Healthy and sustainable living is a trend on the rise. More and more Americans today are adopting a healthier lifestyle to improve wellness, help the environment, and just overall feel better. And a healthy lifestyle starts with healthy eating. In the past, Americans were all about the quick and easy meal. After all, a cheeseburger and soda from McDonalds was a staple in the average diet. Many people today are substituting the grease with healthy and clean eating today. It's definitely one trend that is here to stay.

We all know the benefits of eating healthy and nutritious foods, but we also know it can be tough on the wallet. Fresh and organic foods can be double the price of processed foods, making it very difficult to fit it into our budgets. But if you are committed to healthier living, there are definitely tips and tricks to help you eat well for less:

Buy What's On Sale

This might be too obvious but it has to be said: buy what's on sale. Sure, you might prefer chicken but go for the turkey if your supermarket is having a super deal on turkey one week. Most markets rotate what fresh produce and meat they have on sale weekly so you'll still be able to enjoy a variety of different foods. You also might discover new foods that you'll end up really liking.

Stock Up Now and Freeze for Later

You might want to stock up now if you come across a great deal on a particular food item. You can prepare it and freeze portions for later on. It actually makes your life a lot simpler because you only have to cook once and have meals handy that you just need to defrost. Otherwise, you can freeze most meats and many vegetables for months, until you're ready to use them.

Shop the Local Farmers Market

Local farmers markets can be a hit or a miss. Some can be very expensive, but you might be able to find a better deal at a farmers market than a regular supermarket depending on where you live. Plus, the produce is also fresher. You just have to shop around and know what to buy where. If you go to a farmers market at the end of the weekend when they're ready to pack up for the week, you might be able to find discounted items and deals.

Check Out Ethnic Supermarkets & Shops

You'll probably be able to find ethnic supermarkets or shops if you live in or near a city. These markets are usually considerably cheaper than a large chain supermarket (and fresher as well). Venture into one of these markets and see what they have next time you're up for an adventure. You might also come across different delicious foods you've never cooked with before.

Plan Your Meals Weekly

One of the biggest things you can do to save money on food is meal plan weekly. Sit down once a week and plan out your meals for the week ahead. Use your supermarket circular as guidance. Then go out and buy what you need. When you have everything planned, it's much easier to save money by getting only what you need. Nothing will go to waste.

Eating well can definitely cost a lot – sometimes even more than eating out. But with a little bit of extra work, you can still enjoy healthy meals at home without having to spend a lot. You'll definitely feel and see the benefits.

Written by Connie Mei for MoneyNing and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.

At JarJackets we LOVE to dream up creative new recipes for plan/pack-ahead meals that are both delicious and budget friendly. Check out the following recipe for (veg) Tex-Mex Meal Prep bowls. 

And don't forget to check out all the other great recipes we have featured on our MasonMade blog!

Tex-Mex Meal Prep Jars

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Category

Lunches

Servings

1

Prep Time

10

Cook Time

15

These veg TexMex mason jar meals can be prepped up to a week in advance for healthy, delicious lunches on the go. And at less than $1/jar to prepare, they also won't break the bank.

Ingredients

Cilantro Lime Quinoa Mixture

• 1 cup cooked quinoa

• 2 tbsp minced cilantro

• juice of 1/2 a lime

• 1/4 tsp sea salt

To Assemble Each Jar

• 1/4 cup salad dressing (we like ranch)

• 1/2 cup black beans

• 1/2 cup pico de gallo

• 1/3 cup cilantro lime quinoa

• 1/3 cup shredded lettuce

Directions

Cilantro Lime Quinoa Mixture

1. Mix together quinoa, cilantro, lime, and sea salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
   

To Assemble Each Jar

1. Pour in salad dressing.

2. Add black beans.

3. Add pico de gallo.

4. Add cilantro lime quinoa mixture.

5. Top with lettuce.

Recipe Video

Recipe Note

Note that the quinoa mixture will make enough for 2-3 jars. Double it if you're prepping for the whole week.

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