If You Pay Full Price for These 5 Healthy Grocery Staples, You're Wasting Money
You’ve probably heard how making healthier choices at the grocery store can send your bills higher, and weighed it against the future healthcare costs of eating cheap, processed junk — to say nothing of the value of your actual health itself.
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Still, it stings when a single, simple breakfast costs nearly as much at the grocery store as eating the same meal at a restaurant. With the average grocery cost per month per household in the United States marked at $504 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it can be worthwhile to find deals on those health staples.
Good news: you might not have to splurge to harvest those health benefits. In a lot of cases, the basic option is just as good for you as going premium. Read on for some ideas on how to avoid paying full price for healthier grocery items and potentially save hundreds of dollars each year.
Berries
According to Andrew Lokenauth, founder of the blog Fluent in Finance, fresh organic berries are one of the biggest traps.
“Pints run $6 to $8 at most stores, but frozen organic berries are the same in nutrition and cost $3 to $4,” he said.
Salmon
If you’re a fan of salmon, Lokenauth said you can see some serious savings by switching from fresh to frozen. He noted the fresh salmon at a regular grocery store can hit more than $15 per pound.
On the other hand, he added, frozen fillets at Costco or Aldi run about $5 to $8 per pound with no real quality difference. In fact, if it's flash-frozen at the time it's caught, that cheaper fish could even be much fresher than the filet sitting on ice at your supermarket, which Eating Well reports is often itself thawed after freezing, so the cold's effects on quality are the same. Eating
Nuts and Seeds
You may think you’re scoring a deal when you buy prepackaged versions of your favorite nuts and seeds. But you may save some serious grocery money looking other places. According to Lokenauth, nuts and seeds are about 20%-40% cheaper from bulk bins at stores like Whole Foods or Sprouts compared to those prepackaged options.
Greek Yogurt
Many money experts agree that you shouldn’t pay full price for Greek yogurt. Beyond looking at weekly sales, you may give store-brand versions a try. Lokenauth said those brands are the same in nutrition and cost 30%-40% less than some top name brands.
Olive Oil
Here’s another kitchen staple that you should avoid buying at full price.
“Olive oil at Trader Joe's or Costco is $8 to $12 for the same quality you'd pay $15 or more for at a regular grocery store,” Lokenauth said.
Bottom Line
“Overall, be a comparison shopper between stores,” said Annie Cole, EdD, money coach and founder of Money Essentials for Women. “Shop what’s on sale, stock up when something is available at a discount and shop with a list and not an empty stomach.”
“For fresh items that spoil fast like berries and herbs, go frozen or shop discount grocers like Aldi and Lidl,” Lokenauth said. “For pantry staples like nuts, oils and grains, Costco wins on price per unit. For dairy, store-brand options are the same product in a different package. These shifts alone can save a family $100 to $200 per month on groceries without cutting a single healthy item from the cart.”
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This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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