Eat healthy on the cheap

Many think that cheap food means fatty, processed and high calorie food, and end up giving up their health in favor of finances.True, buying all those prepackaged, health-conscious foods can get pricey, but did you know that you CAN eat healthfully on the cheap?

The trick is to be creative and work with what you have. We put together a few tips and tricks to help you save money on your venture to health. 

Healthy food is...

• Packed with vitamins and minerals
• Low calorie
• Low fat
• Trans fat free
• Filling (fiber)

Healthy and cheap foods

• Eggs- A true protein powerhouse. Think outside the box and throw a few eggs into any meal you cook (pasta, soups etc.) Eggs run around a dollar for a dozen.
• Frozen vegetables- Cheaper than fresh produce, and you won't waste money by it rotting. When flash-frozen, all vitamins are preserved.
• Beans- Another great source of protein. Beans come in so many varieties that you can make in different dishes (pinto, black, canelli, red beans etc.) To save even more money, cook dry beans.
• Low-fat yogurt- Skip the single serving cartons and divvy up portions from a larger size. Add fresh fruit or granola for a delicious breakfast or snack.
• Peanut butter- Around 30 cents per serving. Add protein to almost anything... pretzels, crackers, apples, sandwiches. The peanutty possible are endless.
• Fresh apples- Around $0.60 each and packed with antioxidants... remember "An apple a day keeps the doctor away"..
• Whole wheat bread- Not much more than white bread, this healthy find will add fiber and whole diet effortlessly.
• Oatmeal- A great breakfast item jam packed with vitamins and fiber. Add a little bit of fruit to sweeten things up.
• Carrots- Skip the prepackaged "baby carrots", and peel your own for snacking.
• Garlic- Research has shown that garlic protects against heart disease, and sure does add flavor. An entire head of garlic runs at about fifty cents.
• Tuna- The cans run around $0.89, and fill you up with protein. Top salads, make sandwiches or mix with a pasta.
• Popcorn- Don't buy the expensive stuff they sell at the movies, but get the type you'd find in a grocery store. It saves you money, and cuts back on saturated fat, and sodium. Just don't go crazy with the salt and butter.
• Brown rice- Not much more than white rice, but it provides whole grain and is a great filler. At around 10 cents per serving. Try it in side dishes, stews, soups, and casseroles
• Marinana sauce- You can grab the canned kind for about a dollar, and it does count as a vegetable serving.
• Whey protein- The absolute cheapest source of protein. Mix it into smoothies and shakes

Additional tips

• Read nutrition labels. Try to purchase items that are high in protein, vitamins & minerals and low in fat and calories. Try to avoid Trans fat altogether.
• Cut back on meat and use cheap protein like eggs and beans.
• Invest in a water filter (Try BRITA) and eliminate the cost of bottled water.
• When shopping, remember to avoid words like buttered, fried and cheesy and opt for descriptions like baked and boiled.
• Invest in a healthy cookbook.
• Check out the blog Cheap Healthy Food for great recipe ideas.
• Take vitamins and supplements, these will preserve your health at around 10 dollars per month.