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The 20 Healthiest Foods for Under $1

divinecaroline.com — Food prices are climbing, and some might be looking to fast foods and packaged foods for their cheap bites. But low cost doesn ’t have to mean low quality. In fact, some of the most inexpensive things you can buy are the best things for you.

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  • nads, on 07/09/2008, -17/+59Although the idea is right, there is no way of these items can be bought for under $1. If you wer actually going to make a meal out of a combinations of these ingredients I'm sure the cost would be far more than expected.
    • socialdork, on 07/09/2008, -2/+44well I think they can all be bought for under a dollar each. So if you add them together yes they would cost more. I think the main point is you can actually buy healthy food that starts under a dollar in decent portion size. Potatoes and Apples for instance. If you swapped other veggie like asparagus you'd probably spend far more for less food.
      • texpundit, on 07/09/2008, -1/+6Exactly. I think everyone is getting messed up on their terminology.

        food != a whole meal
      • TheTSArt, on 07/10/2008, -1/+1I didn't see one single item on that list I could find at the store for a $1.
    • blackinthmiddle, on 07/09/2008, -9/+4After reading

      "3. Kale
      This dark, leafy green is loaded with vitamin C, carotenoids, and calcium. Like most greens, it is usually a dollar a bunch."

      I thought the exact same thing. it's dubious to think any of the things on this list are meals. I think the article would have been better of to find 20 good "snacks" for under a dollar, because no one is going to eat Kale all by itself as any type of meal. However, people snack on apples and nuts all the time.
      • dnields, on 07/09/2008, -2/+24Well, the article never said anything about these items being 'meals'.
      • jemka, on 07/09/2008, -3/+6@ dnields
        No not explicitly. But the article didn't say that this was a list of ingredients either.
      • j0ew00ds, on 07/09/2008, -2/+7it says FOODS! Jesus. You're all arguing over the wrong semantics.
      • deMonkey, on 07/09/2008, -2/+7"But the article didn't say that this was a list of ingredients either. "

        And this is what's wrong with the world today. =)
        It's not a list of ingredients. Each of those items is by nature its own food. You can eat one or any combination of those items and it'd be a food. The title says "food", not "meal", and there are even recipe suggestions listed.

        This isn't Marie Calendar's / McDonald's / Applebees. Check out a TED talk called "What's wrong with what we eat today" -- the problem it addresses is that people don't understand they can eat foods alone now or are conditioned to only eat meals, resulting in terrible diets.
      • Waaaaalt, on 07/09/2008, -1/+6Clearly your mom snacks on nuts all the time.
      • humperdeath, on 07/09/2008, -0/+3Whats wrong with a 99cent bean and cheese burrito?
      • cdahlkvist, on 07/09/2008, -0/+5Actually, some of us do snack on plain, dry kale or lettuce or spinach.

        You'd be surprised how delicious greens can be as a snack.

        And I hate hippies so that's not even it. I just happen to like leafy greens.

        Of course I snack on plain, uncooked Asparagus too, so maybe I'm just a freak.
      • jemka, on 07/09/2008, -0/+5@cdahlkvist
        "And I hate hippies so that's not even it." +1
      • MrSparkle666, on 07/10/2008, -0/+3I HAVE eaten kale alone as a meal. It is actually quite satisfying. Sometimes for dinner I'll just eat a whole stalk of brocolli, a whole squash, a whole bag of spinach or any other vegetable available. I usually just steam them and then douse them in olive oil and sea salt. It's actually quite satisfying. I'll usually combine them with a side of rice and beans or fish but when I'm lazy I'll just eat the vegetables, and no I am not a vegetarian.

