When it comes to food, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a bona fide junk food junkie.

On any given day, it’s not uncommon to see me eating Goldfish crackers as part of my lunch and Nutella for dinner (by the spoonful of course). Cheese, crackers, chocolate…sour patch kids; it’s all part of my “diet.”

Luckily (ironically?), I also naturally gravitate towards fruits and veggies. A typical lunch, in addition to those beloved fishies, could include a spread of veggies and hummus, a salad, and/or salmon or other seafood. At least something is working for me in the nutrition department!

As part of my quest to live a more healthy, balanced life, I’m starting to –slowly– overhaul my eating habits so that I’m fueling my training better, enjoying better sleep, and generally feeling more energized throughout the day.

Research about Superfoods

For an education nerd like me, whenever I make significant life changes, I like to read and research as much as I can about my various options. Lately, my nutrition research has been filled with articles and online clips touting the benefits of superfoods.

Ever the curious distance runner, I wanted to learn more about these nutritional powerhouses, but I also wanted to figure out how I could fit them in the budget because most of the time when I find these types of articles, they always lead to an outrageous grocery tab (after which I promptly stop buying the “amazing” things because they’re such a drain to my bank account!).

Definition of Superfood

The commonly accepted definition of ‘superfood’ is one that is nutrition-heavy; a food that has a particularly large number of benefits for your overall health and well-being.

From blueberries and sweet potatoes to lentils and kale, there are plenty of options to ensure you’re getting your vitamin’s worth.

But what about getting your money’s worth? How is it possible to buy superfoods without busting the budget?

How I Buy Superfoods on a Budget

With amount of running and other physical activity I do, I could easily have the grocery bill of a small village if I’m not careful. I might eat slowly, but I just.keep.eating. When it’s in front of me, it will be eaten. Thankfully, all those miles create a bit of an inferno in my stomach and it’s generally burned off….haha!

Some of these tips extend way beyond purchasing superfoods–no matter what you’re shopping for, they are easy ways to keep your wallet in check the next time you’re in the grocery store:

Create a List…and Stick to it

I once took a trip to Trader Joe’s…while hungry….with headphones in my ears…without a list. I bet you can guess how that ended! When the cashier said the total, I honestly thought I’d mistakenly gone to Whole Paycheck Foods instead.

From that day forward, I have never stepped foot in a grocery store without a shopping list. It may sound silly, but even if I’m only stopping in for something quick like milk, I still enter that as a list in an app on my phone. The rule is that if it’s not on the list, it doesn’t go in the cart. Or my belly (I sometimes eat while shopping then take the empty containers to the cashier to pay for them…hehe).

Adding this simple step to my shopping trips has been the difference between staying within budget and literally eating myself out of house and home.

Buy In-Season and Generic

Another no-brainer, but buying produce that’s in-season will save you a boatload. Even better if it’s from local farms and producers!

Buying generic is also another change I’ve made as there’s really no difference between some of the supplements and pre-packaged superfood goodies. Obviously, make sure to check the labels to ensure that the ingredients are in fact the same as there can be serious disparities in quality. But overall, you’re usually good to go by purchasing the value brands.

Avoid the Fads

Have you ever noticed that when a particular food is labeled as a ‘superfood’ or the next ‘miracle’ food that its price rises with the hype? If you haven’t, start taking note of the various prices while you’re shopping so you’ll know a baseline amount for your favorite foods.

I tend to stick to what I know and what I like, but I will admit that I sometimes do try what I’ve read about. The difference is that I’ll try it months after reading about it–after the hype has typically worn off and prices have bottomed back to where they’re supposed to be.

Go for Nutritional Gold

While a lot of what goes into my cart includes standard-yet-good-for-you foods like bananas, kale, sweet potatoes, black beans, and oats, I also make sure to spend my money on foods that are incredible sources of nutrition–ones that can often stand on their own when it comes to breaking down their benefits.

The list of superfoods that I’m willing to spend my hard-earned money on includes wheatgrass, seaweed, royal jelly, Chlorella (another algae in powder form that I mix into smoothies), and chia seeds.

As for what I won’t bother with, those are Spirulina (another type of algae powder) because it costs upwards of $40 (!!!) per pound and I can get the same benefits from eating romaine lettuce, pomegranate juice (packed with sugar and calories and is insanely expensive!), and acai berries because by the time they make it here to the States, they’ve been super processed and overpriced.

Are you a superfood shopper? If so, how do you trim your grocery bill?