Healthy Foods to Buy on a Budget

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  Buying healthy food can be expensive if you’re purchasing a lot of out-of-season, exotic or convenience items. However, if you have a list of inexpensive foods in mind when you do you’re meal planning, you should be able to stick to your budget while still eating healthy meals.

  I enjoy feeding my family mostly healthy whole food meals, while sticking to a budget. It’s not easy, but it’s possible. Today I’m going to share with you which foods you should be buying if you want to eat healthy on a budget. I’m basing this list on my own experience. Prices and availability of foods may vary by region.

Healthy Foods to Buy on a Budget

Fruits & Vegetables

  Fruits and vegetables are one of the main cornerstones of a healthy diet. Some are expensive, but a lot of them are quite affordable. A few that I have found to be inexpensive year-round are bananas, apples, cabbage, carrots, celery, lettuce, onions and potatoes. Frozen fruits and vegetables also tend to be a good value. In addition to these staples you should be looking for in-season produce. Here are some examples of what to look for each season:

Winter: Greens, Citrus Fruits, Winter Squash

Spring: Peas, Spinach, Carrots, Cabbage, Radishes

Summer: Berries, Tomatoes, Peppers, Watermelon, Summer Squash, Corn, Cucumbers, Beans

Fall: Apples, Winter Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Pears

Related Recipes:

Basic Sautéed Cabbage

Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes

German Potato Salad

Pico De Gallo

Oven-Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce

3-Ingredient Watermelon Slush

Slow Cooker Corn & Potato Chowder

Grains & Legumes

  Some of the healthiest and inexpensive grains that I’ve found are oats, lentils, beans, brown rice and whole-wheat pasta. All of these can be added to soups, stews, salads or casseroles to make a filling and nutritious meal. Just remember to look for whole versions of these products such as dried beans and old-fashioned oats for the most nutrition and savings.

Related Recipes:

Slow Cooker Pinto Beans

Slow Cooker Black Beans

Homemade Refried Beans

Super Simple Beans & Rice

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Meats & Other Proteins

  Meat is one of the most expensive items at the grocery store, but if you focus on planning your meals around a few of the least inexpensive choices you will be able to save a ton of money. I’ve found canned tuna, eggs, peanut butter and chicken thighs to be the least expensive and most filling options.

Related Recipes:

Easy Egg Muffins

3-Ingredient No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars

Country Breakfast Bowls

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken Thighs

How to Get Five Meals from One Chicken

Seasonings

  Herbs and spices are a great way to make your healthy food taste amazing without breaking the bank. Obviously, if you can grow your own fresh herbs that would be best, but dried seasonings also work well. Wal-Mart and Aldi both carry a line of seasonings for under a dollar each. Stocking up on these and then making your own seasoning mixes will not only be healthy, but also save you money.

Related Recipes:

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Homemade Ranch Seasoning

Homemade Chili Seasoning

What’s your favorite frugal healthy food? I’d love to know!

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