Produce should take up a ton of room in your shopping cart, but not on your receipt! If this is the case, there are a couple of things you can do to reduce how much you spend on fresh fruits and vegetables.
Produce should take up a ton of room in your shopping cart, but not on your receipt! If this is the case, there are a couple of things you can do to reduce how much you spend on fresh fruits and vegetables.
Buy cheaper produce
There are a number of fruits and vegetables that tend to cost less than others. Their price varies by season, but some are usually cheaper than the rest.
- Watermelon
- Bananas
- Oranges
- Honeydew melons
- Cauliflower
- Carrots
- Onions
- Celery
- Green peppers (cheaper than yellow, orange, or red peppers)
Buy produce that’s in season
Typically, foods that are in season are cheaper than ones that aren’t, and they change according to the month. If you’re not too selective about the vegetables you eat, try buying some of these in the months that they’re in season.
- January-February: broccoli, brussels sprouts, grapefruit, leeks, kale, oranges
- March-April: artichokes, lettuce, mushrooms, parsnips, radishes
- May-June: apricots, artichokes, cherries, mangoes, strawberries, swiss chard, zucchini
- July-August: cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, peaches, okra, peppers, tomatoes
- September-October: acorn squash, apples, beets, butternut squash, grapes
- November-December: broccoli, brussels sprouts, oranges, parsnips, pears, sweet potatoes
Buy frozen or canned produce
For the most part, frozen and canned produce is just as nutritious as fresh produce. You’ll want to make sure that there isn’t any added sodium in canned produce, because that’s where things can get unhealthy, but for the most part, frozen or canned produce are great alternatives to fresh produce. They last much longer, and having both can make it easier to quickly add fruits or vegetables to a meal.
Grow your own!
Not everyone will have the space, time, or sunshine to grow their own produce. But if you do have the option to tend a small garden or grow some plants on a porch, you can end up saving money while also eating fresher foods. Carrots, radishes, green beans, tomatoes, and zucchini are some of the easier foods to grow by yourself.
These days, the challenge of healthy eating isn’t so much about getting the food as it is about being able to afford healthier options. If you find yourself wondering how to get more produce for less money, try some of the options above; you’ll probably find at least one or two ways that fit both your lifestyle and your budget.
Sources
- “Ch. 17: Nutrition During Pregnancy.” ACOG. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Apr 2015. Web.
- Edward R Blonz. “Supermarket buying guide.” BerkeleyWellness. University of California Berkeley, Remedy Health Media LLC., Aug 2013. Web.
