Healthy Grocery Shopping on a College Budget

A few scrolls into my Pinterest feed and I have probably seen three "Clean Eating Complete Grocery List" or something of the like. I read through the items and think to myself how much that must cost. I will be completely honest that I am ballin' on a budget. College students love to talk about how poor we are. Many people will say that it is too expensive to eat healthy. I say that it is too expensive to our health to not eat healthy. Here are some tips on how to grocery shop on a budget for one:

1. Figure Out Your Budget

How much money do you have to spend on groceries each week? I usually spend about $30 on a normal week and a little extra if I am stocking up on a staple. 

2. Plan it Out

The worst thing you can do is go to the grocery store unprepared. You need to know what you are going to purchase and how much it will cost you before you even leave home. An app I find extremely useful is Flipp. It aggregates all of the local ads into one platform and allows you to clip items to a list. Buy what is on sale. Two for $5 blueberries? Perfect, you have found your fruit of the week. Grocery stores often have rotating specials on all categories. If ground beef, canned beans, and bell peppers are on sale that week, plan to cook chili or stuffed peppers. Let the grocery store decide what you will be cooking by what is on sale. 

While making your lists, either digitally or on paper, write the price next to the item. The prices can be found in weekly ads or on the grocery store's website. This step only takes an extra five minutes, but will help you tremendously by staying on budget and buying only what is on the list. 

3. Have a Snack Before You Go

Everyone has heard the common advice of "don't go grocery shopping hungry." It is so valuable. If I go shopping while hungry, I often make hasty decisions or add unnecessary items to my basket. 

4. Learn From Your Experience

Go over budget this time? That is okay! Making mistakes is how we learn. Don't let your mistakes allow you to fall back into bad habits. Make a resolution to do better next time. 

Extra Tips

Bring your own bags. Most places give you a discount, it is much better for the environment, and they are easier to carry than plastic. 

Go during the quiet times. Google has a that when you search a business it will tell you it's busy times for every day of the week. Find a time in your schedule that is not the main rush for a less stressful experience. 

Pay with cash if you can. Paying with cash gives you a much more real feeling of spending money rather than just swiping a card. Bring only the amount you intend to spend for an extra challenge of staying on budget. 

Do you have any tips for grocery shopping on a budget? 

Where do you do your shopping?
Ever feel like the lady from Sausage Party while shopping? 

xx

Katelynn 

Staying Healthy in College

College is great. You get to make new friends, explore new ideas, and try new lifestyles. However, it is not a cakewalk. Going to class, studying, meeting for group projects, working part time, and participating in social activities can leave you exhausted and feeling like the gym is for crazy people and microwavable food is the only meal you can fit into your schedule. 

I am here to tell you that that doesn't have to be the case. In fact, eating healthy and exercise will make the other aspects of college easier. It only takes a little planning. 

Start a Workout Routine

If you were like me in high school, you were able to rely on sports to keep you in shape. It is hard to get yourself to workout when it is no longer a "fun" activity. But that is exactly the misconception that deters people from the gym. Find a form of exercise that you do find fun. We are really blessed at NDSU to have a wellness center that offers so many different activities, from paddle board yoga to zumba to intramural sports, there is something to spark an interest in everyone. It may take a little time to find what you truly enjoy and that activity can change over time, but just find something to keep yourself active on a regular basis. You will soon feel a boost in your energy and mood.

Stop Eating like Crap

Eat like crap, feel like crap. Food is fuel and if you fuel yourself poorly the consequences will be noticeable. Our body needs proper nutrition to perform it's best. I will go more in depth in future posts on how to prepare healthy food, grocery shopping on a budget, and yummy recipes. For a quick summary; try to fill half your plate with veggies, eat whole grains, and include lean protein in every meal. Eat when you are hungry, but learn how to distinguish hunger from thirst which brings me to my next healthy habit. 

Drink Water

I get it, water is plain and boring. But it is so important for keeping a healthy body. About 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. Dehydration can lead to an abundance of health problems such as constipation and lack of concentration. Find a water bottle you enjoy drinking from and bring it with you everywhere. If plain water is too bland for you add some nuun, flavor drops, or fruit. 

Form Good Sleep Habits

Sleep is crucial. It is often seen as a luxury to get 8-10 hours a night, especially in college. It is seen as bragging rights whoever can get more done on the least amount of sleep. With a little schedule prioritization, you will no longer find yourself needing to stay up until 2am to finish an assignment. There is no shame in going to bed at 10pm, or even earlier, at all. To keep your mind and body working in tip top shape you need to get proficient rest. 

These are broad categories to staying healthy, but when sustained and implemented correctly you will feel so much better in all aspects of life. 

What is your best hack to staying healthy?
Which aspect of health do you think is the most important?

xx
Katelynn 

Back in Black

Hey everyone (my two readers). It's been awhile. 

In fact, it has been about a year and a half since I have posted anything. My last post was about me taking a break from running and somehow also a 18 month hiatus from blogging too.

Thankfully I have ran in in the past year and a half. In 2016 I ran two half marathons, Fargo & Yellowstone, a 10k in Detroit Lakes, and a handful of 5k's throughout the summer. 

In regards to me other than running during my blogging hiatus; I am still studying accounting at NDSU, I did a small amount of traveling, and did quite a bit of growing as a person in 2016. 

I am excited to get back into blogging. I want to provide people the necessary tools to create their best, healthy, fitness filled life. Being a college student myself, I will provide some tips and tricks on how to stay healthy in this stage of life, but most tips are applicable to all ages!

If you enjoy my blog and feel it adds value to your life, please share it with others! 

If you think my blog sucks and is a waste of internet space, that's fine. Just please don't be a troll. 

Please reach out to me if you'd like to read about a specific topic, I'd be more than happy to answer your questions!

xx

Katelynn