Cheap - and healthy - foods

If I had a nickel for every time someone told me they couldn't afford to eat healthy foods, I'd be rich.

Food and Health Communications just posted a handy chart that lists the cost per ounce of several different foods. You can use it to compare the value of the foods you routinely purchase by dividing the cost of the food by the number of ounces in the package. Simple and easy, right?

To compare, many packaged cookies, cookies, crackers and other processed foods that are high in calorie density and low in fiber are upwards of .30 per ounce! Shop store specials, look for store brands and compare unit pricing to find the best deals near you. And remember, the more you cook the more you save!

Rice .03 cents
Potatoes .03 cents
Bananas .04 cents
Cabbage .04 cents
Carrots .05 cents
Dried beans .06 cents
Apples .06 cents
Oranges .07 cents
Oatmeal, grits .07 cents
Pasta .08 cents
Yogurt .09 cents
Frozen veggies .09 cents
Peanut butter .09 cents
Soup .09 cents
Broccoli .12 cents
Tuna, canned .15 cents
Chicken breast .18 cents
Egg white .02 cents

How much do you spend on food?

Most people I know complain that they spend far too much money on food. They may be talking about what they spend at the grocery store - although that may also include non-food items such as toilet paper and cleaning supplies. Or they may be thinking about the amount they spend on lunches or dinners eating out, or on vending machines.

A recent report shows that Americans actually spend $189/week on food, but the USDA says we can do even better by using some of their tips. Want to shave $20/week off your food bill? That adds up to over $1000 per year; count me in!

To start saving money today, check out these helpful resources:

The USDA National Agricultural Library maintains the Recipe Finder database at http://recipefinder.nal.usda.gov/. This website allows searching for recipes by cost, menu item (soup, side dish, main dish, etc.), audience (older adults, parents of young children, Hispanic, etc), cooking equipment needed, and cooking/preparation time.

I searched for recipes that cost less than $2/serving, and the site came back with over 400 options. Then I narrowed the search to main dish items for families with teens, and the site gave me 9 options. Very cool!

I'm always looking both for ways to save money as well as new recipes for my family. This website makes searching for both simple!