Your 2018 resolution to get healthy doesn’t need to compete with your resolution to spend less. Below are five affordable, healthy foods recommended by Keri Gans, nutritionist and author of “The Small Change Diet.”
1. Oatmeal
This inexpensive whole grain is “jam-packed with nutrients,” Gans says. And it’s cheap (and healthy) when you buy a large container of plain oats instead of individual flavored packets. For a balanced breakfast, Gans mixes oats with nonfat milk, peanut butter and a banana.
2. Canned Salmon
Get the omega-3 fatty acids and protein of salmon without paying the steeper price of fresh fish. To prepare canned salmon, Gans suggests swapping it into a tuna-salad recipe.
3. Eggs
Protein-rich eggs are affordable and versatile. “Every household should have eggs in it,” Gans says. Enjoy eggs scrambled, poached or sunny-side up—but skip the bacon and hash browns, Gans says.
4. Blueberries
This tiny fruit is loaded with fiber and vitamins C and K. To save money, buy berries in-season or frozen, Gans says, but check frozen varieties for additives. “The only thing that should be on the ingredient label is the fruit itself,” Gans says. Her recipe for a healthy parfait: Mix blueberries with Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of high-fiber cereal.
5. Broccoli
This vegetable has just about everything: protein, fiber, calcium, iron and many vitamins. Plus, it’s more affordable than many other veggies, Gans says, particularly when bought frozen. Just check that ingredient label to avoid unhealthy extras. Gans suggests steaming the broccoli or sautéing it in a little olive oil and garlic.
Written by Laura McMullen for NerdWallet.
The article 1-Minute Read: 5 Super Cheap, Super Healthy Foods originally appeared on NerdWallet.
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