Save money on Healthy Food
One big couponing myth is that all coupons are for junk food! It makes me so sad to hear people say this because they are missing out on some great savings. You can absolutely save money on healthy food!
Yes, there are a lot of coupons for junk food, but I also find coupons for milk, bread, cheese, yogurt, meat, eggs, and other staples. You just have to know where to look!
Newspaper – Yes, there are coupons for nutritious foods in the newspaper! Right alongside the chips and frozen meals coupons you will find coupons for pantry staples, organic foods, and even produce!
Printables – The same principles I talk about in this post on how to find printable coupons apply to healthy and organic food coupons too. You can also read this list of organic printable coupon sites.
Email the Manufacturer – Can’t find coupons for your favorite products? Email the manufacturer a short note asking if they have coupons available or if they have a coupon mailing list that you could be put on. They will more than likely send you some coupons!
Sales and Clearance – Healthy, organic, and natural products go on sale just like anything else. Also watch for clearance when the manufacturer decides to change the packaging. This is when it helps to clip and file your coupons so you can have them with you when you stumble upon a clearance sale.
In-Season Produce – Make sure to only buy the produce that is in season. This will not only save you money, but encourage you to eater a wider range of foods. You could also start your own garden and have fresh produce right at your fingertips for a fraction of the cost!
Buy in Bulk – If there is a food with a long shelf-life or that you eat a lot of, consider purchasing it in bulk. You can buy in bulk at warehouse clubs or even Amazon which sells quite a selection of organic and natural food and household items.
Save on Other Items – You can also save money on other items to give you a little more wiggle room in your food budget. Saving money on paper towels, toilet tissue, toothpaste, and band-aids can really add up and allow you to spend that money on healthier food options instead. I also frequently use overage on items I’m buying (for instance a $5 coupon on a $4 item will give me $1 in free money to spend!) to save on items I need like produce and dairy.
Do you want to eat healthier but get overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? Start by picking few items that you want to start eating healthier versions of or items that you want to cut out of your diet.
Dirty Dozen – Some people stick to the Dirty Dozen list which is the 12 most important foods to buy organic. You could use that list as a starting point for determining which items you want to buy organic.
Avoid Processed Food – Organic or not, avoiding processed food and making your own is better for you and will save you money. Often I find that the homemade version takes no more time than the processed package version. Plus, knowing exactly what you are eating is priceless.
Make Your Own – Convenience food like cut fruit, individual servings of crackers, and juice boxes is going to cost you. Buy whole fruits and vegetables and cut them up yourself. Buy a large box of crackers and divide them into baggies or small containers. Making your own convenience foods only take a few extra minutes and will save you a bundle!
I am on my own journey to eating healthier and I hope this will encourage you to save money and eat better! I’d love to hear if anyone has any other tips to share!
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I'm health and fitness nut so this speaks to me big time. I typically see coupons for processed foods. Thank you!
Great tips!
Great tips. Thanks!
Love this!
Love these tips!
I am so greatful for this post. I have saved some money in the past at our stores which are BJs and Target. However, I do live in NYC and it is hard to come across a great deal no matter how hard you plan and how many coupons you collect. A lot of our stores do not allow for you to double up on couponing and the most you can probably use on a specific item is one manufacture coupon and store coupon. I remember going to a Target store for some children medicine and when I did the calculation with my coupons which were all different I should have gotten it for free. Instead they told me that I reached a limit with my coupons and could not go any further. This in itself was very frustrating and disappointing. Another helpful tip I learned esp when it came to NY prices if the price says one thing and it scans for another to make sure you take a pic of the price and fight it because the cashier's and sometimes the managers are not that friendly to adjust the price for you nor do they believe you and they want you to pay the full price. The same goes with the store coupons. Read the fine print and if you know its wrong esp if its contradicting with the wording fight it and speak to the highest person possible.
I very much appreciate the post. I was wondering since I am new to couponing. Have you ever seen coupons for specialty items like gluten free foods? I have some food allergies and since moving to another state our already too high grocery bill has doubled. I am trying to start couponing to help with our budget, and it would help greatly if I was able to find coupons for items like gluten free pasta and bread. The gluten free bread is abywhere from $5-$8 for a small loaf. Any suggestions???
Yes, there are coupons for those items. I just started a new regular feature where I post a coupon roundup for organic and natural coupons. This also includes gluten-free coupons. You can find the posts under this category: https://www.couponing101.com/category/organicnatural
I just purchased a Tupperware snack bar maker and tried a recipe for homemade granola bars!! They were just as good, if not better, than store bought and cost only a fraction of retail price. The ingredient list is fairly small (depending on your preferences) and It doesn't take long to make them..20 min or half an hour!! There are also recipes for homemade fruit roll ups and lots of other snacks. My personal favorite is Pecan Pie muffins made in a mini muffin pan! They are delicious and only take 30 min from start to finish!! It can really save you a bundle making your own foods!!!
I have found that store coupons, especially the in-ad coupons for places like Albertson's, are often for produce and meat. This week alone, I had a coupon for 99c blueberries and $2/$10 in beef!
I don't buy organic unless I'm getting it just as cheap as my regular target prices. But I have gotten some really good deals from the Kroger markdown racks using the coupons from the Mambo Sprouts newsletter. Also, signing up for the mailing lists (be sure to give them your real address and email even if its a separate email) for every grocery store around here. I get free coupons from Kroger (along with several $ off ones) every couple months and one of the coupons I've recieved more than once has been for a free head of lettuce. I've also gotten one for $1 off their Private Selection carrots which were on sale for $.99 so I got them free. Sprouts (from the same family as Henry's) sends me a coupon almost every months. 9 out of 10 times it is for a completely free item (like a 24oz container of greek yogurt, a carton of soymilk, a bottle of tea, etc) either through email or the mail (usually email to save paper).