Over the past three years, we have changed our eating habits dramatically.  I’ve been dealing with various medical issues for a while now and made the decision to eat real, whole foods once I realized how much better I felt after giving up processed foods.  Unfortunately, eating a more whole foods diet can be more expensive, but it still can be done on a budget.

With that said, we have increased our food budget over the past few years (being healthier overall should end up saving us money in the long run).  While we’ve had to cut back on other areas to free up more money for food, I don’t regret it.  Simplifying and eliminating “stuff” has allowed us to make this change, and I shop the “three A’s” to get the most bang for my buck!

The “Three A’s” that Help Me Stay on Budget

1)  Aldi

You know I love Aldi, right?!!  It’s been a great way to add a few more organic and gluten-free items into our diet and still keep the cost manageable.  I purchase lots of fruits and veggies, some fish, gluten-free pasta (on occasion), and some of their special buys.  Because we live about 45 miles away, I don’t usually get there frequently, but I’m sure to stock up when we’re there!

2)  Azure Standard

If you aren’t familiar with it, Azure Standard offers tons (and I mean tons) of natural and organic products for less.  Now, sometimes I can still find cheaper prices through Amazon or with certain sales at my local grocery store, but I find buying in bulk through them helps keep prices lower.  Also, purchasing items that are directly from Azure Standard farms can also save me money.  I like to buy sprouted rice, dry beans, canned tomatoes and sauces, raw cheese, butter, gluten-free noodles, and much more through them.

3)  Amazon

I pay attention to sales on natural and organic food items on Amazon to grab some great deals and help keep the budget low.  I often buy our dairy-free chocolate chips, coconut oil, almond butter, almonds, and more at Amazon.

I also utilize farms in our area, friends with chickens 🙂 , Bountiful Baskets when I’m not able to get to Aldi, and preparing most of our food from scratch.  Those also help us to stay within our monthly food budget.

On a side note, if you’re are interested in eliminating processed foods from your diet, I share some ideas on how to transition to real food here.