With the ever-rising cost of food and the constant reminder that we should watch our weight, cheap low-calorie foods should be first on our grocery list if these matters are important to us. The best time to shop for cheap low-calorie foods is when they are on sale. Fruits and vegetables can be purchased cheap when they are in season.
Protein Foods
Tuna fish is a cheap low-calorie protein food. Three ounces of tuna in water (drained) is about 97 calories and can be purchased for less than $1 when on sale. Eggs are low in price and calories as well, costing about 12 cents an egg when you purchase them for $1.50 per dozen. One hard-boiled egg has approximately 77 calories. Plain fat-free yogurt is sometimes on sale for 50 cents a cup and contains about 127 calories per 8-oz. serving. Shop for chicken breasts on sale. One 3-oz. portion costs approximately 40 cents when each pound is purchased for $1.99, and each 3-oz. portion contains about 141 calories. Pick up a bag of dried beans for about a dollar a bag. One-half cup of cooked beans contains approximately 110 calories.
Vegetables
Fresh broccoli is a cheap low-calorie vegetable. Broccoli can be purchased for as little as 69 cents a head and has only 12 calories per ½ cup. Fresh iceberg lettuce can be found for about a dollar a head and is 11 calories per cup. Carrots are inexpensive as well and contain about 25 calories per ½ cup serving. Look for packaged garlic (five heads to a sleeve) for about a dollar. Garlic contains approximately 4 calories per clove. Buy frozen spinach when it's on sale. A 10-oz. box is sometimes sold for less than $1. Each ½ cup serving amounts to 30 calories.
Fruit
Fresh honeydew melon is sometimes on sale for $1.99. One whole melon can be purchased for this low price when on sale, and honeydew only has 45 calories per medium-size wedge. Buy pears for about $1 a pound. Pears contain 48 calories per ½ cup serving. Look for lemons on sale. You may be able to purchase five lemons for $1. One lemon contains approximately 20 calories. You may be able to buy a whole watermelon on sale for about $5 or $6. One-half cup of watermelon contains 23 calories.
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