Let’s face it eating healthy is more expensive. For years I actually fought eating healthier because of that expense. I chose foods based on price rather than nutrition. However, I finally woke up. For years I battled with weight, depression, constant colds and at one time flirting with border-line diabetes. Yes, eating healthy might be expensive but it finally dawned on me, it’s not as expensive as managing poor health.

Still, even with my new found attitude, I had to get realistic about what I could afford to spend each week.

I’ve learned that eating healthy doesn’t have to break the bank, though it takes some thought and planning.

Here are five things I do to keep healthy and keep my grocery bill in check:

1. Meatless Mondays. (And sometimes Wednesdays and Fridays…) Meat is expensive, especially if you’re like me and trying to buy organic/hormone/antibiotic-free beef, chicken and eggs. So we’ve given up some of our meat and it’s been way less painful then I would have thought. We eat delicious veggie topped pastas, grilled portobello burgers, vegetarian chili, brown rice and bean stuffed bell peppers, and much more. Cutting down the meat has helped our health and our pocketbook!

2. Making the Most. And when we do eat meat we are much more “strategic” about it. Instead of making everyone their own chicken breast, for example, I may make two for the whole family, cook until it shreds with two forks and then add a jar of salsa and some black beans for a delicious “taco” salad topper or filling for burritos. The extra beans and salsa add fiber, nutrition and bulk so meat goes further.

3. Beans. Beans are my best friend. They are high in fiber, low in fat and pack a tremendous nutritional punch. From chickpeas to kidney beans they are a staple in my pantry. You can buy a bag of them dry if you are really on a budget and each serving comes to pennies. Even if you splurge for them canned, the price is still pretty low and they are great to build meals around.

4. Grow it. If you are lucky enough to have a little space, consider growing your own. From herbs to vegetables not only will you save a bit of cash at the grocery store but you’ll know that your food is pesticide free, sustainable and organic - not to mention, absolutely delicious. If you’re not a gardner or it’s not realistic for you to grow stuff then just be sure to buy as seasonally as possible and when possible, check out farmer stands, they often have much better prices than the big chain stores.

5. Other pantry staples. Like beans, there are certain pantry go-to’s that help build your meals for less. Oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, organic potatoes, olives, olive oil, salsa, onions and garlic.

When it comes to juicing we all know that the produce bill can add up. My go-to juice is carrot, apple and a little ginger (sometimes a little lemon). This is an “affordable” juice that provide a ton of good-for-you vitamins and nutrients. I add kale, cilantro, parsley and other greens to this base to supercharge it further.

By the way, we’ve also cut down our grocery bill by ultimately making other “sacrifices” as well. It took a little getting used to but I don’t buy the amount of treats we once did. By “treats” I mean diet sodas, granola bars for quick snacking, low fat ice-cream, pre-package processed frozen meals and other snack foods. This decision wasn’t popular in my home at first but it afforded us the ability to buy organics, more produce and better quality of whole foods overall. Our health has improved and we all feel better without it.

What are some ways you manage your food bill while striving for good health?

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