Whether you are a student, retired or in full activity, it is, thankfully, always possible to eat a varied and balanced diet with a small budget. Many of the products that make up the cornerstone of our diet, like meat and fish, are expensive, so here are  a few tips to apply on a daily basis to keep your shopping budget down.

First of all, to keep a good balance around eating well, drink plenty of water throughout the day. Sodas and other sugary drinks give pleasure in the short term with their initial ‘boost’ but then make you feel tired for the rest of the day. If you don’t like still water, opt for flavoured waters with no added sugar! They have the same taste qualities, without the drawbacks of sodas.

Then, choose a physical activity to practice at least several times a week, even every day if possible, like cycling for example. Walk as much as possible, use a pedometer if it helps you to walk more. In that way, you will be able to monitor your progress from week to week.

How to eat well?

Regarding meals, be curious! Ideally, a day’s menu should include all food families: starchy foods, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, good fats, meat, fish or eggs. To help this process, select items with short expiration dates so you will eat them immediately and fresh, especially in the cases of fish or meat.

At Maia Baudelaire, we offer menus for the week, with regular dietary monitoring, allowing you to eat a varied and balanced diet to meet your physiological needs while giving you a sense of well-being and happiness. Our dietitian nutritionists will be more than happy to steer you towards the best foods at a low cost. Don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more about the Equilibre program !

Another practical tip: do not go shopping on an empty stomach, this is the best way to fall for products that are not suitable. So, think about making a list and eating before, so that your shopping is efficient and affordable. Once at the supermarket, you can take a look at product prices: compare their price per kilo which is ultimately far more relevant than the wholesale price.

As for vegetables, choose them in season: they will be better and cheaper! Go shopping in your local markets near closing time as this is the time when exhibitors often drop their prices on fruits and vegetables, and sometimes dairy products.

Look out for legumes, which are very nutritional, inexpensive and have very high satiating capacities. Use them as an accompaniment with meat or fish, or simply replace your meat with this source of protein and eat them with starchy foods. This will prevent you from possible shortcomings.

Finally, as a general rule, cook at home: prepared meals are more expensive and often have a questionable composition.

How to throw less away

Reducing waste goes hand in hand with weekly savings. So, freeze what you do not think you will consume immediately, and do not rely 100% on the expiration dates: for example, yogurts and cheeses can often be kept longer.

Also, beware of overly attractive promotions in stores, which lead to buying more than you need and then throwing a lot if it away.

Finally, do not hesitate to contact us: we can offer you personalised advice tailored to your needs!