What are some cheap, healthy foods? My family is tight with the money right now, and I'd like to eat healthier and lose weight; however, I need foods that aren't expensive.
Great question, and good news! Healthy foods actually tend to be a bit less expensive than unhealthy foods when you look at the overall picture.
(PS: I am going to recommend peanut butter here, but 3 years ago I was diagnosed w/ a peanut/nut allergy & thus haven't eaten it since then.)
Here are my favorite healthy snacks:
Apples (I just eat them regular, but lots of people dip them in peanut butter for extra protein - just be care not to overdo the PB, since the calories add up)
Baby Carrotts
Yogurt Parfait - this is my FAVORITE, I eat it every single day. Take frozen blueberries (with no sugar added - you can buy them in a big bag at the grocery store) and put about 1/4 cup of them in a glass, then add some non-fat Vanilla yogurt (I like Dannon Light & Fit) and top with Grape-nuts cereal. SOOOO delicious.
Oatmeal, which you can buy in big canisters is relatively low in calories and actually contains protein. Add some frozen blueberries to it for some extra flavor. For an inexpensive sweetener you can use Splenda or - if you're looking for something more natural - a bit of maple syrup!
Salad! Every week at the grocery store I buy 2 heads of Iceberg lettuce and some cherry tomatoes (organic) which are relatively inexpensive, and it makes me a weeks worth of delicious salad. Instead of using regular salad dressing I use either Apple Cider Vinegar or Franks Hot Sauce (delicious! But a little goes a long way, lol)
Hope that was helpful - who else has some suggestions!?
