It’s almost an adage for many that you can eat well or eat affordably—but you can’t do both.

It’s perfectly understandable why this false notion has become so popular.

When you compare takeout at your favorite restaurant or the prices at big box stores to specialty health stores commonly associated with good food, there’s little comparison. Eating right and buying the food that can help improve your nutrition and well-being is going to be more expensive than the alternative. Or so it seems.

The truth is—with planning, preparation, and the right materials—eating right can be just as cost-effective as the alternative—if not cheaper. We’ll be going over some of the most effective ways you can cook a great meal, feel full, and hang onto your money.

• The Cost of Convenience

Much of the cost differential between healthy and ‘normal’ foods has to do with the issue of convenience and preparation cost.

Fast food restaurants, in particular, are a great example. Since raw meats, oils, fries, and other ingredients are purchased in bulk, the cost of a breakfast burrito or hamburger is extremely low—and yes, cheaper than the alternative. However, company overhead, labor costs, and other associated fees result in the price you pay at the cash register.

While that ticket price may be lower than ordering a salad or shopping at a specialty store, much of the food’s cost is in the convenience of a prepared meal.

If we want to eat healthily, we have to build our meals ahead. That means purchasing raw fruits and vegetables in bulk when possible and keeping more substantial quantities of grains in our homes. If you’re only feeding yourself or one other person, consider freezing these vegetables to preserve their quality and protect your food from rot.

The initial investment may seem steep, but once we’ve assembled our meals and start cooking, the final product will end up far cheaper than whatever can order at a fast food window.

• Building A Better Base

After we’ve made our purchases, we’re going to want to build our meals from rice, quinoa, or other grains that will leave us feeling full for hours after we’ve eaten.

Much like with vegetables, consider buying in bulk and purchasing the most nutritious base you can afford. Simple grains like rice will serve many meals for under a dollar per pound, while more nutritious and healthier grains like quinoa will run you about four dollars a pound—dependent upon your location.

Vegetables and fruits will give us the nutritional value we need, but it is this base that will fill you up and keep you from heading to the convenience store for another fattening meal.

Also, it is important to make sure the ingredients you buy are good for you. A quick google search will turn up lists of unhealthy ingredients to banish from your kitchen.

• Skip The Red Meat

We already know that the National Institutes of Health has connected red meat with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other unsavory illnesses, but red meat does come with a financial cost as well.

In the interest of both your wallet and your body, consider cutting red meat entirely from your diet. White meats like chicken and turkey are cheaper per pound across the country and have lower risks of illnesses overall.

Meats also serve as another foundational tenant of your meals—and a dirt-cheap way to eat better includes rice, meat, and little else. While perhaps not the most nutritious of meals, the simplicity of ingredients without preservatives, msg, and other unknown chemicals make it a better option than yet another breakfast burrito.

Like with our other options, be sure to buy chicken, turkey, and other white meats in bulk and freeze when possible. Remember to cut into pounds or half-pounds before freezing to make searching for the right portions a little easier when it is time to defrost.

• Snack Smart

Finally, if you still find difficulty in sticking with vegetables, meats, and grains, implement healthy snack options throughout your day to fill in the gaps and reduce hunger.

Peanuts and walnuts both make for a snack that can enjoy in the office or car with little mess and smell. Remember to keep the salted peanuts to a minimum to keep your sodium intake down.

While it may not seem immediately healthy, popcorn is another way to keep hunger at bay. Try air-popping popcorn by placing popcorn kernels in a paper bag and microwaving. Go light on the butter and enjoy as a snack during movie nights or other social events.

If you’re struggling with fruits and vegetables, try shifting them from your main courses to snacks as well. It may be easier to meet the required 2 cups of each by spacing them out throughout the day—instead of trying to scarf them down at dinnertime.

Final Thoughts

While other ways of managing your health, such as doctors appointments and health insurance, may be costly, eating right doesn’t have to be. Keeping your ingredients to the bare minimum and taking the time to cook your food won’t just match the cost of dinner outings and late night runs—it’ll beat them.

Similarly, if you’re struggling with the cost of health premiums, co-pays, and doctors visits, common sense solutions like the ones listed above will help you reduce cost.

For example, those who take prescription medication can talk to their doctor about doubling up on medicines and cutting pills where applicable. You can also take advantage of a prescription delivery service by Medly Pharmacy and other companies to get the prescriptions you need delivered right to your door—at no extra cost to you.

Regardless of what you do, it’s quite reasonable to want to both save money and be as healthy and as vibrant as possible. The only difficulty comes in the time needed to seek and cook the ingredients, and the resolve to get healthy and stay healthy.

We hope that we’ve given you a few simple and easy ways to eat right, cut back on convenience fees, and work towards being a healthier, more vibrant person.

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