Cheap Diet Food

When you’re trying t o save money in your food budget it can tempting to opt for the value menu at a fast food joint rather than buying and cooking a healthy meal.And while it sometimes seems as if “healthy”and“cheap”are mutually exclusive concepts,there are ways to cut costs without sacrificing nutrition.
At the grocery store,experts recommend spending most of your time circling the periphery.“The whole,fresh foods tend to be around the edges,while the unhealthier—and often pricier—processed foods line the middle aisles,”says Bethany Thayer,a registered dietician and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.Buying what’s in season can also save you a bundle.Finding fresh tomatoes in the middle of winter is a pricey proposition,but come August,your local farmers will be practically giving them away.And summer fruit—like watermelon or cantaloupe—will give your diet a beta carotene and vitamin C boost at less than fifty cents per serving.
Here,the foods to add to your grocery list for healthy—not pricey—eating all year round.
Beans:This protein powerhouse gives you more nutritional bang for your buck than almost anything else you can buy.Black,pinto,garbanzo,lentil—they’re all low in fat,packed with fiber and folic acid,and have some calcium,zinc and potassium.You can buy them dry or make your life easier by getting ready-to-serve cans—still a bargain at less than a dollar for enough to serve at least two.Mix beans into salads,stir them into soup or chili,or just heat a can and dump them over rice for a fast—not fat—food meal.
Eggs:At about a dollar a dozen,eggs also can’t be beat when it comes to inexpensive protein—and not just at breakfast.Dietician Susan Moores suggests stirring a couple of beaten eggs into just-cooked pasta(the heat immediately cooks the eggs),then adding some fresh vegetables for a protein-rich pasta dinner.
Bananas:They’re readily available regardless of season,and usually average about 60 to 70 cents a pound.And bananas are an easily portable source of fiber,potassium and vitamin B6.If you find them on sale,try freezing what you can’t eat immediately,suggests Thayer.“Then take one out and use it in a smoothie to add great texture and extra nutrients without adding any fat,”she says.