5 Healthy Diet Foods Under $1.00 A Pound!

Many people complain that eating healthy is just too expensive. While this can be true, much of the time you can eat healthy far more cheaply than you can eat poorly. It just takes a little work. There are many diet-friendly, healthy foods that are also inexpensive if you know where to look. These healthy diet foods are under a $1 a pound in most places in the country. In some areas, such as San Francisco or New York where the costs of living are higher than average, they may be more; but, they will still be far cheaper than many less healthy alternatives.

Dried Legumes. Lentils, beans, and peas are excellent sources of lean protein. They are full of heart-healthy fiber, which also helps keep you fuller longer for extra diet help. Simply soak beans overnight, and then cook for 20-30 minutes. Lentils and peas don't even require soaking, and cook in about 30-40 minutes. Put legumes in a slow cooker with veggies and low-sodium, low-fat broth all day while you're at work, and come home to a hearty, healthy meal that is cheap and diet, healthy, and is good for any diet. Or, cook legumes up, smash with a fork or stick blender, and make homemade veggie burgers with just the addition of egg white and spices.

Quinoa. Buy this high-protein, low-carb grain at most bulk or health food stores for a cheap, healthy dinner. You can use quinoa in place of rices or pastas with any sauce, and it's easy to cook. Rinse in cold water, then cook in a heavy-bottomed sauce pan with broth or water. You'll use about 2 cups of liquid for every half cup of quinoa. There's no draining, so there's no mess. My favorite way to have this is to add some chopped greens and citrus fruit, then top with a bit of citrus juice and oil for a light snack or side dish. You can also top it with you favorite vegetables and pasta sauce.

Bananas. Bananas are often less than 50 cents a pound, and are a great, healthy snack. Don't overeat, as they do have higher sugar than some other fruits, but they are also full of potassium and other nutrients. You can add them to oatmeal for an instant, healthy sweetener; or, eat them plain.

Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP). This soy derivative is low-fat, high protein, and can be purchase in many health food stores, such as Whole Foods, for under $1.00 pound. Use TVP just like you would ground meat, or add it to ground meat to bulk up the final result and cut calories and fat. TVP is a great, cheap way to make healthy tacos, faux meatloaf, and soups.

Low Fat Yogurt. Usually sold by volume, yogurt is almost always under $1.00 a pound when you convert it to weight. You can use yogurt as a snack with some fruit, but you can also use it in place of cream and sour cream. Having chili tonight? Dab some yogurt in it. Do you want a creamy sauce for your pasta? Use yogurt instead of cream. Add a bit of cayenne pepper, smoked sea salt, or cilantro for a yummy alternative to sour cream for any of your Mexican food.

There are many foods in the grocery store under $1.00 a pound, but they can be difficult to find in the clutter. Look for unprocessed foods and whole grains, frozen fruit and vegetables, and dried goods. You'll find better deals on healthy foods that are diet friendly than you will in the "diet" isle of your grocery store.