Many college students don’t believe they can eat healthy on a tight budget. However, eating healthy can be easier than you think. Here are a few tips to stretch your dollars around the UW-Madison campus.
Plan ahead before grocery shopping. Make a shopping list before heading to the store and stick to it. Keep a running list at home of what you need as you run out of items. This will make it easier to remember what you need to purchase at the store. Avoid shopping when you are hungry to help prevent impulse purchases of unhealthy food.
Shop in season for fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh produce costs less when in season.
Buy frozen fruits and vegetables. This is a less expensive way of adding variety to your diet without paying more for out of season produce. Further, by taking out just what you need and storing the rest in the freezer, you also help prevent spoilage, and therefore, loss of money.
Buy the store brand when you can. These items have the same nutritional value as brand items, but cost less. For example, you can find the Roundy’s brand at Copps and the Great Value brand at Wal-Mart.
Check for supermarket specials in the newspaper or online before heading out on your shopping trip. Fresh Madison Market and Capitol Centre Foods both list specials on their websites.
Shop at ALDI. If you have a car or can find the time to catch a bus to ALDI, you can get great deals on groceries. ALDI is able to offer very low prices for groceries by eliminating overhead costs, such as operating with less employees. They have a variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as healthier items labeled Fit&Active. Just remember a quarter for a shopping cart (which you get back after returning your cart).
Drink Water. It’s a healthy and inexpensive way to get your fluids. Just invest in a water bottle and fill it up in your dorm, apartment or one of the many water fountains on campus.
Limit dining out in restaurants. If you are on the go, you can save money and often eat healthier by packing a lunch or stopping at one of the university’s dining services. You can buy a grilled chicken sandwich with a side of vegetables or a piece of fruit for under $4 at Pop’s Club or Liz Waters, which is often less expensive than purchasing a similar meal at another restaurant.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Wisconsin chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.