list of healthy foods to buy when you are on a diet and on a tight budget
Dieting and eating healthy doesn’t need to be expensive. In fact, if you plan your meals and buy ingredients fresh, you can eat healthy for less than you would have spent on ready meals and takeout food. With a little bit of thought and planning, you can create healthy, inexpensive and tasty meals that won’t break the bank:
1. Bananas
Fresh fruit is only expensive when you buy the trendy, out of season or imported varieties. Bananas are a relatively cheap fruit that comes packed with vitamins minerals and fiber. Chose the not so ripe bananas or even slightly green and then, they will last longer; overripe bananas also contain far more sugar, than just ripe ones.
2. Eggs
Eggs are so versatile and they are an excellent source of protein. More budget friendly than meat, eggs can easily be whipped up into an omelette, eaten boiled for a snack or with a salad, and they will last for a long time in the refrigerator too.
3. Canned tuna
Canned tuna is one of the cheapest canned fish that you can buy. You can use tuna in sandwiches, casseroles, with pasta, in salads or just on a cracker and it contains protein and omega-3 fatty acids that are so important in a healthy and balanced diet.
4. Lentils
Dried lentils are a great alternative to meat and cost only cents per serving. With a slightly nutty, sweet taste, lentils will provide you with more protein and iron, than meat will and they will fill you up with healthy fiber as well. Lentils are also the easiest of the dried beans to cook, as they don’t need any pre-soaking first.
5. Leafy green vegetables
Leafy green vegetables are very nutritious and they will fill you up for few calories and little cost. They are more cost effective of you buy them loose, rather than pre-packed or even cheaper if you buy frozen vegetables.
6. Celery
Celery is well known as being one of the ‘negative calorie’ foods, because you use more calories eating and digesting it, than you gain from the food. Celery is also budget friendly and it can be eaten as a snack, used in salads or cooked as a vegetable and, as it lasts well, it can be used for several meals over a number of days.
7. Almond milk
A cost effective and healthy alternative to regular milk, unsweetened almond milk has only 30 calories per serving and it can be used in coffee, smoothies or to make oatmeal in just the same way. It’s also full of vitamin D, B12 as well as magnesium and calcium.
8. Plain yoghurt
It’s only the fancy flavored yogurts that are pricey and they’re mostly not that good for the waistline either. Plain yoghurt, though, is good for a creamy treat that will make you feel full and it is fairly inexpensive too.
9. Seasonal fruits
Fruits vary in price, depending when and where your buy them. Seasonal fruits will be a lot more cost effective, than those that are out of season and are brought from afar. Such fruits as apples and oranges are pretty much always available and won’t cost you a lot of money.
10. Rolled Oats
Rolled oats are one of the best filling and nutritious foods that you can buy. They are healthy, nutritious and low in calories, and they can be used in both savory and sweet dishes. You can eat them for breakfast, add them to smoothies or include them in cooking main meals and they will provide you with a great source of energy.
Do you have some other ideas on how to eat healthy while on a diet and on a budget?
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Stay happy and beautiful!