4/18/2013 By Stepfanie Romine , SparkPeople Blogger See our updated $20 Food Showdown for 2016!



Budget constraints prevent many people from eating right.



"I can't afford to buy healthy food."

"Fruits and vegetables are too expensive."

"Grocery store prices are astronomical."

"It's cheaper to eat fast food."



We hear these "excuses" every day--and they're good ones. But we don't give up that easily and believe any excuse can be overcome. Today we're setting out to prove that healthy eating is possible on any budget.



We compared the cost of unhealthy foods from the drive-thru, freezer section and snack foods aisle to the cost of healthy foods. By making even one of these swaps, you can make room in your grocery budget for a few new healthy foods.



The photos below aim to show the diversity in healthy foods available. Prices may vary in your area (some items were on sale when we shopped), but we think you'll be shocked at how far you can stretch a buck at the supermarket when you buy healthy foods!















































If you bought all that junk food in one month, you would spend $115.64. The healthy food would cost $111.83 but feed you and your family for far more meals.



It might take a bit more time and planning to put these foods on the dinner table each night, but at least now you know you can afford to try!



Foods are store brand unless noted.



(Grocery prices from Wal-Mart and Meijer in Noblesville, Indiana, and Cincinnati, Ohio; fast food prices from the greater Indianapolis and Cincinnati areas, 2010)



Research: and Stepfanie Romine



Photography and Design: Elliott Giles





Budget constraints prevent many people from eating right."I can't afford to buy healthy food.""Fruits and vegetables are too expensive.""Grocery store prices are astronomical.""It's cheaper to eat fast food."We hear these "excuses" every day--and they're good ones. But we don't give up that easily and believe any excuse can be overcome. Today we're setting out to prove that healthy eating is possible on any budget.We compared the cost of unhealthy foods from the drive-thru, freezer section and snack foods aisle to the cost of healthy foods. By making even one of these swaps, you can make room in your grocery budget for a few new healthy foods.The photos below aim to show the diversity in healthy foods available. Prices may vary in your area (some items were on sale when we shopped), but we think you'll be shocked at how far you can stretch a buck at the supermarket when you buy healthy foods!If you bought all that junk food in one month, you would spend $115.64. The healthy food would cost $111.83 but feed you and your family for far more meals.It might take a bit more time and planning to put these foods on the dinner table each night, but at least now you know you can afford to try!Foods are store brand unless noted. Beth Donovan and Stepfanie RomineElliott Giles



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