Finding The Happy Medium

I have yet another great question from a reader and wanted to share. 

Thanks for your blog, Amy.  I read it often and I also enjoy your other blog (about your personal life).  I just wanted to ask for some ideas on finding cheaper healthy foods.  I seem to find great deals on the kind of stuff that isn't really healthy for my family.  How do you find deals on fresh vegetables and fruits?  I also like to eat organic, but find it really expensive.  I want to save money, but I also don't want to feed my kids junk all the time.  Help, please!

Julie T.


Thanks for the question, Julie!  I've actually been meaning to do a post on healthier living and this gives me the great kick to get it together.  I do have a pantry full of junk, but I ration it out to my kiddos.  I got tons of free Krusteaz cookie mix from Kroger a few weeks ago and still have tons of Betty Crocker deluxe muffin mix.  I mainly save those for big family get togethers like for holidays and such.  I realized really soon after I started couponing that the stuff I was getting for free or cheap wasn't really healthy.  But, hey, if it's free I'll keep stocking up.  I also donate to the community when my stockpile gets overloaded.

I've slowly implemented healthier options to my family that still saves money.  We only do turkey bacon now and I stock up each time I come across any turkey bacon coupons.  Butterball and Oscar Mayer have them often.  I tend to use a lot of ground turkey as well which tends to be slightly more expensive than hamburger meat, but I use the $.75/1 printable from HERE to make it comparable.  (Ask friends and family to print them out for you because you only get two prints per computer.)

  I don't let my kiddos have sodas.  I make them Kool-Aid which is cheaper and I use less sugar than the Kool-Aid pack calls for.  I have also learned that frozen vegetables are healthier than canned vegetables so I stock up on them when they go on sale.  Bird's Eye frozen veggies are on sale for $.88 at Kroger this week (thru 12/25.)  Use the $.50/1 printable from HERE to make these FREE if your store doubles.  There is also a $1/3 coupon in the 11/14 SS insert.  These are really easy to stock up on if you have the freezer space. 

During the summer I do hit the local farmer's markets.  Each summer I'm like a little squirrel canning tomatoes and freezing corn and peas.  Our family loves White Acre Peas so we stock up on them when we can.  You can go HERE to learn how to freeze and can fruits and veggies.  Plus, if you get to know your local farmers they tend to call you when something is ready and you can get it really fresh. ;o)  I also highly recommend growing your own vegetables and herbs if you have the space.  I know exactly what I put on my veggies as far as fertilizer is concerned and it comes straight from my homemade compost.

As far as organic foods goes - I would love to eat more organic, but like you said they do tend to be more pricey.  Publix does carry a great selection and often offer coupons in their Greenwise magazine.  And I literally JUST came across the website Organic Deals and find it chock full of great deals on Organic goodies.  You should check it out!

Eating healthy is not always easy and definitely not always cheap, but I hope this helps a little.  There's no use in saving money if you're threatening your health.  It will just cost you more money in the long run with doctor's bills and such.  My mother (who is as skinny as a rail) had a heart attack back in 2007.  We were all floored by it.  My father also had to have a triple by-pass back in 2005.  What we eat now will affect us in the future.  And when my kiddos are fussing because I won't let them have the donuts I know that many years down the road they will thank me for it.