        We have been tricked into believeing that we need to eat animal protein for every meal in order to be satisfied, but it's just not true. It's like an addiction, and once you get past the withdrawl period it just isn't as appealing anymore. And it's a LOT cheaper too. This list almost mirrors my regular grocery list.
    • BoondocksSexy, on 07/09/2008, -3/+5I think its meant to be by themselves, of course its hard to make meals out of them without other ingredients, but honestly, some of these are not a $1, like nuts, no way, i buy my own groceries and that is not true. And Tofu is crazy expensive!!! i can never get it for a buck.. sigh! but some of those things are very cheap though, love eggs and brocoli!! :) have some good ideas for breakfast now. lol
      • deMonkey, on 07/09/2008, -0/+6No. Tofu's really cheap if you buy it in the right places. It's about $1 for a 14-ounce container at most local growers/co-op food stores, Trader Joe's, etc. It's more expensive (rarely over $2.50 per pack) at grocery stores because they usually only carry one or two brands. But everything tends to be a bit more in a supermarket like that.. It's also a really crappy variety usually. This is the price for raw tofu in a sealed container. You can also buy baked tofu but yes those are pretty pricey ($3/8-ounces or so).
      • lisaawesome, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1haha I was thinking jeez where are these people buying their nuts at? I pay like 4 bucks for a can.
      • dinostabOMG, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1What? I buy oats all the time. $1 will get you maybe 5 breakfasts worth. Maybe if you pay for Quaker packaging it costs more. Ditto most of the other stuff (that I know of). I don't know how you're buying it but you might be getting ripped off.
    • macweirdo42, on 07/09/2008, -2/+10The title should've been more clear - it's less than $1 per serving. Doesn't mean you can buy all the items here for a dollar each. Really bugged me that they included things like milk on the list, because you can't just buy a dollar's worth of milk.
      • stellamaris, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1Lots of things are less than a dollar per serving. I guess all those things are unhealthy, though.
      • bobbi21, on 07/22/2008, -0/+1Almost anything is less than a dollar per serving actually. Healthy food is generally more expensive (disregarding a few things like potatoes and eggs or something I guess). And at least at my grocery store wild rice is WAY more expensive than white rice where it's not even comparable.

        Oh and you can buy those individual sized like school cafeteria milks for under a dollar
    • dstz, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1"if you wer actually going to make a meal out of a combinations of"

      Yes, under an assumption that's unrelated to the proposition, then the proposition is wrong.
    • bman85, on 07/09/2008, -1/+3Yeah its tough for any of these things to compete with a dollar menu burger for actually feeling like your eating something for a dollar, thats what sucks.

      Plus they all take work to prepare a meal with. If your on a time budget, that sucks.
    • Joomal, on 07/10/2008, -0/+13 eggs are less than one dollar. combined with 2 slices of toast you can't get much cheaper than that.

      Or 2 eggs and a bowl of oats.. that's one healthy breakfast.

  • JoJones, on 07/09/2008, -3/+71Thank goodness they are normal food. I was afraid it was going to be a bunch of nuts and berries. But maybe those are more than a buck.
    • burjzyntski, on 07/09/2008, -1/+2things you can grow yourself would actually be some of the healthiest things to consume.
      ever heard of the neandertal diet? basically eating off the land, whats available to you, without processed goods or preservative-infused foods.
      • marx2k, on 07/09/2008, -0/+6Except when you're using stuff like Miracle-Grow to grow it....
      • burjzyntski, on 07/09/2008, -1/+6if you know what you're doing, you don't 'need' chemical fertilizers. all of those macronutrients can be found in other food sources (compostable items), so it's totally possible to have a chemical-supplement-free garden, as i began a while ago.

        not saying that my tomatoes, squash, or turnips are fruiting, but it is possible.
      • cdahlkvist, on 07/09/2008, -1/+1Worm castings, compost and manure will pretty much take care of all of your gardening needs (for nutrient rich soil).

        There are a few ways you can take care of insect problems but I pretty much head down a different path when it comes to that issue. I use a carbaryl powder (actually breaks down extremely fast in the environment). It is extremely toxic and you need to follow manufacturers instructions on how long to wait between application and harvest time (and I typically run a week or two longer than recommended).

