Inexpensive Yet Healthy Foods

With the economy just starting to pick back up, people are still looking for an inexpensive way to eat healthy. There are numerous options for eating healthy and more often than not, it is less expensive to fix a healthy meal at home rather than eat one out. When preparing that fantastic healthy meal at home, it helps to know what kinds of foods that are high quality for not-so-high prices.

Quinoa

For the group of people who must have pasta at least three times a day, quinoa is a great alternative without all of the carbs and for a fraction of the price. Finding quinoa in the bulk isle is a steal; it is easy to prepare, completely healthy and cheap as all get-out. Quinoa is more like a grain than pasta, but can double in some of the same ways that pasta does, plus it is a great addition to salads.

Oats

Oats are one of the most, if not THE most, versatile foods around. They taste like whatever you cook them with, they can be creamy or crunchy, baked, fried, sautéed; you name it, oats can probably do it. The bigger the container, the cheaper it will be. Oats are loaded with fiber and contain a decent amount of calories for the serving size.

Frozen Fruits and Veggies

Many people have the misconception that fresh fruits and vegetables are the best way to go. It turns out that many of the fresh produce you see in the store, is actually around a week old by the time you pick it up and give it a squeeze. Once picked, produce begins to lose its nutrients, so by the time it gets to the store, there aren’t much of the original nutrients left.

Frozen produce is typically flash-frozen 24-48 hours after picking, locking in the highest concentration of nutrients available. Since they come in packages, they tend to be cheaper by the pound than their plump partners and can store for longer periods of time. The next time you go to the store, take a look at the price of frozen spinach versus fresh spinach. Even if they are priced around the same mark, think about how long the fresh spinach has been sitting there

Brown Rice

Not only is brown rice healthy, with around 4 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber and only 170 calories per serving, it is dirt-cheap. The great thing about rice is the servings are measured by dry volume, which means, when the rice is cooked, your serving size nearly doubles. Brown rice can be used in burritos, casseroles, fried rice and is even hearty enough to stand up in many stews.

Beans

No matter if you buy bean from the bulk isle or get them in a can, they are cheap and packed with protein. Out of the hundreds of varieties, there are countless numbers of ways to utilize beans in your cooking.

Eating healthy does not have to break the bank. Just look for nutritional food that is fresh and vibrant and you can’t go wrong. Another idea for healthy eating on a dime is to keep the meal simple. Keeping a meal simple is usually the best way to make sure all of the nutrients are there and it allows you to taste everything in the dish. Make a quick trip to the store, pick up a few of the healthy items listed above and see what you and your family can create.

Tagged with: Brown Rice • cook • Quinoa • Vegetable

Filed under: cooking tips • healthy cooking • healthy eating

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