How to Save Money on Any Diet or Healthy Living Plan

In this article: 

• Healthy eating can seem more expensive, but there are ways to reduce costs to fit your budget. 
• Tips like choosing store brand foods and preparing your own ingredients as much as possible can help save on costs. 
• Examples of money-saving tips on specific diets include choosing more plant-based foods on a low-carb diet and opting for less processed foods on a gluten-free diet. 
• For meal delivery and meal replacement diets, try making a few of your own meals, and look for discounts on branded products. 
• Lark is available 24/7 to help you lose weight and reach your health goals in ways that work for your lifestyle. 

‍

Eating healthy can be pricey, especially when you follow a diet with strict food choices like low-carb or gluten-free. Costs can rise even more when you choose commercial plans with meal delivery or meal replacement products. 

‍

No matter what plan you’re on, you can make smart choices to stay on track while spending less money. Here are some ways to stretch your food budget while eating smart. Be sure to also check out Lark’s 10 essential tips for healthy eating on a budget. 

1. Choose less expensive proteins

Plant-based proteins are typically less expensive per gram of protein than animal proteins. Choose beans, lentils, and soy-based protein sources like edamame and tofu more often to save money. 

‍

If you’re looking for animal-source proteins, choose less expensive sources like skinless chicken, canned tuna, egg whites, and ground turkey. Protein from beef or pork tends to be more expensive and less heart-healthy.

2. Look for plant-based fats

Plant-based proteins tend to be less expensive than meat, but plant-based fats also tend to be less expensive than animal-based fats. Vegetable oil and margarine, for example, are low in saturated fat and cost less than half what butter costs. They’re also higher in healthy unsaturated fats and lower in saturated fats than animal-source fats like butter and lard.

3. Buy fewer pre-prepped delivery meals

Meal delivery services can help you lose weight by providing portion-controlled meals and snacks with customized calorie and macronutrient counts. They can also save time on food prep and planning. However, they can be pricey on a per-calorie basis.

‍

You can save money by reducing the number of meals or snacks you order from these services. Try swapping some of their simpler or replaceable options with meals or snacks you make yourself. For example, instead of ordering 2 $4 chicken sandwiches, you could purchase 8 whole-grain buns and 8 chicken tenderloins and make yourself 8 sandwiches for the same price. Or, try an ounce of nuts or a hard-boiled egg and a tangerine instead of a pricey protein bar. 

4. Choose naturally diet-friendly foods

Foods specifically designed to fit a specific diet are usually more expensive than foods that are naturally diet-friendly. Here are some examples. 

Look for foods that naturally meet your dietary preferences before reaching for processed foods or foods engineered to meet special preferences or needs. You’ll save money and may end up with more naturally nutritious foods.

5. Look for discounts

Meal delivery and other commercial diet programs frequently have discounts. There may be sales and coupons to take advantage of when you sign up. You may be able to get meal bundles for less than the price of paying a la carte (per meal). Other common discounts may come from free meals when you sign up for a coaching, meal planning, or dietary support service. 

‍

If you’re not sure, contact the company before signing up or when you’re ready to renew or order more. Ask for discounts or special offers. 

6. Spend 30 minutes a week

Spending 30 minutes per week on food prep can save money, whether you’re using a meal delivery service, meal replacements and branded products, or any other foods. Any time you prep your own food instead of buying processed or pre-prepped ingredients, you can save money. Cut your own vegetables, cook proteins and freeze them in single-serving portions, and make batches of casseroles or stews to have later. 

‍

To keep it from being overwhelming at first, give yourself a 30-minute window to prep ahead for the week. See how it goes, and if you want, gradually increase the amount of time you spend or the number of meals or snacks you make yourself. 

How Lark Can Help

Healthy eating is easier when you can stick to your budget. Lark can help you choose healthier foods as you make small changes to improve heart health, lose weight, and manage or prevent chronic conditions. Your Lark coach is available 24/7 for encouragement, nutrition and physical activity coaching, and habit tracking. Lark can help you make healthy choices and establish habits that fit into your lifestyle so you can lose weight and keep it off with or without GLP-1 medications. 

‍

Click here to see if you may be eligible to join Lark today!

‍