Skip to content

Healthy Foods that Cost $5 or Less

Healthy Foods that Cost $5 or Less

The following article was written by Heinen’s Chief Dietitian, Melanie Jatsek RD, LD.

Taste and cost are two of the most common reasons people give for not adopting and sticking to a healthier eating pattern.

Let’s talk taste.

Your body craves what you feed it most. So, if pizza and burgers are what you eat, fresh vegetables will taste bland because you’ve conditioned your taste buds to prefer salty, fatty foods.

The good news is taste buds are malleable. Just start putting the healthy stuff in, and your palate will slowly shift to prefer more wholesome foods. Trust me, it works every time. A little patience and time are all that’s required.

What about cost?

I won’t argue that some Fx™-approved foods are more expensive; however, there are also plenty of budget-friendly options at Heinen’s! A quick and inexpensive meal doesn’t mean limiting yourself to salty frozen dinners. It can look like fresh baked tilapia over quinoa, butternut squash and tomatoes.

If that sounds appetizing to you, take a look at this list of Fx™-approved meal and snack items under $5. You can even combine a couple of items in each category to create easy, satisfying meals that will fuel your body with life-giving foods.

Breakfast Fare for $5 or Less

Plant Powered Guacamole Stuffed Peppers on a Plate
Plant-Powered Guacamole-Stuffed Peppers

Lunch Staples for $5 or Less

Delicious Dinner Ingredients for $5 or Less

Choose an item from each category to create delicious and nutritious meals that won’t break the bank.

Proteins

Vegetables

Grains and Pasta

Flavor Enhancers

Satisfying Snacks and Drinks for $5 or Less

Key Takeaway

Put on a new pair of glasses and reframe how you look at your food choices with this question: Will this food just fill me up or will it fuel me with life-giving nutrition? The above cost-friendly, Fx™-approved foods will do both.

Melanie Jatsek RD, LD

By Melanie Jatsek RD, LD

Heinen's Chief Dietitian, Melanie Jatsek, RD, LD believes that the answer to a strong, healthy and vibrant body lies within. As a published author with over 20 years of experience in wellness program development, health coaching and professional speaking, Melanie offers expert guidance through Heinen's Club Fx program to help customers take inspired action to build the healthy body they were meant to live in without giving up their favorite foods.

Related Recipes & Stories