        As another note about carbaryl, while it is toxic a very little goes a LONG way. On my corn, for example) I usually pick 3 corn stalks out the the 50 or so I am growing and I only powder them (and a very small amount). As I said, it is toxic, but it is a deterrent first. That is why it works to use it on only a few select stalks.

        Everything else grows great without the need of any pesticide or synthetic fertilizer.

        Why aren't your tomatoes, squash or turnips fruiting yet?
      • burjzyntski, on 07/09/2008, -0/+0improper planting times along with a few transplants. i live in a very sandy area, so the transplant into the sandy soil may have sapped some essential nutrients. it has rained a lot recently, so maybe my inability to prevent the soil from flooding also had something to do with it?

        i tasted a few basil leaves from a friends 'garden' the other day, and i knew right off the bat that they had had some chemical fertilizers added. the parsley tasted a bit off kilter as well.

        we have some of the tastiest (and free!) mangoes growing in our backyard too, so the little bit of effort that goes into maintenance totally pays off.

        i encourage more people to start a garden, even if you only have a few of each species growing (ex: onions are painfully easy to grow) it'll pay off.

        i find that watering plants also helps relieve some stress. good luck people.
      • FLarsen, on 07/10/2008, -0/+2Chemicals != bad.
        Chemicals == everything.

        Just know what you're doing and what you're using.
    • whahaa, on 07/09/2008, -0/+3nuts and berries aren't normal?
    • mike17032, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2Actually nuts are kinda expensive.
      • chris006, on 07/09/2008, -0/+0not if you buy smart... in shell and in bulk (not meaning by the ton but rather more than a jar of Planters), most nuts are pretty inexpensive... if you go to farmer's markets you can get a lot for very little $
      • Spudster, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1Also nuts fill you up pretty quickly on a little amount.
    • PeninsulaBoy217, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1Actually nuts are surprisingly expensive.
  • franklymydear57, on 07/09/2008, -0/+14I like the recipe links to some of the foods. I always think about buying kale because I know it's so heathy, but I never know how to cook it.
    • MacEnvy, on 07/09/2008, -0/+6Cook it just like collard or mustard greens. Basically simmer in a quart of water with an onion and a piece of meat for about 45 minutes, and it comes out tender and tasty. Serve with red wine vinegar as a condiment.

      The article said it only costs a dollar for a bunch, but it's more like $1.69 here in NYS. Close enough.
      • wanderingsun, on 07/09/2008, -0/+3I love greens with hot pepper sauce, too. (Peppers soaked in vinegar)

        You get that vinegar kick with some heat.
      • John370, on 07/09/2008, -1/+6If you cook it like that, you had better drink the quart of water too, because that's where all the nutrients will be.

        People continuously boil the crap out of there veggies, removing all the life from them and reducing them to empty calories, then they take processed vitamin supplements which their bodies can't absorb, and wonder why their dead by 50.

      • MacEnvy, on 07/09/2008, -1/+3@John

        With greens like those you really need to boil the hell out of them, or they'll be too tough and bitter to eat. But yeah, you should eat the "pot likker" if you want to get the most out of it.
      • cdahlkvist, on 07/09/2008, -2/+1What's wrong with raw, crunchy and earthy (you refer to it as bitter)?
      • John370, on 07/09/2008, -1/+2Mac,

        If you have to cook your veggies at all, they should only be lightly steamed... Every morning, I make a Kale Smoothie with about 3 oz of Kale (a handful), 3 oz Spinach, two peeled apples, a banana, two tablespoons of Agave Nectar (cause sugar is the Devil) and a pinch of cinnamon... They taste amazing and you will feel more raw energy during the day than you could ever get from coffee.
    • sonnysavage, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2If you don't mind chewing a bit, it can be used in salad too.
      • TonyLocNE, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1really? I wouldn't think it would taste very well raw.. but yeah, you would have to chew a lot.
    • Ardentfrost, on 07/09/2008, -0/+7I find greens cooked in water to be lackluster and mushy.

