Cheap, Healthy Foods

Serving size: ½ cup cooked

Cost per serving: Around 20 cents

Calories: 115

They're little, but they pack in protein -- 9 grams per serving. They’re also low in fat, so they can be a healthy, less expensive sub for meat. Plus, they’re a good source of folate, iron, and potassium. And they have plenty of fiber, so they’ll keep you feeling full longer. Try brown, green, or red lentils as a side dish, in a salad, in stews, or over rice. 

Serving size: 1 egg

Cost per serving: About 25 cents

Calories: 71

With 6 grams of protein each, egg is another cheap sub for meat. They’re full of nutrients, like vitamins D and A, and choline -- essential for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Experts say one egg per day won’t throw off your cholesterol numbers. So crack one for breakfast, try one hard-boiled on grain bowls and salads, or scramble some as a base for veggies or in tacos.

Serving size: ½ cup (dry)

Cost per serving: About 22 cents

Calories: 153.5

A hot bowl of oatmeal makes a great breakfast. Or use oats as a healthy filler in meatloaf, burgers, casseroles, and fruit cobblers. Their fiber will keep your stomach satisfied and can lower cholesterol and boost your immune system. They also have antioxidants that may help protect your cells from damage. 

Serving Size: 1 medium potato

Cost per serving size: About 15 cents

Calories: 164

Sure, they’re not so healthy as french fries or slathered in butter and sour cream. But spuds have vitamin C, fiber, and potassium, and may help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. Slice one and roast it in the oven with a drizzle of olive oil, or top a baked potato with veggies or lean turkey chili for a cheap, easy meal. 

Serving size: 1 medium sweet potato

Cost per serving size: About 30 cents

Calories per serving: 103

In just one, you get 400% of your daily vitamin A needs, and more than a third of your vitamin C. Sweet potatoes do have more sugar than white ones, but they have fewer calories and carbs and more fiber. Baked or sliced and roasted, they make a great side dish. Or try mixing shredded ones into muffin batter for added nutrition.

Serving size: About 4 ounces

Cost: About $1.70

Calories: About 155

These little fish are good sources of protein, calcium, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), which help prevent heart disease. For fewer calories, look for those packed in water, not oil. Try them on some whole-grain bread with lettuce and tomato, or chop them with lemon juice and onions to make a fish spread.

Serving size: ½ cup cooked

Cost per serving size: 10 cents

Calories: About 112

With about 7 grams of protein per serving, you can sub beans for meat in many recipes. And they’ve got plenty of fiber, folate, potassium, and magnesium. To cook dry beans, soak them overnight, or boil them for a couple of minutes and let them sit off the heat for an hour before cooking. If you use canned ones, drain and rinse them first to cut down on salt.

Serving size: 2 tablespoons of kernels (3-4 cups popped)

Cost per serving: About 18 cents

Calories: 140

Along with the crunch, popcorn packs fiber, which will satisfy you longer than a lot of snack foods. And it’s a tasty way to get one of the three servings of whole grains you need every day. A cup has less than a quarter of the calories of the same serving of potato chips. Skip the butter and salt, and add flavor with dried herbs.

Serving size: 2 ounces (uncooked)

Cost per serving: 17 cents

Calories: 200

Pasta gets a bad rap, but in a reasonable portion, it can be part of an affordable, healthy meal. Plain noodles are low in fat and salt. Whole-grain versions have twice the fiber as white pasta and will raise your blood sugar less. Try spaghetti, penne, or macaroni with a homemade tomato sauce, or tossed with olive oil and sauteed veggies.

Serving size: 1 medium-large banana

Cost per serving: 15 cents

Calories: 105

This fruit gives you fiber, vitamins B6 and C, and potassium, which balances blood pressure and keeps your heart healthy. It’s also easy on your stomach, which makes it a good option when you’re getting over tummy troubles. Make one a portable snack, or blend it as a healthy base for smoothies.

Serving size: 2 tablespoons

Cost per serving size: 15 cents

Calories: About 190

Yes, it has quite a bit of fat. But it’s mostly the healthy, unsaturated kind. It also has potassium and even some fiber. And it’s not just for sandwiches -- try some on celery sticks or apple slices for a satisfying snack.

Serving size: ½ cup

Cost per serving: 50 cents

Calories: 134

They give you just over 7 grams of protein, a shot of iron, and plenty of fiber. You can put them in salads, cook them in a curry sauce for a spicy entree, or put them in your food processor to make hummus.

Serving size: Around 3 cups uncooked

Cost per serving: 75 cents

Calories: 30

Spinach, kale, collards, and turnip greens are low in calories and full of nutrients like folate, iron, fiber, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin C. The pre-washed, bagged kinds are super convenient and still affordable. Use them for a tasty salad, add them to whole-grain pasta, or you can boil, steam, or saute them as a perfect side dish for just about anything. 

Serving size: ⅓ cup cooked

Cost per serving: 50 cents

Calories: About 30

You’ll generally get just as much nutrition from frozen vegetables as you do from fresh, sometimes more. Plus, they stay good longer than fresh produce, so they’re less likely to go to waste.