farmer’s market. They are cheaper and the money goes directly to the seller vs. the middleman when you buy it at the grocery store. Also majority of farmer’s market products are organic.

-          Next time you are out do some price checking. Buying in bulk doesn’t necessarily mean it is cheaper. I have compared prices with Costco and Target and I find that Target is generally cheaper (especially when I use the coupons I cut from the Sunday newspaper).

-          Bring your lunch to work/school. It is healthier, you know where you food came from and can save you up to $25 a week!

-          If you go out to eat, order water instead of soda. Water will help you metabolize food faster and carry nutrients to your cells.

-          Send an email to Amy’s Kitchen (http://www.amyskitchen.com/lemonslice/dear_amy/send_letter.php )stating you would like some coupons. You will get an email requesting your address to where they can send the coupons. (I just got mine yesterday!!)

-          Carry a snack with you if you are on the road a lot (bora bora bars, lara bars, nuts, peanut butter and jelly, raisins all travel well)—this works well too if you have kids.

-          Always carry a bottle of water with you. Better to stay hydrated throughout the day and it will help you to stay full and not over eat.

-          Look at your local grocery paper weekly for what is on sale. Try to buy products that are on sale as often as you can. This can save you a lot in the long run.

Healthier foods (whole wheat bread, fruits, vegetables) may be more expensive, but they will keep you fuller longer.  Eating healthy and saving money might require a bit of foot work, but it is worth it and your wallet will thank you!

Lastly, a friend recommend this site to me and I thought I would pass it along. The site is called Tip Jar: http://moderator.appspot.com/#16/e=3cfc

We probably know organic is better for us, but sometimes at the expense of our paycheck it just isn’t worth it. I was reading an article in Runners World this month and came across a piece of info I found interesting and wanted to share:

“By eating the organic versions of the dirty dozen, you can reduce your exposure to contaminants by 90 percent,”

Can you believe that? This is great news … for our health and especially our wallets!

If you don’t know what the “dirty dozen” are check it out: http://www.foodnews.org/

Tips to buying organic and saving a buck:

-shop the farmers market in your area

- check weekly what is on sale at the local grocery stores

- if you have a Trader Joe’s in your neighborhood check them out (usually they are fairly inexpensive)