Healthy Grocery List on a Budget

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I love using a well-planned out a grocery list to do my shopping!

This helps me stay within budget and save money while sticking to a healthy eating plan.

The trick is to use what you already have at home and know which foods go on sale for the week and plan healthy cheap meals using those ingredients.

That way you’ll be eating healthy on a budget at most times. You’ll also avoid wasting food and any unnecessary spending based on impulse buys.

Table of Contents

Healthy grocery list on a budget

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If you’re looking for a healthy grocery list on a budget then you’re in the right place.

You can follow this guide and list of foods to help you stay healthy and save money on foods that give you a well-balanced diet.

The key is to eat everything in moderation and diversify as many different healthy foods from different groups as much possible to get the optimal amount of nutrients that are beneficial for your health.

🥑 PRO TIP ON HOW TO SAVE $50 to $100 ON YOUR HEALTHY GROCERIES: I understand that eating healthy can be expensive. So, when you’re shopping for a list of groceries and fresh ingredients, I highly recommend using this free Swagbucks app to save money on your every day purchases by earning FREE $50 to $100 Walmart gift cards right now for your groceries (or PayPal cash). All I do is get cashback from shopping online or answering a few quick and simple surveys to earn points. I’ve already earned and redeemed over $1,000 since becoming a Swagbucks user, which I use to get FREE groceries for my simple home cooked meals!

You’ll even get a FREE $5 bonus just for signing up here today. Once you’ve signed up, be sure to verify your e-mail from Swagbucks to get your $5 welcome bonus! Those are easy savings on your groceries and meals without much effort!

Another bonus is they offer “sales” and “discounts” on your earned points so you can redeem MORE gift cards WITH LESS points.

At this moment, they are offering 22% off, which means I can redeem $50 with only 3,900 SB points instead of the full 5,000 SB points (100 SB points = $1). Here is a quick screenshot of my own Swagbucks [SB] points where I can redeem a free $50 Walmart gift card right now for my healthy groceries this week:

I just wanted to share my little hack with you on how you can save big on fresh groceries on a weekly and monthly basis using my favorite free app.

Anyway, here’s a list of the healthiest foods along with other ways to save money on fresh groceries every week!

Buying vegetables and fruits on a budget

The debate over choosing fresh versus frozen vegetables is a common one, especially for those of us with hectic lifestyles that leave little time for prepping and chopping fresh produce. Moreover, the risk of fresh vegetables spoiling before we get the chance to use them adds to the dilemma.

Budget constraints further complicate our choices.

Ideally, we’d all consume freshly picked, organic fruits and vegetables at the peak of their ripeness. However, reality often falls short of this ideal.

For those watching their budgets or pressed for time, purchasing whole fruits and vegetables on sale, along with stocking up on a reasonable quantity of frozen options, is a practical approach.

Contrary to some beliefs, frozen fruits and veggies can be nutritious and often healthier than their canned counterparts. In some cases, frozen produce may even offer more nutritional value than the so-called “fresh” produce available in grocery stores. Research comparing the nutritional benefits of fresh and frozen produce finds no consistent differences.

With this in mind, striving for a balance between fresh and frozen produce can be a wise strategy to ensure you’re getting a variety of nutrients in your diet.

Grocery list for conventional vegetables and fruits

Whether you choose whole or frozen, here is a list of conventionally-grown vegetables you can consider adding to your grocery list.

Conventional vegetables

Most of these healthy vegetables are very affordable and budget-friendly! Don’t forget to include some of them when you’re preparing your healthy grocery list on a budget.

Artichoke
Asparagus
Broccoli
Cabbages
Cauliflower
Eggplants
Frozen sweet peas
Garlic
Ginger
Mushroom
Onion
Pumpkin
Romaine lettuce
Spaghetti Squash
Squash
Sweet corn
Sweet potato

Conventional fruits

When you can’t afford to buy organic foods, the trick is to choose any fruit that contains a thick layer of skin that protects it from chemicals and pesticides like avocados, bananas, and oranges. Some fruits already have reduced levels of pesticides because they generally don’t attract many insects or other living organisms.

Here is a list of fruits that you don’t necessarily have to buy organic.

