Affordable ways to eat healthy

[tkf]

I'm finding it really hard to eat healthy here, I was hoping somebody could offer any insights to eat healthy and save money.

I have been adding frozen spinach to my sauces etc

[interleukin]

And you live where?

[Haatchi]

in all colder countries fresh fruit and veg are very expensive in spring as they have to be grown indoors which is not cheap or imported in from faraway countries. A lot of times frozen veg work out a lot cheaper and just as healthy. In summer and autumn prices go down as they are being harvested locally.

if you are near a big supermarket watch out for the 'reduced' stickers on fresh meat, fish, milk , yogurt, weekends usually have lots, if you have a freezer buy several and freeze for later use.

[007]

frozen vegs are usually cheaper and as healthy as other fresh vegs sold in the markets, at least I believe so. Keep eyes on 20%, 30%, ale, alenus, tarjous, supertarjous, and many other marketing campaigns when prices are reduced for mass selling.

[Liam1]

If you are happy to walk betweeen all of the shops it feels to me that there is at least one item of fruit and some veg or salad ingredients on special offer e.g. I think I bought apples (K), Oranges (S) and salad / Brocholli (Lidl) all for €1-1.50 /kg in Espoo last week.

Also in summer / Autumn Finland is very cheap! Not only is it cheaper in the stores but you can pick as many mushrooms / berries as you need to freeze which will last you well into the winter! Just pick the edible ones!

[Rosamunda]

Frozen veg are a good idea - Lidl has bags of frozen mixed vegetables which are really good value.
Eggs - a good source of protein and very versatile.
Fruit juice : 100% fruit (no added sugar) cheaper than fresh fruit. eg Rainbow brands in Prisma or go to Lidl. Look for added vitamins.
Pulses (beans) are also cheap to buy and healthy either in tins or dry (just need soaking) eg chick peas, lentils etc
Potatoes: there are a million ways to cook potatoes.
Tomatoes, tinned - cheap and full of good stuff like flavonoids
If you are a meat eater: ham hocks are cheap and easy to prepare. Just boil gently until the meat falls off the bone - eat with pea soup or with cooked lentils. If you can't find them in the supermarket try Hakaniemi market.
Dried fruit (Rainbow has a good selection) eg dried apricots, raisins, dates. Good source of energy and calcium
Porridge: there's a huge choice of cereals in Finland and they are all pretty healthy. Add frozen berries or jam if you wish.

[riku2]

the OP should post what they are eating now and then advice can be given. If you move to finland and live off ready meals and handmade cakes then it's going to cost you a fortune compared to other european countries. This is neither affordable or healthy. But there are plenty of ways to eat good food on a budget. For example in the autumn you can go into the countryside and pick berries - which will be free and many people do it. Tour the neighbourhood and people will have put spare apples from their yard in boxes next to the street. Again more free food.

[Rip]

Fresh fish tends to be rather expensive (apart from Norwegian salmon) but "muikku" is often available for low price. Smaller ones one can fry as such, otherwise one plug the and guts off first. High nutritional value, typically low amounts of contaminants and green lit by WWF.

[jahasjahas]

Fruit juice : 100% fruit (no added sugar) cheaper than fresh fruit. eg Rainbow brands in Prisma or go to Lidl. Look for added vitamins.

It's still quite sugary, even without added sugar. Fresh fruit is always healthier, since it has fiber and all the sugar doesn't hit you at once.

Soy is much cheaper than meat. (Find one of these bags, for example.) Just prepare it properly and use enough spices, or it'll end up mushy and bland.

[Rosamunda]

Fruit juice : 100% fruit (no added sugar) cheaper than fresh fruit. eg Rainbow brands in Prisma or go to Lidl. Look for added vitamins.

It's still quite sugary, even without added sugar. Fresh fruit is always healthier, since it has fiber and all the sugar doesn't hit you at once.

True. But the issue here was the price: fruit juice just works out cheaper than fresh fruit. There isn't much fibre in oranges anyway, so the difference is not huge. Lots of fibre in dried fruit though (and frozen blueberries).

[interleukin]

Maitorahka is also great (kvarg in Swedish, don´t know what the name in English would be). It´s like supermassive yogurt, lots of protein and very low fat. Great for smoothies, baking, eating with fruit, etc. Really cheap too.

[tkf]

Fruit juice : 100% fruit (no added sugar) cheaper than fresh fruit. eg Rainbow brands in Prisma or go to Lidl. Look for added vitamins.

It's still quite sugary, even without added sugar. Fresh fruit is always healthier, since it has fiber and all the sugar doesn't hit you at once.

Soy is much cheaper than meat. (Find one of these bags, for example.) Just prepare it properly and use enough spices, or it'll end up mushy and bland.

Yes, no added sugar is a good play on words i.e the sugar is already present the juice company just dont add anymore.

[tkf]

So last nights dinner was

Cheap chicken thighs - I washed the nasty sauce off and removed the skin. With

Sweet potato, red onion and some seasoning all baked in the oven then served with cucumber.

Total cost was 5,20€ i'm pretty happy with that although the seasoning cost is not include that cost 3€ when I bought it a few weeks ago but it will last a long time and its really tasty "Chilli & lime

Ps

That served two people and I have leftovers for lunch today

[Rosamunda]

It is cheaper to buy chicken thighs with no sauce. Although the €/kilo price is higher, once you wash off all the gunk the meat is cheaper per kilo. The trouble with ready-made sauces and seasonings is that they all contain way too much salt (so not healthy). And they are expensive.

[Rosamunda]

Good grief, those veggies were really cheap. Not sure I can find sweet peppers, tomatoes etc at those prices in Helsinki.