Eating with more protein can get expensive quickly if you shop on impulse. Most of the savings happen before you leave the house.
Before you go
- Check what you already have in the fridge, freezer and pantry.
- Plan meals for the week, not a pile of random items. Pick recipes that share ingredients, so nothing goes to waste.
- Write the list and set a budget.
- Don't shop hungry.
At the store
- Start with the basics on your list before you browse.
- Compare unit prices, not package prices.
- Skip the impulse snacks, and skip anything you only want because it's on sale.
- Choose simple, versatile ingredients you'll actually use in more than one meal.
Foods that make life easier
Rice, beans, eggs, pasta, oats, yogurt, cheese, tomato sauce, bread, basic spices, and frozen vegetables, fruit and proteins. With these on hand, there's almost always a meal in the house.
What makes you spend more
- Ordering takeout too often
- Shopping without a list
- Food that goes bad before you use it
- Expensive "fit" products
- Too many quick trips to the store
The protein angle: eggs, Greek yogurt, beans and frozen chicken are the budget-friendly proteins that show up in most of the recipes here.