6 Steps to Healthy Food on a Budget

TODAY I REVEAL MY 6 STEPS TO HEALTHY FOOD ON A BUDGET. IMPOSSIBLE? THINK AGAIN! HERE I SHARE MY BEST TIPS FOR STAYING ON BUDGET AND EATING WELL.

I’m pretty sure I am not the only one trying to juggle feeding my household healthy food and staying within budget. It is hard in today’s economy to stretch those grocery dollars to maximum benefit.

I think most people would be amazed at the small size of our food budget. It is much smaller than many people with fewer family members that I have talked with over the years.

As a one income farming family I have had to be very creative in making our food budget work while raising 9 kids. That is why I am so excited to share with you my best tips on how I feed my large family healthy food on a budget.

6 steps to healthy food on a budget bulk dry goods einkorn wheat

My 7 steps to healthy food on a budget

1. Always buy in bulk

The cost is almost always lower when you buy in bulk quantities. My farmer likes to joke that if we could buy food by the ton like we do animal feed we would be doing it! And he is right!

I have at times been a part of bulk buys with friends for certain products we wanted, direct from a producer for this very reason.

2. Grow the most expensive foods or buy them in bulk direct from a farm

The most expensive foods any family purchases are usually meats, dairy and fresh produce. These, being some of the healthiest foods, should make up the bulk of the grocery needs each month. That can get costly.

We decided years ago to raise all the most expensive groceries that we could. For us that means we grow most of our own meat and eggs. We also have worked hard to grow as much of the high dollar produce items as possible.

Even before we had our u-pick fruit farm we had rows and rows of berries in our garden because those were more costly items to purchase. We grew fewer vegetables like carrots, lettuce, beans and potatoes because they were less expensive to buy. We freeze our berries in Ziploc bags for use all year.

You can grow a large amount of berries in a relatively small space in your backyard. And most places allow chickens for eggs as well. But, if you don’t have the room to grown your own meat, dairy, eggs and fruits then seek out local farmers that provide them in bulk (1/2 a beef, u-pick fruit, eggs by the 5 dozen, etc) for far less than grocery store prices.

Next on our grow-our-own list is a dairy cow so we can have our own fresh milk for making our own dairy products. In the mean time we purchase local grass fed milk and make our own yogurts to save money there.

6 steps to healthy food on a budget bulk nuts and seasonings from Azure Standard

3. Stay out of the grocery store as much as possible

It has been proven that the more frequently you shop the more you spend over all. We are about 45 minutes to a large warehouse store that we shop at about every 4 weeks for our fresh produce and a few other items. We also pick up a delivery of whole foods once a month.

In between those trips we occasionally have to shop at a local grocery for fresh produce and we pick up raw milk about twice a month. We try to make those trips seldom because impulse buying temptations are everywhere (gardening and quilt magazines are a weakness of mine) and those are the things that blow the budget.

4. Use processed foods very sparingly

Processed foods are often pretty low cost up front compared to healthy staples. But, the lack of nutritional value and staying power in our bodies also make them a poor choice. Both for health and financial reasons.

When you cook and eat whole foods they actually fill you up and stay with you longer. They satisfy the nutritional needs our bodies desire and we are less hungry. Whereas, when you eat processed foods you are hungry again very soon. That is because your body is starved nutritionally and is asking you to feed it again.

5. Buy from reputable bulk foods companies or coops

There are many great whole food and bulk food companies who pride themselves on their healthy quality products. These companies tend to support the small farmer and business man rather than corporate farms and food producers.

Usually, this means better quality and higher nutrition because the small farmer can concentrate on those. Corporate farms may get an ‘organic’ label but are less likely to take measures to ensure the food is nutrient dense.

Bulk food companies then contract with these farmers and producers to help you get their products.

We buy from Azure Standard out of Dufur, Oregon. We trust their products and have purchased from them for over 10 years. You can read more about them below.

6. Share abundantly

At our home we have a strong faith in God. And we have found that when we trust in God there is always more than enough.

So, we resolved long ago that we were not going to ever scrimp with our guests or when sharing with those in need. Rather, we showed abundance, even when the pantry didn’t look abundant. We trusted in our BIG God and he has NEVER left us without.

Here at our farm we have had some very lean years where there was very little income to purchase groceries but we have never gone without eating. We praise God for this!

6 steps to healthy food on a budget bulk nuts and seeds

My favorite bulk food company – Azure Standard

I have been ordering bulk groceries from Azure Standard in Dufur, OR for so many years I really can’t recall when we started buying from them. I think it was at least 10 years ago…probably longer.

When we began ordering from them they were just delivering here in the pacific northwest. Now they have expanded deliveries into most of the lower 48 states and even do barge deliveries to Hawaii, Alaska and other islands. Below are some of the reasons I buy from them.

Azure’s mission and story – This was one of the biggest selling points to me. A story of healthy inputs equals healthy food. They are committed to providing top quality products at the best prices possible. On their website it says they are commited to “a free and independent food supply chain where you get the food you really want, delivered directly from the producer to you. No middleman, no grocery story overhead, no long lines to shop or pay. Azure is a choice that puts you in charge of your familyâ€™s health. Itâ€™s convenient, healthy and sustainable.”
Family Business – It is a family business. I love to support that.
Products come in a choice of sizes – We love that we have the choice to get items in bulk quantities or small packages. Unlike the grocery store where there is usually only small packages and a lot of waste. Being a large family we need large quantities and there is usually very little waste in packaging.
Large Selection – At Azure I have scores of nutrient dense all natural and organic choices that are not available at the local grocery and discount stores. They also have many non-foods products like cleaning supplies, baby items, and storage containers. And, I can find the items I need for our family all in one place, and all delivered together. That is huge!
Good Value – They have very reasonable prices and are almost always cheaper than a grocery store or Amazon. And larger quantity usually means more savings. And because I am getting a more nutrient dense product I am getting more for my money. For instance. We buy bulk granola from them in 25 pound boxes for those mornings when we don’t have time for cooking. It costs us $2.37/lb when purchased this way. They also sell it in 5lb bags for $2.57/lb. Either way it is a huge cost savings over granola bought at the local grocery. I could not find one that was below $4.50/lb and most had very questionable ingredients that did not suit our health needs. Of course, I could and do purchase bulk ingredients from them to make my own granola at times, but this is one convenience food I have found to be a good value.

6 steps to healthy food on a budget bulk food from Azure Standard einkorn wheat and more

Ordering from Azure is Simple!

Create an account There is no cost to signing up for an account.
Search their online map and join a drop near you.
Place your order online. You can add to your order up until about 2 days before delivery.
Anticipate arrival!
Meet the truck on the designated day and time. Your order will be individually boxed with your name on it and ready for your to take home
Take home amazing food!
Can you be a member without joining a drop? Yes! They offer home delivery through economy parcel shipping like UPS and USPS.