      My preferred way is to either sautee in oil with onions, garlic, salt, and ceyenne pepper, or to start with a sautee without the oil, sweat out some onions or leaks and garlic, then toss in about a cup of chicken broth (salt to taste at the very end here since the chicken broth will bring salt to the dish). Cook until the greens turn a darker color and are limp. They'll still have a bit of crunch when you eat them, but they're quite yummy.
      • wanderingsun, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2Mmmmmm sauteed greens are the best!! With TONS of garlic!
    • Rudegar, on 07/09/2008, -5/+0makes you fart though :P
  • DiggieDarko, on 07/09/2008, -2/+42I know too many people who equate 'healthy' for 'organic', and then say they can't always afford it. This proves food can be nutritious and cheap, even if its not organic.
    • BobMysterioso, on 07/09/2008, -1/+10No, it proves a few ingredients can be cheap. Cooking healthy, tasty food is more expensive than bad for you almost all the time.

      Next time you're cooking, take note of every spice, vinegar, veggie, oil & meat you use. Realize that that healthy red pepper just cost you at least ($1.50) for the meal. Throw in a nickel for some vinegar another for oil, then add in some onions ($.75), maybe some toasted pine nuts ($.75) atop a nice big bed of spinach ($3) and you have yourself a minimal salad - but it just cost you $6. You didn't add in any garlic or other spices, you just made a simple (hopefully healthy) vinagrette. You have no drink, no bread, and there is little protein.

      You could go to burger king way cheaper, and be full longer.

      I spend a lot on food, and half of it is fresh veggies. I eat healthy (because of my wife) but its much more expensive than shake 'n bake drumsticks with shells and cheese. Oh man... that sounds pretty good..
      • marx2k, on 07/09/2008, -2/+5Consider the future costs of medical insurance (or just straight up medical bills) in the price you're paying.
      • raquel9e, on 07/09/2008, -0/+3$3 worth of spinach is usually at least 6 oz. which is two full servings. And I don't know where you buy your onions, but they must either be enormous or expensive for one to cost 75 cents.
      • elmetald00d, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2hahahahahahahaha 75 cents for the onion... are you eating an entire ***** onion in your salad or something? onions cost much less than 75 cents a piece in any case... big bed of spinach for 3 dollars? what the *****? you made a meal for 3 man stfu
      • bobbi21, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1......3 oz of spinach is a meal for you.... wow...you eat a lot less than I do...that wouldn't even put a dent into my appetite.

        Although yeah that is a lot of/expensive onions. More onion than spinach :P

        Either way, junk food is way cheaper. a giant bag of chips is often less than a $1 and if you don't get sick of it that's more than a meal. Chinese take out is actually cheaper than most fast food places (and I guess is a little healthier than most fast food but still unhealthy). I can get like a 20 lb bag of white rice for less than $10 and that'll last you for quite some time. (not that white rice is that bad for you. but comparatively to wild rice anyway)

    • kentifer, on 07/10/2008, -0/+2Yesterday I was out shopping and organic celery was cheaper than it's non-organic variety.
      • bobbi21, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Man I gotta find these stores with cheap organic stuff.
  • HeatherH88, on 07/09/2008, -1/+47Bananas are one of the best, cheapest snacks around =) Delicious!
    • leerayIG88, on 07/09/2008, -0/+4yeah, I usually eat about 4 a day. 2 in the morning, 1 at lunch, and 1 at the gym. Great source for energy!
      • soapyeyejoe, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1Golly, you sure eat a lot of bananas.
    • duster, on 07/09/2008, -0/+9bananas are the only food I think I could never get sick of. ***** awesome
      • RadiantEclipse, on 07/10/2008, -0/+2Wow. I hope I'm not the only one that read that comment with the period moved one word to the right.
    • Sairynn, on 07/09/2008, -9/+2I disagree, I can't stand the taste.
    • marx2k, on 07/09/2008, -0/+5bananas + yogurt FTW!
      • jerrycurley, on 07/09/2008, -15/+0Seriously...it is not 2006, FTW makes you look like a really pathetic loser. (And even if it was 2006, it would still make you look pathetic.)
      • marx2k, on 07/09/2008, -2/+2Would you rather I write out "For The Win!"? Or do you have an aversion to certain phrases? Dumbass Pet Peeves FTW!
      • chris006, on 07/09/2008, -1/+1bananas + yogurt for breakfast, bananas + peanut butter for dessert!
    • xen271, on 07/09/2008, -3/+1yea, bananas are good until you get sick of them
    • SmurfyBrown, on 07/10/2008, -0/+2enjoy them before they go exctinct
    • razz8806, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1bananas = nature's candy bar. think about it. they've got a wrapper and everything.

