Sounds impossible doesn’t it? As I get ready to hit the roads to travel to Houston for The Houston Salsa Congress, I’m thinking about the fast-food mecca that awaits me on the road. Which sounds good but not so good on the waist line!
The good news is that eating healthy on the run doesn’t have to ruin your diet or your budget! Here are some of the top 20 Healthiest Foods Under $1…
1. Oats
High in fiber and complex carbohydrates, oats have also been shown to lower cholesterol.
2. Eggs
You can get about a half dozen of eggs for a dollar, making them one of the cheapest and most versatile sources of protein. They are also a good source of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which may ward off age-related eye problems.
3. Kale
This dark, leafy green is loaded with vitamin C, carotenoids, and calcium.
4. Potatoes
Because we often see potatoes at their unhealthiest-as fries or chips-we don’t think of them as nutritious, but they definitely are. Eaten with the skin on, potatoes contain almost half a day’s worth of Vitamin C, and are a good source of potassium. If you opt for sweet potatoes or yams, you’ll also get a good wallop of beta carotene. Plus, they’re dirt cheap and have almost endless culinary possibilities.
5. Apples
They are a good source of pectin-a fiber that may help reduce cholesterol-and they have the antioxidant Vitamin C, which keeps your blood vessels healthy.
6. Nuts
Though nuts have a high fat content, they’re packed with the good-for-you fats-unsaturated and monounsaturated. They’re also good sources of essential fatty acids, Vitamin E, and protein.
7. Bananas
High in potassium and fiber!
8. Garbanzo Beans
Not only are they a great source of protein and fiber, but these beans are also high in fiber, iron, folate, and manganese, and may help reduce cholesterol levels.
9. Broccoli
Broccoli contains tons of nice nutrients-calcium, vitamins A and C, potassium, folate, and fiber. As if that isn’t enough, broccoli is also packed with phytonutrients, compounds that may help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.
10. Watermelon
This summertime fruit is over 90 percent water, making it an easy way to hydrate, and gives a healthy does of Vitamin C, potassium, and lycopene, an antioxidant that may ward off cancer.
11. Wild Rice
Low in fat and high in protein and fiber, this gluten-free rice is a great source of complex carbohydrates. It packs a powerful potassium punch and is loaded with B vitamins.
12. Beets
They’re powerhouses of folate, iron, and antioxidants.
13. Butternut Squash
Fiber and chunks and chunks of Vitamin A and C.
14. Whole Grain Pasta
Complex carbohydrate source that is high in protein and B vitamins.
15. Sardines
Little fish come with big benefits: calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins. And, because they’re low on the food chain, they don’t accumulate mercury.
16. Spinach
Lots of Vitamin C, iron, and trace minerals.
17. Tofu
Inexpensive protein source high in B vitamins and iron, but low in fat and sodium.
18. Lowfat Milk
Milk is rich in protein, vitamins A and D, potassium, and niacin, and is one of the easiest ways to get bone-strengthening calcium.
19. Pumpkin Seeds
Goldmine of magnesium, protein, and trace minerals.
20. Coffee
Contains beneficial antioxidants that protect against free radicals and may actually help thwart heart disease and cancer. I know I’ll be drinking lots of this just to stay awake after all the dancing! lol
Bon Appetit! Got any other healthy foods not mentioned here that are good for us cheapos? Let us know! 
Tags: beauty and food, fast food, healthy diet, healthy eating budget, weight loss
