EATING WELL WHILE SPENDING LESS
Tips for Family Caregivers Managing An Aging Loved One's Nutritional & Financial Health
Caring for your aging loved one is a heavy task. Something as simple as grocery shopping shouldn't add to that weight. Learn easy ways to decrease monthly grocery expenses while increasing healthy eating habits at home.
Now more than ever, costs seem to be on the rise for everything from bread and milk, to gas and electricity. If you and your loved ones are searching for ways to pinch a few pennies without disrupting your day to day life, check out a few simple ideas to help lower your cost of living without compromising on nutritious and tasty meals.
PICKING A-PEELING BARGAINS
Summer is just around the corner, and there’s no doubt that fruit will be a costly addition to your grocery list. But don’t go without. If you’re planning to use fruit in smoothies or baked goods, steer that cart to the freezer aisle.
The beauty of buying fruit in bulk out of the freezer? It won’t go bad in a week, AND some fruits like blueberries hold their nutritional value longer when frozen.
An added benefit: there is NO added sugar, concentrates, or other unwanted and unhealthy additives to frozen fruit + they’re a heart-healthy option.
If you want to go fresh, consider apples (~$0.50/cup), watermelon (~ $0.25/cup) or bananas (~$0.60/pound) as great, low-cost alternatives to other higher priced fruit options.
SPILLING THE BEANS ON BULK
From lentil chili to black bean burgers and falafel made from chickpeas, legumes come in several varieties that create delicious and low cost, healthy meals. The trick here? Buy your beans in bulk too.
When purchasing dry bulk there is an extra step to hydrate prior to cooking. This may steer your cart away from these large bags of legumes…but the short time it takes to hydrate is worth not only the money you’ll save (vs. canned goods) but also the health benefits that come along with the meals you’ll prepare. In fact, in 2025, the average cost of dried beans was approximately 1/2 – 1/3 the cost per serving compared to canned. That’s saving nearly $0.30 cents per serving!
Don’t know where to find bulk dried goods? Check out your local grocery or health food store. You can also search online for local small business farm shops like Mader Farms & Palouse Brand in Washington State. From here, you can order direct and get great recipes that’ll ease you into cooking with locally grown and freshly harvested legumes.
CATCH THE DEAL OF THE DAY
Not only are you getting more bang for your buck when purchasing a water-based pre-packaged tuna or chicken option, you’re also spending much less for a pre-portioned serving with a longer shelf life than items from the meat case of your local grocery store.
Being ready-to-eat, these little packets of tasty goodness are a great snack on the go, an easy no-cook meal option and offer a healthier, cleaner nutritional profile with fewer calories than an oil-packed alternative. And, you’re getting a high protein packed meal with fewer carbs, so you’ll be full longer while eating less, which brings us back to our cost saving initiatives.
DECONSTRUCTING MEALS
While purchasing a pre-made meal is tempting with its benefit of less effort and saving time, it wreaks havoc on your food bill. Instead, take a look at the cost of preparing these items on your own – you may be surprised at just how much money you can save per serving. Many pre-made meals are more expensive than an entire week of home cooked goodness when broken out separately.
Breakfast:
Skip pre-packaged items like bottled smoothies or 4 oz. yogurts from the cooler aisle. Instead purchase a large container of yogurt that can be divided into daily servings for pre-prepped smoothies and overnight oats at home. Add your favorite extras like apples, berries and oats into pre-portioned servings that you can store in resealable jars in the refrigerator.
Fun Fact: Overnight oats are a great option for a healthy and affordable breakfast that you can make in bulk and enjoy all week long.
Dinner:
Crock Pot or One-Pot soups are some of the cheapest meals you don’t have to actually cook. One batch tends to cost less than 3-5 cans off the shelf, and comes with added health benefits including, low sodium, no preservatives, and customization that will make both your heart and your stomach very happy!
Check out both overnight oats and crock pot soup options from BudgetBytes. They offer a plethora of recipes – including soups that can save you more than $8 per serving.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
If you or your loved one need additional options to help stay on budget while keeping up with nutritional needs, check out Snap Benefits or see below to contact your local Meals on Wheels programs for options on food resources and other necessities in your area.
Washington & Utah Resources
