Recently a friend of mine was impressed by how little I had to pay for groceries! I am trying to eat healthy as part of a holistic approach to getting better, so budgeting wasn't my first priority. However it's amazing how it has also lowered my grocery bills! Obviously it all depends on where you live, but for comparison, my budget here in Western Canada went from about $75/week to about $35/week!
Here's my secret*:
If you stick mainly to these sorts of products you'll eat healthy and save money too! I didn't come up with this but I think it's very wise counsel: Beware the inner lanes, for therein lie dragons! In the form of ice cream, candies, and chips, to name a few! Stick mainly to the outer sides of the grocery store and you'll be better off!
Anything that's pre-processed or pre-made is almost guaranteed to be a bad value, not to mention bad for you! For example foods like packaged breakfast cereal, chips, candies, microwave meals and so on are not only expensive, but unhealthy - with lots of sugar, salt, or fat, along with all kinds of un-pronounceable additives.
My diet now consists mostly of things like European-style rye bread; oatmeal or yogurt with a variety of fresh or dried fruit mixed in; home-made soups and stews; fresh veggies (I can't chew things, so mine are chopped or even puree'd); baked veggies like roasted sweet potatoes; you can easily add various meat dishes like roasts; I also occasionally make home-made pies, tarts, brownies... It's amazing how desserts magically last longer when you have to spend a few hours preparing them from scratch!
I should note: There are things many of us with illnesses can't eat, so of course keep that in mind when reading my advice. I don't eat any nuts for example. You may not be able to eat foods with gluten or dairy. Those decisions have to be made by each individual, but I think the overall plan is sound.
*Things like flour, sugar, salt, and spices last a long time and you only need to buy them occasionally so I won't go on about them.
