With this financial crisis surrounding the pandemic if you choose to adopt a more budget friendly lifestyle, these five tips for clean eating on a budget will get you started. The tips are good for a single person as well as a growing family.

1. DO A FOOD INVENTORY

Before leaving the house, open up the cabinets and look in the freezer.

What do you need? What has expired? What is something you bought thinking you’d try to make and never actually did make. Are the boxes of chicken masala or Moroccan couscous you bought nostalgic of your summer trip left unopened? Throw it out now. Chances are they have already expired. A food inventory allows you to do a tally of what you need, but mostly what you already have in your pantry.

2.MAKE A LIST AND STICK TO IT

This one is hard. We are all guilty of it. First, never leave the house hungry. Costco has their lovely ladies make us try all kinds of goodies. The goal of stores is to make food appealing and sell. Try your best to not fall for that. You’ve made a list according to this week’s recipe. Now stick to it. Consider downloading a cute, color printed grocery list. It definitely helps with keeping track of what is needed and avoid making second trips to the grocery store.

3.STOCK UP ON PRODUCE

Who doesn’t love a sale? Pay attention to when your store has one. Are the sales on Wednesdays or Sundays? Read the price tags closely. They often write the period of time the product will be on sale for. This is your opportunity to stock up on the items you use often, or know the period of time the sale is for to come back for later. Produce spoils easily and food waste is not an option.

4.DON’T SHY AWAY FROM THE FROZEN FOOD OR CAN AISLE

It seemed over the years that eating whole foods always meant eating fresh, ready to spoil in two days food. This year we say no to that. Canned goods are not only to be donated to the local food bank. They are for your household too. Read labels. Ensure that products are BPA-free, organic and watch for the sodium, sugar and additives. A fresh cart of organic blueberries will spoil in three days, but an organic frozen packet can last over a month. There you have it, smoothies for days.

5.SHOP AROUND

We are creature of habits. This means we get stuck in our own ways when it comes to food. “If the Preggo sauce is not here today kids, we are not buying it”.  No, if the Preggo sauce is not here today, try something else. Also consider shopping at different stores to get the best deals. It may seem daunting, but it’s worth it. Trader Joe’s has a deal today, and then by all means let’s have it. The almond milk from that same brand you like is $2.19 at Wal-Mart and $4.99 at Sprouts; well on the way from soccer practice we are picking up three cartons. No you’re not wasting gas, you’re being a smart shopper.

So what do you think guys? Can you be a budget friendly shopper?