Healthy Snacks - On The Cheap!

By Betsy McGuire

It happened again--yet another headline this week insinuating that only the wealthy can afford to eat healthy. This just drives me crazy! Obviously, some health foods are going to be more expensive then their unhealthy counterparts, but I resent when the media puts out these types of articles. It tends to put the idea in people's heads that they shouldn't even bother to try to eat healthy--it's just too expensive. So not true!!! and an extra! because I really mean this. Everyone can afford to eat healthy. All it takes is some creativity and a little research. Snacking is a great way to add wonderful nutrition to your day, and it doesn't need to be expensive. A bag of unhealthy chips most people eat in one or two servings is going to run you more than some very nutritious alternatives.

To prove my point, I've figured out the cost of 12 healthy snacks per serving. For almost all, I looked at my local grocery store without using coupons or looking for sales. Serving sizes were simply used from the packages. For the granola and nuts, it's much cheaper to find a store that offers these items in bulk. If your regular grocery store doesn't offer them, go to your local health food store to find grains and nuts in bulk bins.

I have to admit, the results even surprised me. I list them here from most expensive to cheapest:

12. Greek yogurt with ¼ cup fiber one cereal--$1.29

11. low-fat cottage cheese with ¼ cup raspberries (from frozen)--$1.05

10. pear with a stick of low-fat string cheese--$1.03

9. celery with almond butter--92¢

8. apple with natural peanut butter--81¢

7. baby carrots with hummus--77¢

6. whole grain wheat crackers topped with lowfat cream cheese and halved grapes--73¢

5. whole grain wheat crackers sprinkled with lowfat cheese (microwave to melt)--68 ¢

4. handful of raw almonds--60¢

3. homemade trail mix (I used 1 lb granola with flax and hemp seeds, ¾ lb unsalted roasted peanuts, and 1 bag Ghirardelli 60% cacao baking chips). It made 21 (½ cup) servings--46¢

2. banana slices sprinkled with cocoa powder--31¢

and the star of the show -

1. popcorn popped in a paper bag in the microwave (3 cups popped)--5¢ (feel free to add a couple of cents for the paper bag and your favorite seasoning that you may sprinkle on the popped corn)

http://www.chickpeawellness.com

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