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If you've ever expressed interest in saving money on food, you've probably heard the misconception that cheap food only comes in the form of junk food (think McDonald's, pizza, or super greasy poutine). Or that eating healthy on a budget means you'll never really feel 'full.' But it doesn't have to be that way!

While eating healthily on a budget does require some more maneuvering, it can be done. It will, however, take some extra research on your part to ensure you're able to get the best deals and prices. That's why we've compiled some of our best tips and tricks for finding nutritious food at a great deal.

1. Purchase Seasonal Fruits & Vegetables: Buying seasonal fruits and vegetables ensures that you'll get the lowest prices. A bonus: they'll taste the best too!
2. Opt for Frozen Fruits & Vegetables: Alternatively, if you're worried about fresh produce going bad in your fridge, frozen products are your best bet. Frozen fruits and veggies are often picked at prime ripeness, stay fresh longer, and are delicious when used in smoothies!
3. Buy Discounted Products: Products that are close to their best before dates or bruised/oddly shaped are sold at discounted rates. If you 're looking for a quick meal for that week, these are great ways to get some nutritional meals at a lower price.
4. Shop When You're Full: Make sure you're not going grocery shopping on an empty stomach because that can lead to some pretty impulse-driven purchases (especially on the unhealthier side).
5. Take Up Price Matching & Coupon-ing: Price matching and shopping at discount grocery stores ensures you get the best deal possible. Additionally, check out weekly flyers to find great sales and coupons.
6. Look Out for Student Discounts: Look for places that off er student discounts or consider signing up for an SPC Card. On Tuesdays, Bob's Independent Grocer in Uptown Waterloo offers 10% back in PC Optimum points that you can use towards groceries or other goods!
7. Try Meal Prepping & Planning: As a student, you may not have the time to build amazing healthy meals from scratch every time you're hungry. A good tip is to try and cook once and eat that meal multiple times. Check out this meal-prep recipe on No-Sugar Blueberry Overnight Oats to get started on healthy, nutritious breakfasts.
8. Find Generic Brands and Alternatives: When you're walking down the grocery aisle for pantry goods, you may notice that generic brands are a bit cheaper than the name brands. Some products actually use the same company to produce the product contents so the extra money you are paying for the name brand is really for packaging. Consider switching to generic brands and watch the savings add up!
9. Consider Curbside Pickup: If you find yourself not having enough time to shop, or find that you make impulsive purchases, you might want to consider pre-ordering your groceries for pickup. Pre-ordering what you need will help you stick to the list you made, reduce impulsive purchases, and can be convenient when you are short on time. Though some places have fees associated with this service, the fees could equate to less than what you would have spent on impulse purchases or eating out because there's no groceries at home.

Getting a university education is an important investment in your future, but it can be daunting when you consider the total cost of everything - including the cost of your groceries. That’s why we’re here to help. If you are looking for some support with budgeting to prepare before you arrive, connect with Cherish from our Tuiton and Finance team by emailing moneymanagement@wlu.ca.

Help Me Budget for University

Additional Resources

• Did you know ³Ô¹ÏÍø has a who can assist with shopping lists, meal plans, and quick, easy recipes?
• Check out the Government of Canada for more in-depth information.
• Check out to find cheap and delicious recipes
• Want some guidance on how to manage your finances? Book a 30-minute appointment with our or sign up for our .