Some of the cheapest healthy groceries are eggs, dried or canned beans, lentils, oats, brown rice, frozen vegetables, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, bananas, canned tomatoes, peanut butter, plain yogurt, canned fish and whole chickens. Buy them in store brands, stock up when they're on sale, and compare prices across stores.
Proteins
- Eggs: breakfast, fried rice, frittatas, baking.
- Dried or canned beans: chili, burritos, soups, salads. Dried is usually cheaper per serving.
- Lentils: cook fast without soaking. Great in soups and curries.
- Whole chicken: often cheaper per pound than parts, and it stretches across several meals.
- Canned tuna, salmon or sardines: shelf-stable protein for sandwiches and pasta.
- Peanut butter: an inexpensive pantry staple.
- Plain yogurt in large tubs: breakfast, sauces, marinades.
Grains and starches
- Oats: breakfast, baking, even savory bowls.
- Brown or white rice: a base for countless meals. Buy big bags at a good unit price.
- Pasta, especially the store brand.
- Potatoes: filling, versatile and long-lasting.
- Sweet potatoes: roast, mash or bake.
Fruits and vegetables
- Frozen vegetables: picked and frozen quickly, no waste, often cheaper than fresh.
- Frozen fruit: smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt.
- Cabbage: lasts for weeks and works in slaws, stir-fries and soups.
- Carrots: cheap and long-lasting.
- Onions and garlic: the base of countless meals.
- Bananas: often one of the least expensive fruits.
- Apples in bags, especially in season.
- Canned tomatoes: sauces, soups, chili, curries.
How to pay even less for these
- Buy store brands. See the easiest switches.
- Buy the shelf-stable ones in bulk when the unit price is right. See when bulk is worth it.
- Buy produce in season, and loose vs. bagged depending on the price per pound.
- Compare stores for the packaged staples:
- Scan the barcode of the item on the shelf with Price Match Paradise. No account needed to start.
- Review matching offers across supported retailer sources, with stock status and price-match guidance when the retailer data is available.
- Decide in the aisle: ask for a match, buy it here because it's already the best price, or pick it up where it's cheaper.
Easy meals from this list
- Bean and rice burritos with cabbage slaw
- Lentil and vegetable soup
- Egg fried rice with frozen vegetables
- Roast chicken with potatoes and carrots, then chicken soup
- Pasta with canned tomato sauce and tuna
- Overnight oats with frozen fruit and yogurt
Turn these into a weekly plan with the 20-minute meal planning system.
FAQ
What are the cheapest healthy foods to buy?
Eggs, dried and canned beans, lentils, oats, rice, potatoes, frozen vegetables and fruit, cabbage, carrots, bananas, canned tomatoes, canned fish, peanut butter and whole chickens are among the most budget-friendly.
Are frozen vegetables as healthy as fresh?
Frozen vegetables are a convenient, nutritious option that won't spoil, and they're often cheaper than fresh out of season.
Is it cheaper to buy a whole chicken?
Often, yes, per pound, and one chicken can stretch across several meals, including soup from the bones.
How do I eat healthy on a tight budget?
Build meals around inexpensive staples, plan your week, buy store brands, stock up on sales and compare prices across stores.
Eat well for less.
Scan your staples and compare the same item at 50+ supported retailer sources in one search. Free to start.
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Price Match Paradise Team
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