As homeschool moms, it can be difficult to feed your family healthy foods three times a day plus snacks without breaking the budget. You want to do what’s right, but it is easy to fall back into unhealthy habits because sadly, unhealthy foods are often a cheaper option.
This year, as I’ve looked for inexpensive ways to feed my family healthy foods, I’ve learned that even though there may not be many coupons for whole foods and organic items most assuredly costs more than genetically modified ones, it is still possible to keep on track with my budget while offering wholesome and nourishing foods to my family.
Here are a few of the resources I’ve found to be helpful in my quest to eat healthy on a budget:
Make Your Own – Everything from baking mix to hamburger helper is cheaper and healthier when you make it yourself. You get to choose what ingredients go into your meals and you don’t have to pay for additives, preservatives, and packaging. For those of you who feel you don’t have the extra few minutes it takes to make things from scratch, consider making Cooking From Scratch part of your child’s education and have them help you out!
Here is a brand new resource from Kitchen Stewardship to help you learn how to make your own convenience items:
You can also get Better Than a Box on Kindle!
Amazon Grocery – I’ve been thrilled by the deals I’ve been able to find on Amazon! Everything from the NuNaturals Stevia I use to naturally sweeten desserts and my beloved coffee to quinoa, which can sometimes be difficult to find locally. Remember, not everything is a great price, but I’ve found enough of those hard-to-get items on Amazon to give me cause to always check there first.
Azure Standard – Azure Standard is a favorite of mine! If they carry it, you can almost guarantee the price is the best you will find. Azure is a once-a-month coop that trucks healthy foods all over the United States. Every month, I place my order and then meet at the drop point the next week to pick up my food. The coop I am a part of was put together by another homeschool mom, but even if there isn’t a drop already scheduled in your area, you can contact Azure and put together one yourself! (Learn more about how I order from Azure Standard here!)
Learn to eat in season – This is something I am just starting to get the hang of, but WOW! What a difference it makes on the budget! This website gives you a list of what foods are in season by state, so you can take advantage of the tremendous sales and health benefits of eating in season.
Get to know your farmer’s market – Nearly every city in America has some type of Farmer’s Market. The foods offered there are locally grown and often much cheaper than buying from the supermarket. Plus, you have the added benefit of knowing where your food has come from and knowing you are helping another family directly.
Grown your own or do a Coop Garden – While some homeschool families naturally have green thumbs and can grow beautiful gardens that sustain them throughout the winter, there are others who do much better in a Cooperative Garden setting where several families come together to plant, tend and harvest a garden plot.
Drop the bad habits and save the difference – Last year, I did an experiment to see just how much money I would save if I stopped drinking soda for one month. Every time I wanted a soda, I refrained and instead put aside $2. At the end of the month, I had accumulated $40 and I donated that to a favorite ministry. Consider dropping some of your unhealthy eating habits and reap the savings too!
Don’t let guilt rule you – The fact of the matter is, there are days when the budget can’t handle the best of the best. Prioritize what is important to you when it comes to eating healthy and walk away from the rest guilt-free. (Some people like to use the Dirty Dozen/Clean 15 as a guide for buying organic).
This year, as you make a healthy start with both your eating and your budget, consider what is important to your family and what will benefit them the most, then get out there and do it!
Amy of RaisingArrows.net is the homeschooling mother of 6 (soon to be 7) living children and one precious little girl named Emily being held in the Lord’s arms. Her days are filled with giggly girls, rambunctious boys and sticky baby kisses. At night, she writes about it all with the desire to encourage and equip other mothers in the trenches. Follow Amy on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.
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