What's In My Pantry: Eating Healthy on a Budget

"Healthy food is expensive" is a common excuse and sadly a very valid one. Yes, I would love to try some seared salmon for dinner, but I really don't want to drop gas money on one meal. You know what I'm saying?

When I first started college, I knew that I couldn't spend $100 at the grocery store like my mom does. She's feeding several people and I'm just in the market for a snack in between class or so. So naturally, I grabbed the cheapest and most non-nutritious food (I don't think that's a word) I could find. Goldfish, sugary granola bars (not the healthy kind), spaghetti-o's, Oreo's... you're probably looking at the list and thinking "Ok, I could have told you right then that none of that's healthy."

I know, I'm sorry; I wanted to save money!

I'm not sure when it hit me. Maybe it was when I noticed I was inching close towards that Freshman 15 that I decided to start healthy grocery shopping. But can anything beat these 80-cent spaghetti-o cans? The answer is yes.

Here's a look into my pantry and fridge today: a whole year wiser and 25 pounds lighter.

Pantry:
brown rice
carb smart tortillas
100 calorie pack almonds
almond butter
veggie pasta
organic pasta sauce
boom chicka puff
skinny girl popcorn
canned beans
canned green beans

Fridge:
strawberries
spinach
turkey sausage
plain nonfat greek yogurt
hummus
cherry tomatoes
organic balsamic salad dressing
unsweetened vanilla almond milk


When you grocery shop, whether it be for your dorm, apartment, or house, make sure you try to get in as many fresh foods as possible. However, being on a budget might mean you need some cheap, canned or packaged items. That's ok! Just check your labels for no extra added sugar and artificial ingredients. As always, try to get lots of veggies in, too!

I've gotten a lot of requests for healthy snack ideas + healthy eating and I'd love to do more detailed posts on a balanced diet, working out, and/or counting macronutrients. Let me know if there's anything specific you'd like to see by answering in the suggestion box:
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How are we liking this new posting schedule? Have a great rest of the week!

X,

Cristina