Avocado
Bananas
Blueberries
Cantaloupes
Grapefruits
Honeydew
Kiwis
Lemon
Limes
Mango
Oranges
Papayas
Pineapples
Watermelon

Grocery list for organic vegetables and fruits

If your budget allows it, it may be best to buy organic according to EWG’s dirty list.

But if you are concerned and can’t afford organic, the good thing is you can still consume many conventionally grown fruits and vegetables (the list above) without having to pay a premium.

Sometimes you may be lucky to catch a few organic foods on sale for the week which work out to be the same price as the conventional.

Whether you choose organic or not is a personal choice depending on your financial situation and how you feel about organic food.

Every time someone says money is an issue, I always recommend finding creative ways to make extra money which could help improve your lifestyle and afford things that are important to you.

Organic vegetables

Here is a list of vegetables that are best to buy organic if you have the budget.

Arugula
Bell Peppers
Carrots
Celery
Cucumbers
Kale
Potatoes (red, purple, yellow, golden, etc.)
Spinach
Tomatoes

Tomatoes have been removed from EWG’s dirty list and they say conventionally grown tomatoes are much cleaner today but it’s still best to buy organic if you have the budget.

Generally speaking, FDA says conventionally-grown foods contain chemicals and pesticides at levels that are not harmful to humans. Organic foods also contain some pesticides but generally lower than conventional, so it’s safer to reduce whatever levels we can by consuming organic foods for long-term health benefits.

Organic fruits

Here is a list of fruits that are best to buy organic.

Apples
Cherries
Grapes
Peaches
Pears
Nectarines
Strawberries

SAVING MONEY TIP: To save money and time, consider buying frozen fruits and vegetables and going for fresh ones when they are on sale.

You could also keep a lookout for frozen organic fruits that go on sale. They may be cheaper than or the same price as the conventional frozen fruits that aren’t on sale.

Frozen fruits and veggies may give you more nutrients compared to the “fresh” ones at your local grocery store because the fresh fruit or vegetable loses almost half the nutrients in the first 24 to 48 hours of picking. Whereas frozen veggies retain a lot of its nutrients when they are picked and frozen during their prime time.

Meat and seafood

Boneless, skinless chicken
Lean ground beef
Lean ground turkey
Sardines
Shrimp
Tuna
Wild salmon

Protein and dairy

Eggs
Cheese (e.g. mozzarella, goat, or feta)
Cottage cheese
Milk or non-dairy milk (e.g. unsweetened almond or soy milk)
Plain Greek yogurt
Plain yogurt
Tofu

Grains, wheat, and bread

These are essential staples that help fuel energy for the day.

Most of them are very affordable and budget-friendly. Healthier options include whole grains and wheat but it’s okay to mix them up with white if you enjoy eating them.

Remember, everything in moderation.

Many people are concerned about the high carbs in foods like bread, pasta, and rice so those who are health-conscious tend to limit these.

Some, on the other hand, are concerned because of the high level of arsenic, a harmful natural chemical, found in rice. This finding may be hard to swallow for those who consume rice on a daily basis.

Having that said, it’s best to mix up your food variety and diversify as much as possible to stay healthy and limit your exposure to the same chemical at high levels.

Here is a variety of rice, grain, and wheat you can mix up into your diet when you’re planning for your healthy grocery list:

Barley
Brown Rice (feel free to mix with white or red rice)
Couscous
Oats
Quinoa
Whole Grain Bread
Whole Wheat Flour
Whole Wheat Pasta
Whole Wheat Tortillas

Beans and legumes

Not only are beans and legumes one of the cheapest and most affordable staple foods, but they have so many health benefits that many people overlook.

Most of these are full of protein which is essential for your muscles and folate to make healthy red blood cells. Beans are also known for reducing cholesterol, decreasing blood sugar levels and hence managing diabetes.

These are super budget-friendly and storable so I recommend stocking a few when they go on sale.

Beans, in general, are so easy to add to almost any rice, quinoa or pasta dish. If you love Mexican-inspired foods, go ahead and load them in your burrito bowl!

Having that said, don’t hesitate to include these beans and legumes to your grocery shopping list regardless of your budget.

