Cheap foods! We’re covering them in this article. If you’re looking for the cheapest foods to buy at the grocery store, we’ve got you covered.
If you want to save money on groceries, it’s important to know what kinds of foods are the most affordable. Not all foods are created equal when it comes to price, so you may find that cutting back on certain things can help you save more than others.
Important things to know about buying cheap foods
Grocery stores are the cheapest place to buy food. Most grocery stores have their own private-label brands that are much cheaper than popular name-brand foods. Look for these when making your next shopping list!
When it comes to meats and seafood, frozen options tend to be cheaper than fresh options.
Since they’re flash-frozen immediately after being caught/slaughtered, they retain more of their nutrients than fresh options that have been sitting around in a refrigerator for days or weeks before they’re purchased by consumers like yourself.
You’ll also find them at lower prices because they don’t require as much packaging materials since they don’t need refrigeration until after you take them home with you!
In addition to frozen meats and seafood, canned goods are another great way to save money while still getting delicious meals on your table every night of the week (or whenever else it is that you want something tasty)! They’re also easier to store than other forms of food storage like glass jars or plastic containers which means less clutter in your kitchen cabinets!
You don’t have to spend a fortune to eat healthy at the grocery store. Here are some of our favorite cheap foods!
13 Cheap Foods to Buy for Your Home
Cheap Food #1: Pinto Beans
Pinto beans are a great source of protein and fiber, which helps keep you full. They’re also low in calories and carbs, so they won’t spike your blood sugar or make you feel sluggish. If you’re looking for something quick and easy, try mixing pinto beans with rice and salsa for an easy burrito bowl!
Cheap Food #2: Eggs
Eggs are another great source of protein. They’re also one of the cheapest foods at the grocery store—you can buy a dozen eggs for less than $3! You can even use them as an ingredient in other dishes like quiche or frittata, which will keep things interesting without breaking the bank.
Cheap Food #3: Applesauce Pouches
Applesauce pouches are another budget-friendly way to get your fruit fix without having to spend too much money on fresh fruit (which can spoil quickly). Just make sure that when buying these pouches that they don’t have any added sugar.
Cheap Food #4: Rice
Rice is a filling food that can be purchased cheap and last a long time. Rice that’s stored in a cool, dry place can last a long time. It can be used as filler to stretch meals, like adding it as a side when you make a chicken dish or casserole.
It’s a gluten-free food which is excellent for people sensitive to gluten.
You can turn it into a dessert, like rice pudding. You can even grind it and make rice flour. There are so many different uses and applications for rice. It’s a good staple to have in your home.
Cheap Food #5: Potatoes
Potatoes are one of the best fresh vegetables you can buy from the store. You can buy an entire large bag of potatoes for a few bucks and eat them all week long!
- Mashed potatoes
- Potato patties
- Hash browns
- Baked potatoes
Use potatoes as a side dish for your dinner, eat them as main dish, pair them with eggs and veggies for breakfast. This versatile food is also very filling and a staple for your cheap foods grocery list.
Cheap Food #6: Frozen vegetables
Frozen vegetables tend to be cheaper than fresh vegetables and some consider them healthier than canned veggies, depending on various factors.
Canned veggies vs frozen veggies
Here’s what to consider…
Advantages of frozen vegetables:
- Retain nutrients: Frozen vegetables are usually blanched (briefly boiled) before they are frozen, which helps to preserve their nutrients.
- Convenient: Frozen vegetables are a convenient option as they can be easily stored in the freezer and quickly cooked.
- Fresh taste: Frozen vegetables are often flash-frozen at the peak of their freshness, which helps to retain their taste and texture.
Advantages of canned vegetables:
- Convenient: Canned vegetables are a convenient option as they are already cooked and can be easily stored in the pantry.
- Nutrient content: Some vitamins, such as vitamin C, can degrade over time, but the canning process helps to preserve some nutrients, particularly for vegetables like tomatoes, which release more of their nutrients when cooked.
- Affordable: Canned vegetables are often less expensive than fresh or frozen vegetables, making them a budget-friendly option.
