25 Cheap Healthy Foods You Can Buy at the Grocery Store
Stay on track without any surprises at the register.
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It's no fair that better-for-you choices often come with a higher price tag, but that's not the way it has to be. We tapped Jaclyn London, MS, RD, CDN, Nutrition Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, to come up with a list of the most nutritious groceries you can buy that won't leave you hungry or broke.
Frozen pizza for dinner? Oh yes — especially when it's this lower-carb, frozen cauliflower pizza crust from Green Giant.
In fact, the GH Nutrition Lab loves it so much we gave it our Good Housekeeping Nutritionist Approved Emblem.
Whole-grain oats fuel you up with cholesterol-lowering fiber — not to mention B vitamins that help your body harness energy from the other foods you eat. Bonus: It's ready in the same amount of time it takes you to make a cup of coffee.
Kashi Salted Chocolate Chunk Chewy Nut Butter Bars
Kashi Salted Chocolate Chunk Chewy Nut Butter Bars
Here's a breakfast bar that actually lists nut butter as the first ingredient (yum). To round out your breakfast, try breaking it up and sprinkling it in some unsweetened Greek yogurt as a chocolatey granola.
Satisfy that crunchy, savory craving with chips that actually pack in protein and fiber with each munch. Beanitos transform pulses like navy, white, and black beans into a pretty addictive snack, especially when you use them to scoop up veggie-loaded salsa.
Monday mornings have nothing on you when you can grab ready-to-eat avocado with crunchy whole-grain crackers on your way out the door. The healthy fats in this creamy fruit (yep, it's a fruit!) can help lower your LDL (or "bad") cholesterol, in turn reducing your risk of heart disease or stroke.
Mission Yellow Corn Tortillas
$36.99 for 8 packs of 24
Finish taco night strong with corn tortillas. These are gluten-free for those looking to avoid wheat.
Nature Valley Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Protein Bars
$19.25 for 26
So many bars promise good-for-you ingredients, but these ones actually deliver — with chocolatey, peanut butter flavor to boot. There are literally zero reasons to skip breakfast now.
Simply Balanced Microwaveable Grain and Bean Pouches
$2.29
Farro, quinoa, bulgar ... Target sells a ton of quick-cooking whole grains as part of its private label Simply Balanced. Not sure how to season them? They come in flavors like southwestern and soy ginger as well.
Trader Joe's Almond Butter
See store for price
Nut butters load you up with filling protein and cravable creaminess. Spread a tablespoon on a frozen waffle and top with chopped dates for a quick breakfast that feels as decadent as brunch.
Simply Balanced Organic Diced Tomatoes
$1.09
Sneak more veggies (and less sodium) into your diet by stirring tomatoes in salsas, sauces, and chilis. Pro tip: Make your own "spaghetti" with spaghetti squash instead.
Simply Balanced Grilled Chicken Breast Strips
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Get some protein into that salad in the form of grilled chicken strips. A 4-ounce serving contains approximately 36 grams.
Amy's Organic Soups, Lentil Vegetable
$1.99
For when you don't want to cook (or can't make it to the store), keep this low-sodium, pulse-packed stew on hand. Another good pick: Amy's Spicy Chili will fill you on up with just the right amount of heat.
Bumble Bee Chunk Light Tuna
$10.71 for 10 cans
The omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12 in fish makes it a solid choice for protein-filled salads or lettuce cups. Choose cans packed in water versus oil and dress it in lemon juice instead of mayo for the best boost.
GOYA Low Sodium Black Beans
$42.72 for 24 cans
It's no secret beans are super filling and super cheap. But pulses — a.k.a. the edible seeds of legumes — can also play a big part in a plant-based diet, which can lower your risk of many chronic diseases.
Kashi GOLEAN Cereal
$4.24 for 21 ounces
Fill your bowl in the morning with a satisfying serving of whole grains and fiber. Helpful hint: London also likes the Cinnamon Crisp version if you're looking for a spicier flavor.
Dannon Oikos Triple Zero Blended Greek Nonfat Yogurt
$37.99 for 18
With 15 grams of protein and only 6 grams of sugar in each cup, this nonfat Greek yogurt brings all of filling creaminess you want with zero of the added sweeteners you don't. Did we mention it comes in a salted caramel flavor too?
365 Everyday Value Organic String Cheese
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Don't just buy these for the kids. Part-skim cheese — especially paired with grapes or whole grain crackers — is a super filling (and portable) snack.
Birds Eye Pepper Stir-Fry
$1.96 for 1 pound
It doesn't get better than a colorful mix of bell peppers and onions for just a dollar and change. Oh, and all of the chopping and slicing is already done for you.
Caroline is a writer and editor with almost a decade of experience. From 2015 to 2019, she held various editorial positions at Good Housekeeping, including as health editor, covering nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other lifestyle news. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism and dreams of the day Northwestern will go back to the Rose Bowl.
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