Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
A simple way we try and keep our family healthy while making our food last as long as possible (read: less money spent on food!) is pairing foods with a great salad!
When we had our pizza night the other day, we paired those delicious slices of carb filled glory with this tart and savory salad!
We splurged a little on candied walnuts, and found the feta in bulk on sale at a discount store that sells excess products that restaurants didn’t end up needing.
Eating healthier doesn’t always have to break the bank. Here are our tips for eating salads on a tight budget!
Eat produce that is in season
When you eat produce that is in season, you’ll have fresher, better tasting salads that cost you less! If you garden this can get even cheaper! Not to mention, nothing tastes better than a warm tomato that was on the vine less than 5 minutes ago!
Not sure what is in season? Check out a list here.
Make it yourself
Sure, grabbing those bag salads as you walk through the produce section is easy and convenient. You tear open the bag a few minutes before you’re ready to eat, throw everything in a bowl (or not – sometimes we get lazy) and boom! You’re done.
However, those salads cost way more than the sum of their parts! You are trading convenience for cost. You also usually don’t know everything that goes in the dressings. If you like to keep your costs down and know what is going in your body, you’ll need to take a little extra time and make your own salads.
Buy some ingredients in bulk
Obviously, unless you have a very big family, you can’t buy some produce in bulk and eat it all before it goes bad. You can, however, buy some of your favorite salad mix ins and keep them on hand for when things go on sale.
If you know you love tortilla strips or chia seeds, buy them in bulk! Then you’ll always have them ready to go when your produce is in season or on sale!
Watch for deals and utilize them
I mentioned before that we bought feta cheese on sale. It was a HUGE 15 lb restaurant supply tub. Feta is typically a cheese we feel is out of the budget, but this tub was less than $0.60 a pound! We took it home, crumbled it, divided it into 1 lb bags, and froze them. Now, if we know we’re going to need feta we thaw a bag overnight, and use it up before it goes bad. We then can be on the lookout when we hit the store for things that pair well with feta.
If you watch for amazing deals and take advantage, you’ll cut your costs in the future.
Anyone can consistently eat salad when they follow the above tips. Next time you’re planning your menu, keep them in mind!
Now without further ado, our yummy Spinach Apple Salad!
Ingredients
- 4 TBS red wine vinegar
- 4 TBS olive oil
- 1/2 tsp white sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp powdered mustard
- 1 bunch of spinach, rinsed, dried, stems removed
- 1/2 lb glazed walnuts
- 2 Granny smith apples
- 1 cup packed feta cheese
Instructions
- In a small jar or bowl with a lid, combine vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt, and mustard. Shake or mix thoroughly, making sure dressing is fully combined. Set aside.
- Roughly chop the spinach into bite size pieces. Place in a large bowl. Chop apples into 1″ pieces and add to bowl. Add in walnuts and crumbled feta cheese. Toss salad.
- Re-shake dressing again if separated. Pour over salad and toss again to combine.
What is your favorite salad mix in? Do you buy it in bulk? Share your favorite salad making tips and tricks in the comments below!