Six Healthy and Inexpensive Foods

Our guest post is written by  + Stu Lieberman the writer for Nutri-Health.com, an online High Quality Probiotics and Health Store.  Assisting people and helping them find quality natural supplements and health products online is what Stu hashttp://www.nutri-health.com been doing for over 2 years.  Nutri-Health.com carries Digestive Supplements to Probiotics to Joint Health.

According to research from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), the healthiest diets cost about $1.50 more per day than the least healthy diets. That ends up being nearly $550 per year, per person. A family of four would be looking at an additional $2,200 annually. That can be a pain in the pocketbook!

Luckily, there are healthy options at that won’t leave a dent in your wallet.

Beans: Beans are available in both canned and dry varieties. Buying dry beans in bulk is the most economical option. Beans are a great source of protein and dietary fiber. They’re also rich in folate and magnesium. Use beans to make a hearty chili, serve them as a side, or add them to soups. Cost: About 25 cents per serving (1 cup cooked).

Brown Rice: To produce brown rice, only the outermost layer—the hull—is removed, leaving most of the nutritional value of the whole grain rice intact. Brown rice is a good source of manganese, selenium, magnesium, and protein, among others. You can add brown rice to soups, serve it as a side dish, or incorporate it into a stir fry. Cost: About 20 cents per serving (1/2 cup cooked).

Canned Tuna: Tuna is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids that support your heart and brain. Available in both chunk light and albacore (white), it’s the chunk light version that has been shown to contain less mercury—and is less expensive! To keep your tuna healthy, be sure to skip the mayonnaise. Add tuna to salads, or make your own sandwich on whole grain bread. Cost: 75 cents-1 dollar per serving (5 oz.).

Eggs: Eggs had a bad rap for a while, but recent research has found that consuming eggs will not raise your cholesterol or increase your risk of heart disease. Eggs are low in calories, a good source of protein, and provide a good dose of choline, selenium and iodine. Cost: A dozen eggs can range from $1-$3 depending on where you live. Even if you use the high end of the price scale, the cost for a 2-egg serving ends up being just 50 cents.

Oats: Oats are a filling, and a high in fiber to help support digestion. Once only available in a canister, you can now get oatmeal in pre-packaged, flavored packets. However, those packets are not only costly, they’re also loaded with sugar. Keep your oats healthy and inexpensive by sticking with the canister. Cost: About 50 cents per serving (1 cup cooked)

Bananas: This sweet yellow food is one of the few fruits available year-round. Bananas are a great source of potassium, providing 400mg per serving. Eat them on their own or add them to cereal. For a delicious dessert, stick them in the freezer for a few hours. The peel will turn brown, but the inside tastes like banana ice cream. Cost: About 40 cents per serving (1 banana).