What Is the Cheapest Healthiest Food? Tips

Cheapest healthiest food

Cheap foods are not necessarily unhealthy.

What to eat and what to avoid are serious matters of concern for most of us. It is sometimes daunting to find food options that are healthy and fit our budget. Cheap foods are not necessarily unhealthy.  Here is a list of some cheap and healthy foods that may range from less than $2 to a maximum of $4 a pound.

Table 1: Here is a list of some cheap and healthy foods that may range from less than $2 to a maximum of $4 a pound. Food names Great for Brown rice

Steamed rice, stew, and rice salad

Whole-wheat or multigrain pasta

Pasta dishes (hot and cold) with lots of greens

Oats

Hot/cold cereal, granola, and muffin crumb toppings for desserts

Whole-wheat bread

Sandwich and bread pudding

Frozen vegetables

Stews, side dishes, and casseroles

Russet potato

Baked potatoes with skin, salads, casseroles, and stews

Spinach

Salads, egg dishes, casseroles, soups, and stews

Broccoli

Casseroles, salads, and soups

Green cabbage

Salads, coleslaw, and sauerkraut (fermented form)

Canned tomatoes

Soups, casseroles, stews, and salads

Dried lentils

Casseroles, salads, soups stews, and boiled lentils

Canned refried beans

Nachos, dips, burritos, enchiladas and side dish

Frozen edamame (Soybeans)

Snacks, appetizers, side dish, combination with fried rice, stews, and casseroles

Carrots

Salads (raw or boiled), cooked dishes, and soups

Popcorn

Air-popped popcorn without salt or butter

Bananas

Snack, its combination with peanut butter or yogurt or whole wheat pancakes

Oranges

Snack, combination with yogurt, smoothies, and salads

Frozen berries

Snack, healthy dessert, smoothies, and salads

Apples

Snack and salads

Milk

Mild shakes, smoothies, and protein drink

Nonfat Greek yogurt

Snack, smoothies, and parfaits made with fruit and granola

Eggs

Boiled egg, omelet, chickpea egg salad, and scrambled fried rice

Canned marinara sauce

Pasta dishes, pizza, casseroles, appetizers, Italian sandwiches, and stews

Here are a few tips to shop on a low budget.

Keep a watch on the sale:

Some items can be bought at much cheaper rates during the sale. These include foods such as fresh produce, lean meat, and low-fat dairy milk. Once you purchase food items during the sale, try to incorporate them into your diet by any of the ways—baking, broiling, or grilling.

Shop for seasonal foods:

There are times and places where fruits and vegetables are found at cheaper rates. Fruits and vegetables that grow abundantly and are found plentiful during their particular seasons are known as seasonal fruits or vegetables. These seasonal foods are found at much cheaper rates. Moreover, look for the local produce in your area. They are most likely to be very low on your budget.

Frozen or canned alternatives:

Frozen or canned foods can be just as nutritious as fresh foods. This is because the process of freezing and canning preserves most of the nutrients. These items are budget-friendly, too, which is good for your pockets. Remember to look at the labels and select ones that are low in salt and sugar.