Black beans
Blackeye beans
Chickpeas
Edamame beans
Kidney beans
Lentils
Peanuts
Pinto beans
Sweet peas

PRO TIP: For most beans, buying the dried version to boil at home is probably healthier than canned beans. I prefer dried beans and cooking them myself to minimize any chemicals or preservatives that are present in canned foods.

In terms of costs, dried beans are generally healthier and more budget-friendly. The only catch is it requires a longer time to prepare and it isn’t as convenient as canned beans. You could also consider buying frozen peas which IMO are better than canned.

Nuts

Nuts contain healthy fats, fiber, and protein.

Nuts are a healthy snack option and you may think they are expensive foods, but the good thing is it doesn’t require a lot per day to reap the health benefits.

According to Health Line, eating only a handful of nuts each day could reduce the risk of heart disease.

That’s about one ounce, or 20 to 22 whole almonds or hazelnuts. This number is equivalent to 15 to 17 cashews.

This turns out to be as low as $0.32 per day depending on which nuts you buy and the volume. You could even reduce that to $0.16 a day by eating half the recommended amount (10 to 12) each day. Assuming you don’t have any nut allergies, including them into your diet is better than none at all.

If you want to be healthy, I highly recommend going for the non-salted version. You may even want to choose organic if your budget allows it.

You can purchase a bag of these yummy almonds which could last you more than a month when you follow the recommendation of consuming 15 to 20 nuts per day.

If you’re making a healthy list of groceries, here are nuts that you may want to add to your healthy eating plan.

Almonds
Cashews
Hazelnuts
Pistachios
Walnuts

BUDGET TIP FOR BUYING NUTS: If you’re tight on money and really can’t afford it but still want to eat healthy on a budget, consider adding non-salted peanuts into your diet.

Peanuts, technically a bean or legume and not a nut, have very similar health benefits to healthy nuts. They are high in fats but contain mostly the healthy fats and are a good source of protein. Like other nuts, peanuts are filling and are good for you when consumed in moderation.

Seeds

Similar to nuts, seeds also provide great health benefits such as fiber, healthy monounsaturated fats, and other essential vitamins that are good for your skin. This is perfect for you if you’re into affordable beauty essentials.

One of my favorite seeds is pumpkin seeds and I love to sprinkle them into my salads and parfaits. This can be an inexpensive and budget-friendly way to add a nutritional ingredient to your dish because it doesn’t require a lot of product. With less than a handful, you’re still intaking a good amount of essential nutrients which is beneficial for your health!

As always, it’s best to go with the non-salted versions if you’re looking for a healthy option.

Here is a list of delicious seeds you could consider adding into your healthy list of groceries.

Chia seeds
Hemp seeds
Flaxseeds
Pumpkin seeds
Sunflower seeds

BUDGET TIP FOR BUYING SEEDS: Similar to buying nuts, if you’re really tight on cash but eating healthy on a budget is important to you, consider buying non-salted roasted sunflower seeds.

Sunflower seeds don’t get the shining spotlight like chia seeds do (thanks to marketing) and are often overlooked because they are commonly available and often viewed as “junk” or “low income” foods. However, they are packed with lots of good nutrients like vitamin E, manganese and selenium.

The only downside is many sunflower seeds are widely sold in packages that contain high levels of sodium. Look for unsalted sunflower seeds and remember what I always say… like any other foods, eating in moderation is key to a well-balanced diet.

Spices and oil

Cayenne pepper
Chilli powder
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Salt and pepper
Sesame seeds
Extra virgin oil
Red wine vinegar

Herbs

Basil leaves
Chives
Cilantro or Coriander
Parsley
Rosemary
Thyme leaves

Wrap up: healthy grocery list on a budget

It is definitely possible to eat healthy on a budget – you just need to take a look at your online flyers to see what deals are on the for the week.

I also recommend using coupons and money-saving apps whenever possible. There are some foods that are already dirt cheap even without a sale but are packed with essential nutrients such as beans, legumes, frozen fruits, and frozen veggies.

Again, the key is knowing which healthy foods you enjoy eating and diversifying as much as possible to gain all the essential vitamins and nutrients. You’re also diversifying in a way that doesn’t expose you to the same chemicals or pesticides that are impossible to get rid of 100%.

I hope this healthy grocery list on a budget helps you save money and achieve a well-balanced diet!