Both canned and frozen vegetables can be healthy options, as long as you choose those without added salt, sugar, or unhealthy fats. To maximize their nutritional value, it’s best to choose vegetables that are minimally processed and as close to their natural state as possible.
Cheap Food #7: Canned meats
Canned goods tend to have a long shelf life. That means you can store them in your pantry for sometimes up to years. They’re great to use for every meal of the day from breakfast to dinner.
You can use canned tuna to make tuna sandwiches for lunch. There’s canned soup to have a hot soup dinner. There are many different canned goods available to which can run under a buck to a few dollars each.
Cheap Food #8: Chicken
Chicken is versatile. You can use it in nearly every meal of the day. It’s one of the cheapest meats you can buy from the grocery store whether it’s canned, fresh, or frozen. If you’re trying to include meat into your cheap foods grocery list, chicken is a great option to have on your list.
Cheap Food #9: Canned fruits and vegetables
Canned fruits and veggies are canned goods and much cheaper than the fresh version, many times. Peaches, cherries, pears, peas, asparagus, and more can be canned and stored on your shelf for a longer period of time. These are great for storing and perfect for making into a cheap meal or dessert.
Cheap Food #10: Baking ingredients (flour, sugar, etc.)
Baking ingredients like flour and sugar allow you to make baked goods from home and enjoy dessert on a budget:
- Pies
- Cakes
- Cookies
- Breakfast crisps and crumbles
With a few added ingredients, you can prepare a homemade sweet treat for your family to enjoy.
Cheap Food #11: Peanut butter
Peanut butter, like many of the items in this list are:
- Versatile
- Convenient
- Shelf stable
- Easy to use and prepare
Peanut butter ideas for breakfast can include peanut butter toast, peanut butter french toast or pancakes. Peanut butter ideas for lunch can include a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, peanut butter rice noodles, a peanut butter based dressed salad. Peanut butter dinner ideas include: peanut butter veggie stir fry, peanut butter chicken, peanut butter honey-glazed salmon.
Cheap Food #12: Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes like potatoes, are one of the cheapest produce foods you can buy from the grocery store.
Cheap Food #13: Turkey
Turkey is a healthy alternative to beef and other expensive cuts of meat. It’s also a cheaper option that can be great for:
- Spaghetti and meat sauce
- Turkey loaf
- Turkey burgers and other meal ideas
Cheap foods vs Expensive foods
Cheap foods are low-priced for one or all of these reasons:
- Abundant supply: Potatoes are widely cultivated in many countries and are one of the most widely grown crops in the world. This leads to a large supply of them and helps to keep prices low.
- Ease of cultivation: Potatoes are relatively easy to grow, which means that they can be produced in large quantities and at a lower cost compared to other crops.
- Long shelf life: Potatoes have a long shelf life and can be stored for several months without spoiling, making them a convenient and affordable staple food for many households.
- Versatility: Potatoes are a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from mashed potatoes to french fries. This versatility contributes to their popularity and affordability.
- Low cost of transportation: Potatoes are relatively lightweight and take up minimal space, which makes them easy to transport and reduces transportation costs. This also means that they can be exported to other countries relatively easily, which contributes to their widespread availability and low cost.
Grocery List on a Budget
Need help creating a cheap foods grocery list? Here’s an example to get you started…
Here is a grocery list of cheap foods that you can consider buying:
- Rice
- Pasta
- Grains (such as oatmeal, cornmeal)
- Legumes (such as beans, lentils)
- Potatoes and sweet potatoes
- Canned vegetables (such as tomatoes, corn, green beans)
- Canned fruits
- Eggs
- Peanut butter
- Frozen vegetables
- Chicken, turkey or canned meat
- Baking ingredients (such as flour, sugar, yeast)
- Onions, garlic, and other basic spices
- Carrots, bananas, and other fruits and vegetables that are in-season
It’s important to keep in mind that prices for these items may vary depending on your location and the time of year, so be sure to compare prices and buy items that are in-season and on sale.