      the catch- they are good for you o_0
    • BedPost, on 07/10/2008, -1/+1Fact: Eating bananas makes you poop less often.
    • Rekzai, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1lol monkeys
    • quii, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1They are also an atheist's worse nightmare!
  • stignordas, on 07/09/2008, -2/+106Wait, none of these come in a wrapper.
  • djepik, on 07/09/2008, -13/+72Dugg for good suggestions
    Burried for Divine Caroline
    Dugg for saying coffee is healthy

    net = 1 digg
    • jawagas, on 07/09/2008, -1/+10Agreed, in the long-term scope this Divine Caroline article had a good stock profit.
    • doiveo, on 07/09/2008, -5/+1Buried for taking good-for-you-foods and topping or mixing them with sour creme, cheese, sugar, mayonnaise, shortening, and salt

      back to 0
    • chrisaug18, on 07/09/2008, -2/+2whew, almost had to bust out the other account there
  • SolidBones, on 07/09/2008, -3/+15Mashed potatos with the skins in them are amazing. Now I feel like I make healthier choices for liking that.
    • jb0nd38372, on 07/09/2008, -1/+2Dugg that comment, totally agree with you.
    • chris006, on 07/09/2008, -1/+0hate restaurant mashed taters, no skin, no lumps

      yukon golds are the best!
    • ratsg, on 07/10/2008, -1/+6if it grows in the ground, skin it on down.

      there are some gross perversions in the food world, but mashed potatoes with skins is right up at the top.
    • notwizt, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1Wait, isn't potatoes pretty much just starch and quick carbohydrates? Maybe it's cheap but mashed potatoes won't stay long in your stomach. It's not good food in that way. :(
    • bobbi21, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Yeah pretty much. The skin is the only thing that is nutritious. guess it might weight each other out but I still think it doesnt'.
  • billbugger, on 07/09/2008, -15/+4?!? Mom, if i finish this ***** meal, can i get dessert?
    • Cybermaul, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1Actually, if you eat this meal and skip the dessert, you get to eat tomorrow. Isn't that fair?
  • Aurakle, on 07/09/2008, -4/+4Great suggestions!
    • Spudster, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1This article is very timely actually. I'm moving out and going to University on my own dime, so this will surely come in handy.
  • theadvinci, on 07/09/2008, -4/+11You can't have too many eggs in your fridge.
    • voxtarri, on 07/09/2008, -1/+14Wrong, right now we have three dozen and I can't fit my mountain dews in the fridge because of it!
      • serif69, on 07/09/2008, -0/+9They'll fit. You just need to push harder.
      • ChaosProfessor, on 07/10/2008, -1/+4quit soda i did 10 days ago and i feel great 2 days of headaches from lack of caffeine was worth it
      • soapyeyejoe, on 07/10/2008, -0/+3Good for you ChaosProfessor. Avoiding soda is one of the best ways to keep healthy, I kicked the habit of drinking it a few months ago myself.
    • ThaDRD, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1But you can have too many eggs in one basket.
  • basye, on 07/09/2008, -0/+3Not only are most of these foods healthier, but they are more satisfying to your appetite. Try eating a half bag of potatoes or nuts as opposed to a bag of chips, you know?
    • tkr2099, on 07/09/2008, -0/+14Half bag of potatoes?? So what, like 10lbs worth? That would satisfy my appetite for sure.
    • Xihix, on 07/09/2008, -0/+6Half a bag of nuts would probably exceed the amount of calories of half a bag of potato chips. Well, then again, depends on the bag size.
    • bobbi21, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Depending on the nuts and chips it could exceed the amount of fat too.
  • ThePwnyExpress, on 07/09/2008, -5/+12lima, lento, soy and pinto. navy, northern and gorbonzo! kidney and frijoles negros! i love beans!

