Eating healthy while couponing?

[melcotx]

OK so maybe this belongs elsewhere, but I *am* new to HCW, so bare with me. :Wave: How do those of you who get the fabulous prices, like $200 worth of stuff for $50, eat healthy foods? So far from what I've seen most of the bargains are for, if not junk, then highly processed food. Not exactly fresh blueberries and pastured beef, KWIM? We drink a ton of milk and juice and try for lots of whole grains. Suggestions?

I was wondering the same thing too. I have been trying to be on the lookout for more organic foods and coupons for produce, etc. but I'd love to get some tips!

[leqet]

Originally Posted by melcotx OK so maybe this belongs elsewhere, but I *am* new to HCW, so bare with me. :Wave: How do those of you who get the fabulous prices, like $200 worth of stuff for $50, eat healthy foods? So far from what I've seen most of the bargains are for, if not junk, then highly processed food. Not exactly fresh blueberries and pastured beef, KWIM? We drink a ton of milk and juice and try for lots of whole grains. Suggestions?

You can find coupons for all those things. You may not get them at drop-dead bargain prices, but sometimes you can. Target currently has blueberry coupons and last month they had coupons for lean all natural beef products. Also last month at target I got peaches, nectarines and plums for just pennies per pound using coupons. I peeled and froze some of the fruit so we still have some to eat. I drink organic milk and DH drinks soy milk and I've had no problem finding coupons for those things either. As far as the bread goes, most bread coupons that I've seen are non-specific--you could get whole-wheat or multi-grain instead of white bread. Pepperidge Farms has some q's out for bread I believe that say any bread, buns, rolls, or english muffins.

[MrsPinecone]

I buy whole grain cereals and the whole grain versions of any rice mixes.

Use store coupons to reduce produce prices (Food Lion had a $2/5 right now).

There are tons of organic milk coupons, as well as 100% juices.

I buy a lot of frozen veggies, because they are often more nutritious than fresh (you never know how long fresh have been sitting there).

I buy very little in the way of processed foods.

Thanks for the tips! I also bought the peaches and plums and nectarines at Target. I never thought to freeze them though so I didn't stock up-probably should have.

Mrs. Pinecone<
Where do you find the Organic Milk coupons? We prefer to drink organic milk but I really am not that into Horizon?

[wendypsaves]

We only drink organic milk. I've been couponing the HCW way since June and so far, through various deals and coupons, I've been able to get our milk for free or close to it for the whole summer. Also, I'm spending pennies on all of our HBA, cleaning, diaper, etc, needs, so I have more room in the budget for the organic things I like to buy. I've also found that I like several of the organic products at Kroger (private selection) and Tom Thumb (O organics), so I can usually get a decent price through sales or store coupones on those things.

I'm anxious to see what others say, though.

Wendy

[aimeebee]

There are some healthy food coupons out there like Mrs Pinecone mentioned. Besides juice, whole grain breads and cereals; there are also yogurt, cheese, fruit cups and applesauce and soy silk coupons out. I have a couple of Fresh Express salad qs and Chiquita fruit slices.

Also, you can look for opportunities to turn the stuff you do get into healthy snacks and meals. For example, I added lean ground turkey to the Velveeta shells and cheese I got last week at CVS. Still processed, but the added protein helps it out a little. I bought some of the gerber graduates diced fruit from Target. My 3yo will eat them. But, I used some of the diced apples, along with crushed fiber bran flakes (cereal) and made them into muffins that my 12 and 10 year olds loved.

I agree that there are a lot of coupons for junk food/convenience stuff... I guess you could try to trade those for the healthier qs.

[leqet]

Yep a good tip with the fruits and veggies is to learn how to can or freeze them when you get them for a good price. Also if you don't have q's for produce learn to buy what's in season. There's a whole thread about that somewhere on this site.

Another tip is that some milk q's say "any milk" so you could use it on organic milk if you want. If you don't like Horizon try writing to the company that puts out the type you do like to compliment them and you might just get some coupons. Also check the websites of all the products you like. Many have printables.

Thanks for the great tips so far!!! I do buy fruit in season since it is always cheaper and I probably should learn how to can but freezer is small as it is-I will never buy a side by side again. We have no room for a deep freezer either .

The Organic Milk we usually drink is Central Market (HEB line). Do you think writing to them would help in any way?

I forgot to mention my DH is allergic to anything that hatches from an egg-very weird allergy! He's allergic to the yolk although most people are allergic to the whites so he can't have turkey, chicken, whole eggs. Most of the baked items that use whole eggs he has been fine with. So, using leaner red meats is the way we usually have to go around here since I don't want to be making 1 separate meal for him and another for me and the kids.