The Holidays have officially arrived and I’ve 5 tips to eating healthy on a budget to get you through the season feeling good both physically and financially!

1. Shop the season

One of the easiest and most delicious ways to eat healthy on a budget this season, is to buy what’s in season. Not only are produce items like squash, pomegranate, chestnuts, and etc. lower in price at this time, but also they are so tasty and you’ll have fun trying out a variety of foods every season. Foods taste best when they are in season so it’s a win win all around in my opinion.

2. Plan out your meals

Staying organized and pre-planning your meals with a well thought out grocery list is an essential part to not over-buying this holiday season, helping you to stay healthy on a budget. Take some time to plan out your week of meals and write a list of all the ingredients so you’ll have everything on hand. Browse your favourite food blogs, Pinterest, etc. to get inspiration for recipes.

3. Coupons and price comparisons

Now that you have your list all prepped and ready, make sure you have some good apps to back you up at the cash register during checkout. There are some great apps out there like Flipp where you can sort through different ads and even save your most frequently bought items so they are organized and ready at checkout without holding up the line.

4. Track your spending

Now that you got your list and coupons ready you want to be able to track all of your holiday spending in one place to keep you organized at the end of the month. I’ve been tracking my holiday grocery shopping in one place by using my new Money Back Credit Card by Tangerine. The great thing about this card is that it actually gives you a 2% cash back on any 2 categories you choose at the end of each month. I chose groceries and entertainment but there are other ones like transportation and furniture. Best part is that new users like myself get 4% cash back for the first 3 months! So at the end of each month you can track what you bought and then use the cash back to either put back onto your card or to use for future purchases.

5. Opt for a Potluck dinner party

If you’re the one who’s organizing 1 or more holiday dinner parties this month try being creative and maybe suggesting a potluck style dinner instead. This will take some of the pressure and expenses off your hand and allow everyone to participate and bring a dish they love to share with friends and family.

The holidays can get a bit stressful and pricey but by applying some money saving tips and tricks you’ll be able to enjoy the season without dreading the credit card statement at the end of the month. Besides the holidays are about spending some good quality time with people you love not about how much money you’ve spent.

For more tips for staying healthy on a budget, check out my 7 Meal Prep Hacks and $100 Budget Meal Prep Challenge!

Disclaimer: Thank you to Tangerine for sponsoring this post and supporting HealthNut Nutrition.