    i love beans whoo whoo whoo. i love beans, how bout you? high in fiber, low in fat. hey i bet you didn't know that!

    when i eat beans, i sit in my own little cloud... nobody comes to visit me in my little cloud.... idk why... maybe cause i'm cuttin' muffins, because...

    i love beans. hey hey hey. i love beans everyday. beans are an excellent source of protein. i love beans dinky doo!
    • happystatic, on 07/09/2008, -5/+0you're weird
    • FWSquatch, on 07/09/2008, -0/+4I haven't heard that song in years! Thanks for reminding me of it!
    • Cybermaul, on 07/09/2008, -0/+3Beans, beans, the magical fruit...
    • happystatic, on 07/10/2008, -0/+4oh, it's a song. now i just feel like a dick.
    • lisaawesome, on 07/10/2008, -0/+2haha you said negros

      /end the stupid
    • cutevie, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1frijoles negros! Yum yum :9
  • OUChevelleSS, on 07/09/2008, -2/+6I'd like to figure out what stores they're shopping at...
    • marx2k, on 07/09/2008, -0/+4The grocery store would be my guess
      • OUChevelleSS, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1I can't buy anything of those prices due to portion sizes at any local places (WalMart, Food Pyramid, Reasors, etc.).
    • MrSparkle666, on 07/10/2008, -0/+0I shop at local health food store called "Richards Whole Foods." They sell most of this stuff like nuts, grains, beans, seeds, tofu, etc in bulk by weight instead of prepackaged, and you can buy whatever amount you want. Most people don't even know these places exist. Farmers markets are great too.
  • MCA2142, on 07/09/2008, -5/+1411. oats
    2. eggs
    3. kale
    4. potatoes
    5. apples
    6. nuts
    7. bananas
    8. garbanzo beans
    9. broccoli
    10. watermelon
    11. wild rice
    12. beets
    13. butternut squash
    14. whole grain pasta
    15. sardines
    16. spinach
    17. tofu
    18. low fat milk
    19. pumpkin seeds
    20. coffee
    • chr15, on 07/09/2008, -0/+8you definitely want to buy apples and spinach organically grown. no way that's gonna be under a dollar. Those two are high on the pesticide list. I would also get good eggs too.

      • likeyehokwhatev, on 07/09/2008, -1/+28I only eat eggs from organically grown, tofu-fed, privately educated, free-range chickens. Can I have some cake now?
      • RobotLeAwesome, on 07/10/2008, -1/+2pft, ***** off - if you can't afford organic buy non-organic, it has way less ***** than most processed foods do,

        and plus - ***** bugs.
      • Pezza131214, on 07/10/2008, -1/+3Your organic food is covered in shít; that's why it's got 100% daily value of E. coli. Since it's covered in ***** instead of synthetic, yet safe, fertilizer, it has an 8 to 1 recall ratio when compared to conventional produce. It's not good for the environment with half the yield of conventional foods.

