Food can be expensive, but it doesn’t need to be. Living in Victoria is expensive enough as it is, let’s not blow the budget on food! You can save money and eat healthy – we promise. Here are 5 reasons your food bill is too high:

1. Eating out too much – We know the social scene is fun, but maybe eat before you go. It’s easy to make delicious meals at home for a fraction of the cost. Plus, no tips, no tax, and no question about the ingredients since you’re the chef!

2. Those damn convenient delivery apps – “It’s not delivery, it’s DiGiorno!” Whether it’s Panago, Uber Eats, or Door Dash, ordering food for delivery is expensive. The food prices are higher, there’s typically a delivery fee, a service fee, taxes, and a tip (if you’re not an ass). We know it’s convenient, but the food in your fridge can be more convenient, once we figure out that whole grocery shopping thing!

3. Failure to plan – You probably don’t have a lot of time, especially when you’re working, so planning meals in advance is essential for success and savings. If you plan your meals for the week, you won’t waste time overthinking about what to cook and you probably won’t order out or walk aimlessly down the aisles at Whole Foods (we’ve all been there). Hit the grocery store one to two times/week to ensure you have all the right ingredients. Plus, fewer trips to grab stuff saves money on gas (especially now). Still don’t think you have time to go to the grocery store? Then don’t! Places like Save On Foods or Thrifty Foods now have grocery delivery services that can save you time and help you eat healthy!

4. Not making enough – If you cook in bulk, you’ll have extra bites for later. This means you won’t need to cook again later, which saves you time – and time is money! Cooking extra also makes your food convenient, which prevents you from ordering food or going out to eat.

5. Choosing foods out of season – When you choose produce that is out of season it has to come from far away. This means the food is usually picked before its ripe and goes through a lot of processing to make it ripe by the time its on the shelf after lengthy transportation. This typically results in higher costs and less nutritional content. Foods that are in season are not only cheaper but are probably closer to home and have more nutrient content.

6. Choosing processed and animal-based foods – Without a doubt, avoiding processed foods or animal-based products will be cheaper on the wallet. Not only that, the nutrient density of plant-based products is significantly higher than processed foods or plant-based options. For example, just 100 grams of sesame seeds contains 967 mg of calcium and 14 mg of iron. In contrast, 100 grams of dairy milk contains only 125 mg of calcium, and 100 grams of beef only 2.6 mg of iron.

Looking for help to stay on track with your diet and nutrition? Connect with one of our amazing Coaches for 1-on-1 nutrition coaching and support!