Fresh produce like blueberries, grapes and bananas provide nutrients and minerals not found in other food sources. (Lydia St. Eve/The Daily Campus)

Eating healthy, once it becomes habit, is simple but can be taxing on your bank account.

However, budget concerns should not inhibit healthy habits as there are inexpensive ways to go about staying well-stocked with healthy food.

Buy in Bulk

The benefits of buying fresh produce in bulk are boundless.

Take a trip to the local farmer’s market with a couple of friends and stock up on fruits and vegetables.

At the farmer’s market, each vendor has produce grouped into baskets with a predetermined price.

The amount of food in each basket is usually too large for one person to consume in a week and that is why bringing friends is a good idea.

Splitting a basket between two or three people is cost-effective and will ensure that your food does not goes to waste.

Another approach is to go by yourself and buy the foods you like with the intention of freezing the food that you will not use in the next week.

Freezing is a tried and true method of preserving fruit.

Having frozen fruit on hand is perfect for making healthy smoothies.

With vegetables and meat, you can either freeze it immediately or cook it first.

Canned or dry beans are also great to stock up on because not only are they incredible sources of protein, they are also very inexpensive.

Dry beans are a little more work to make but if you are really trying to pinch pennies, the added effort will pay off.

Stores like Sunflower Market, Central Market and Whole Foods all have bulk sections.

There you can usually find beans, nuts and other non-perishable items at a much cheaper price than the pre-packaged meals that are loaded with sodium and unnecessary added ingredients.

Look for deals

Clipping coupons is a little extreme but in some cases those little pieces of paper can help you out big time.

An easier way to get deals without the added trouble of making paper snowflakes is to check your mail.

Every week, the local groceries print up flyers with their weekly deals printed in bold.

It’s tempting to toss these flyers out with the rest of your junk mail but take a second to check it out.

Using these flyers you can see which of your favorite foods are on sale and where you can save on these items.

Also, you can compare prices from store to store without having to get off the couch.

Plan ahead

Making a shopping list before you head to the store may seem like common sense but many people skip this step.

Having a list of things you need and sticking to it can really help you keep your budget in check.

If you walk through the store aimlessly, there’s a good chance you will end up with more food than needed and most of it will go to waste.

When writing your shopping list, look at what is already in your kitchen and think of other food items that would compliment what you already have.

When you go to the store with an agenda, you will come out spending less.

Shop around

While in the store, do not forget to compare prices of each type of item.

Often times the store brand is far less expensive than the name brand.

Keeping an open mind when it comes to brand names can help you stretch your dollar further than you might expect.

So you see, it really is not that hard to eat healthy if you are on a tight budget.

Many times people forget how important it is to eat healthy but that is the trick to reaching your weight loss goals.

Not only does healthy food have physical benefits, you will feel much better all around.

All it takes is a little extra time and effort, but it will all be worth it and your waistline and overall health will thank you.