        Also, some people have the strange idea that organic foods come from friendly family farms or something like that: that's pretty far from the truth.
      • Spudster, on 07/10/2008, -1/+1Score one for the pesticides!
    • madeingermany, on 07/09/2008, -0/+6Lentils should be on this list. (the more variety, the better)
      • Yuska, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2They're mentioned on the little paragraph that goes along with the Garbanzo beans.
    • volve, on 07/10/2008, -0/+318. low fat milk

      ?? healthiest milk is full fat [without any growth hormones of course] but for some reason full fat has become a dirty term and not even bottled chocolate milkshakes come full fat anymore. What is the world coming too when your milkshakes try and save you some calories? :/
      • RobotLeAwesome, on 07/10/2008, -0/+2something about 50% overweight is what that US has become, idiots ruin everything for everyone.
      • bobbi21, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Full fat has more fat than a lot of ice creams actually (which is frankly confusing to me). Causes problems.
  • pak314, on 07/09/2008, -8/+30I like my potatoes sliced thinly and deep fried. For convenience, I buy the prepared ones in convenient packages.
  • pimpnamedjino, on 07/09/2008, -2/+5mmm sardines are tasty
    • bytor4232, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2Yup, dugg for Sardines. I read an article on here about how healthy they were, so I gave them a whirl. Smells bad, looks bad, but man are they good. I especially love them packed in mustard sauce. Beach Cliff FTW.
      • marx2k, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1Whoa... sardines in mustard sauce and sardines in Louisianan hot sauce... mmMmM
    • zip000, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1Sardines are one of those foods that just don't seem like they can possibly be good until you try them. I still can't really get over the idea of them, but when I've had them in stuff, they are good.
    • Volatile, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1I thought I was the only one on the planet that liked sardines. Sardines on saltine crackers=winner.
      • ScottMitchell, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1I take it you've never been to Korea or a Korean restaurant.
  • dilbertsd, on 07/09/2008, -0/+11where's my ramen? ;)
    • bytor4232, on 07/09/2008, -7/+3Dude, Ramen are not healthy at all. Have you looked at the nutrition information? A package contains almost half the RDV of Saturated fat, and over half your RDV of sodium.
      • Skorme, on 07/09/2008, -1/+6I take it you didn't see the wink.

        We'll consider that a woosh and put it by the way-side.
      • RobotLeAwesome, on 07/10/2008, -0/+2Yeah dude, only half is still under 100%, so a package and a half of ramen a day and I'm on the fast track to fitville.
    • Versh, on 07/09/2008, -3/+1Ramen is cheap, but healthy, it is not. On the cheaper brands you should note that the serving size for one package is 60% of your daily allotted amount of sodium-- and since one package is designated as two portions, that's 120% sodium from one flavor packet! So don't buy Ramen less expensive than 25¢ unless you are truly desperate for subsistence.
      • lisaawesome, on 07/10/2008, -0/+6Who pays 25 cents or more for Ramen? I'm pissed it's no longer 10 cents here. ***** 13 cents is *****. We're not all rich!
      • bobbi21, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Hope you people understand he was joking.

        Anyway. The ramen I buy actually is 30% of your daily sodium (still 1/2 pack so 60% in real life). But 1) I only use about 1/2 the packet (so cut that to 30%) and I don't know anyone who actually drinks the "soup" from it. (so cut that to.. I don't know how much is in the soup. guessing more than half but lets just cut the total to 20%). Pretty sure you can be fairly full with 5 packages of ramen a day (although you will feel like cr**) so thats 100% of your daily value sodium. There are 0 nutrients of course so it's still not good for you and all the preservatives and stuff can't be any good either but just saying.

  • pe5t1lence, on 07/09/2008, -0/+35Where is he getting Wild Rice for $1???
    • familynight, on 07/09/2008, -0/+3also on the topic of the wild rice blurb, all rice is gluten free. some companies "enrich" rice with additives that contain gluten.
    • deMonkey, on 07/09/2008, -0/+3True, wild rice is pretty expensive, but the problem with the $1 theme of this article is everything gives a different size serving. $1s worth of wild rice still gives a good size serving (at least a cup I'd guess?).

      $1 won't buy a pound of wild rice, but that's a lot of food for a sitting.
    • JavertHolmes, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2I'm glad someone else called them out on this. At a lot of supermarkets you can't even buy wild rice -- usually the ones I see are brown rice *mixed* with maybe 10% wild rice to make it cheaper.

