I hear it sitting in class. I hear it on the bus. I hear it in the grocery store. "Eating healthy costs so much money."
You're right. Healthy food isn't cheap, but it doesn't have to be expensive. Your Chipotle burrito and extra queso aren't cheap either. Buying healthy food items at the store and meal-prepping is the easiest way to make healthy food cheaper, point blank. I wanted to showcase a few healthy options, along with their prices, to prove healthy options are justifiable.
1. Carrots
Organic baby carrots from Walmart are $3.40 with 10 servings. That means each serving of carrots is $0.34. Skip the $3 chip bag at the gas station and pack some carrots.
2. Bell peppers
Sweet mini peppers are SO YUMMY to snack on. They're sweet and crunchy; what more could you ask for? At Walmart, a 1 lb. bag is about $3. Yes, you can be the cool kid like me who carries around a lunch bag in college.
3. Hummus
Be careful with this one. I could eat a whole thing of hummus in one sitting, so I buy it sparingly. A container of hummus usually runs around $5, but as long as you're eating an actual serving size, it can last one to two weeks.
4. Craisins
Look for the craisins with no added sugars, or else they're bound to be loaded with sugar. These are a great snack or something to add into a trail mix or on top of oatmeal! At only $6, a bag of craisins should last you about a week and a half.
5. Fruit snacks
Again, watch the added sugars. At only $8, these come out to be about $0.25 a pack. If you can't take around an actual apple or banana, fruit snacks are the way to go.
6. Snack bars
These can get expensive. That's why you need to bulk-purchase. Snack bars are also notorious for containing too many added sugars. I always go with either KIND at $1.40 per bar or CaveMan at $1.60. MUCH better than purchasing only one at a gas station at $3-$4 a pop.
7. Veggie straws
These things are addicting, not going to lie. A bag of veggie straws with 15 servings comes out to be $0.33 per serving. Once again, if you stick with the serving size, they'll last and you'll save money.
8. Wheat thins
Wheat Thins are for grey days because they make me as happy as coffee, especially the Tomato Basil kind. With 15 servings, each serving comes out to $0.25. Want two servings? $0.50 won't break the bank.
