Friday's Food

THE FIVE BEST FOODS FOR YOU THAT DON'T BREAK THE BANK!

This Friday's Food offers you the best foods you can eat for your health and diet and best of all they're cheap! Who says eating healthy is too expensive?

1.) Black Beans- At only 1/2 a gram of fat and 90 calories per serving, these little beans still pack a punch with 7g of protein. Use them instead of chicken in tacos or burritos or add them to salads or rice dishes to make a hearty meal. At only $0.99 per can (one can has 3.5 servings) black beans will really be a bang for your buck!

2.) Plum Tomatoes- Cheaper than some of their cousins like beefsteak or vine, they still offer the same cancer fighting benefits (if you have been spending a lot of time in the sun, stock up on these tomatoes!). They also are a great source of Vitamins A and C and with only 15 calories and 0g of fat, you can eat a ton of them! Try dicing them and adding to salads or sandwiches or make a pasta sauce or pico de gallo with these great almost seedless variety.

3.) Bananas- One of the cheapest fruits you can buy at only $0.79 per lb, bananas are rich in potassium and are much more filing than other water-based fruits. Have one sliced in your morning cereal, smoothie or yogurt. Eat one before hitting the gym for an instant energy booster. Or try slicing one and dipping it in melted chocolate for instant fondue!

4.) Shrimp- One of the cheapest seafoods you can buy, shrimp is so versatile and low in fat. Its a great choice for a protein in your meals and it is so versatile you can add it to Italian pasta dishes, Asian stir-fries, or Mexican tacos. Try seasoning it with spices prior to cooking like oregano or chipotle chilli and the shrimp will add a punch of flavor to your dish.

5.) Eggs- Stay away from the organic, corn-fed or free range chicken and you can pick up a dozen eggs for about $2.00. Eggs last a long time in the fridge so no need to eat them up right away and with a dozen of them, you'll have plenty of egg options! Try hardboiling them for a quick breakfast or combine one egg with 2-3 egg whites and scramble them for a more laid back breakfast. Use the eggs in your sandwich instead of cold cuts (even low-fat cold cuts can still provide a ton of sodium so its good to take a break!) or mix it with mayo and make egg salad. Hardboiled eggs are also great in pasta salads (use a light vingaigrette instead of mayo). Best of all, eating all the protein in eggs will keep you full all day!

Readers, are there any healthy foods you eat that are low cost?