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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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