Stay Healthy with these Frugal Foods

A healthy diet is an important investment in your health. Junk food may be cheap right now, but it will end up costing you much more than what you spent in future health problems. Eating healthy doesn’t mean breaking the bank, though. There are lots of resources to find grocery discounts, and plenty of inexpensive, nutrient-rich foods for you to incorporate into your diet.

Proteins

Most people get the majority of their protein from meat, but there are less expensive options you can try as substitutes to reduce costs!

• Beans are overlooked as a protein source. They’re cheap, versatile, simple to cook, and easily bought and stored in bulk. To save money and energy, cook beans in a thermos instead of on the stove for hours.
• Tofu is also an inexpensive protein-rich food. Since tofu acts like a sponge and soaks up the flavors of whatever it is cooked with (provided you press out some of the water first), it is easily incorporated into many dishes.

Fruits & Vegetables

Fresh produce can often be what is stacking up your grocery bill- and what you’re getting rid of when cleaning out your fridge.

• The cheapest fruits available are also some of the most classic: apples and bananas. These are great fruits to eat by themselves, put in cereal or oatmeal, and both taste fantastic with peanut butter.
• Watermelon is also cheap and is a great way to hydrate during the summer.
• To avoid throwing away bad food, buy frozen vegetables instead. Kale and spinach are supremely healthy leafy greens that don’t cost much per serving.

Grains and Starches

Oats and brown rice are excellent, healthy options that you can buy in bulk for a great price. However, it can be confusing what to buy to benefit your health.

• When shopping for bread and pasta, go for whole grain options; they are healthier and cost about the same.
• One of the cheapest and easiest starches is, of course, the potato. They can be baked, sautéed, mashed, and go with a variety of foods. Better yet, they are very frugal and they will keep for months if stored in a cool, dry place.

Liquids

Bottled water is costly and detrimental to the environment, and bottled water companies get their water from the same sources as your tap.

• To save lots of money, drink from your tap instead. If you don’t like the taste, try a water filter. A $7 filter will purify 40 gallons of water.
• Drink more water. It’s cheaper and healthier than sodas and sugary juices.

It’s important to invest in your health since you only get one body. However, doing so won’t break the bank if you keep these tips in mind.