Grocery Shopping for the Month for Under $100 per Person

I always hear how expensive eating healthy is, but it doesn't have to be! I often get asked how to not spend $600 per month on groceries for a family of four. It's absolutely do-able to spend under $100 per person, but be sure that you're expecting more time and effort on grocery shopping trips. 

How do you make it happen?

• Remember what you already have in your pantry and fridge. Don't continuously buy walnuts if you don't need walnuts. Also, pay attention to what you and you're family are actually eating. If you see that the Greek yogurt is constantly going bad, buy less or none of it next month. 
• Make a plan, and stick to it! Use your meal plan to your advantage when making your grocery list. 
• Check weekly circulars and coupons. Use them when you're creating your meal plan to focus on the foods that are one sale (which are probably also the ones in season)/
• Eat in-season fruits and vegetables. They're going to be cheaper, and you may even be able to get the "ugly ones" from local farmer's markets for a significantly reduced cost!
• Buy in bulk. If you can get dried beans, oats, meats and nuts to last a few months, it makes more sense to spend more one month, then significantly less the following ones. Co-op's are great ways to get bulk meat, fruit, and vegetables for lower prices. Check for ones like Bountiful Baskets in your area. 
• Avoid packaged foods. They just cost more, especially if you're trying to get the halfway decent ones. This is a little give and take, because sometimes ready-to-eat foods are worth the extra cost to help you keep your sanity. I try to keep less than 10% of my grocery list prepackaged foods and prepare the rest in advance if I need something to go. 
• Get your family's help! This one partly for family healthy bonding time and partly to avoid waste. If something isn't going to get eaten in your house (I don't care how healthy it is) it doesn't make sense to buy it.. 

Now, be realistic. Sometimes, not all of these ideas are going to work. There have been months that I have to buy a whole bunch of packaged foods to be sure that the other non-cooking person in my household isn't surviving of fast food while I'm out of town, so we go over the normal $200 budget. It happens! 

Your best bet is to stick to what you can, but don't beat yourself up if it doesn't work out perfectly. Sometimes it just won't! Occasionally, you will buy a third container of oats, because you completely forgot you hadn't really wanted to eat them for two months. It's the perfect opportunity to compromise and make some protein fiber bars! A healthy lifestyle isn't about being perfect all the time. It's about doing your best and making the right choices whenever you can.