Super Silverbeet: Budget-Friendly Healthy Eating

Living frugally doesn’t mean living without flavour. In fact, some of the best healthy cooking tips come from finding ways to stretch your dollar further while still eating well. One of my favourite ingredients for both health and value? Silverbeet (also known as Swiss chard).

Skip the Packaged Greens

If you’re looking for budget-friendly cooking tips, start by avoiding packaged greens. Not only are they more expensive, but recent health scares (like the salmonella outbreak in bagged lettuce in Victoria) have also reminded us that pre-packaged isn’t always the safest option.
Beyond safety, the truth is this: a leaf in a bag has got Buckley’s chance of survival. Packaged spinach or lettuce tends to wilt, stink, and go slimy far too quickly. That’s money, and good food, wasted.

How to Store Fresh Greens Properly

The better option is to buy whole greens, like a bunch of spinach, silverbeet, or a head of lettuce, and wash them yourself. It only takes about three minutes, not much longer than a quick scroll on Facebook - and the payoff is huge.

Here’s what to do:

• Wash your greens as soon as you get home.

• Spin them dry in a salad spinner.

• Store them in a sealed container in the fridge.

Done this way, spinach or silverbeet will last well over a week (unless you eat it first).

Why It’s Worth It

Taking a few extra minutes to prep greens at home means:

• You save money compared to pre-packaged leaves

• Your greens stay fresher, tastier, and longer-lasting

• You cut down on waste while getting more nutrition out of your weekly shop

It’s a small shift in routine that makes a big difference in both your wallet and your meals.

A Final Word

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. With a little planning, and a fresh bunch of silverbeet, you can cook meals that are nutritious, flavour-packed, and budget-friendly.