      Around here, wild rice goes for about $5-6 for a bag that's the size of your fist.
      • logancade, on 10/06/2008, -0/+0true, true, but if you mix brown rice, and beans, and lentils, and other grains, it can be just as cost efficient and tasty. I think this article is a good base. Next step I think is to address where people live and invite/challenge them to check out what's out there: bulk stores, organic stores, co-ops, farmer's markets, asian markets/ethnic, even discount and dollar stores. Take inventory and do a little math... food is abundant, at least here in the US, and the burbs, but even cities can accommodate a frugal health beast!
    • Ductapemaster, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2The bulk section? And he's probably talking about one serving's (like a cup) cost anyways...
    • serif69, on 07/09/2008, -0/+8He hunts and catches it himself, not unlike wild boar.
    • KRNpro, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1You can get wild rice in the bulk in some Korean stores for about $15 for 5 lbs.
    • yurishoujo, on 07/10/2008, -0/+2Wild Rice isn't even a dollar up here in Minnesota, and it's our state grain and everywhere. I call shenanigans.
    • strypersarmy, on 07/10/2008, -0/+2fields he drives by.
    • bobbi21, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1I'm upset with this "doesnt' cost much more than white rice". What crazy city does he live in with super cheap wild rice and/or super expensive white rice..
  • chesscat, on 07/09/2008, -6/+3While bananas are certainly good for you, they only have 2 grams of fiber, not 9 as stated in the article.

    Also, I don't agree with the inclusion of coffee since caffeine can raise cortisol levels and that leads to weigh gain.
    • isleepyx3, on 07/09/2008, -2/+1Cortisol does not lead to weight gain. It suppresses appetite and your immune system.
      • chesscat, on 07/09/2008, -2/+3Don't believe, then read this from about.com:

        Higher and more prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream (like those associated with chronic stress) have been shown to have negative effects, such as:

        * Impaired cognitive performance
        * Suppressed thyroid function
        * Blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia
        * Decreased bone density
        * Decrease in muscle tissue
        * Higher blood pressure
        * Lowered immunity and inflammatory responses in the body, slowed wound healing, and other health consequences
        * Increased abdominal fat, which is associated with a greater amount of health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body. Some of the health problems associated with increased stomach fat are heart attacks, strokes, the development of , higher levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and lower levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL), which can lead to other health problems!
      • jbcsee, on 07/09/2008, -0/+4Sorry, about.com is not a definitive source on a hotly debated subject in the medical field. Now go dig through multiple medical journals. You'll find some claim it's bad for weight loss, others claim it's good. Some will even refer to each other and explain why the methods make the results invalid.

        In other words, it's unknown if Cortisol leads to weight gain. In any case don't claim it does and use a trivia website as your reference.
      • RobotLeAwesome, on 07/10/2008, -0/+2man, I hate about.com so much.
      • bobbi21, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1I think we need a caveat on that. really high cortisol definitely leads to weight gain. But we're talking medically given steroids type situations or some endocrine dysfunction. The increases from foods or stress are the iffy ones. But I guess that's all we care about in this article.
  • michael43, on 07/09/2008, -3/+1Lots of edible stuff in that picture:)
  • thomasmck, on 07/09/2008, -1/+8Have you bought apples lately??? They are very expensive now. So are several other items on your list, at my grocery stores anyway. Also, stay away from non-organic eggs and milk. The hormones and antibiotics added are not healthy for you. The extra cost is worth it.
    • KillsTheWeak, on 07/09/2008, -1/+1Eggs are more than a dollar, unless you buy those 6 packs. Not only that, there unhealthy when it comes to cholesterol :P
      • madeingermany, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1When I saw eggs as number 2 on that list, I thought some kind of warning would be appropriate.
        Eggs are good for you, but only in moderation.
      • Skorme, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2Only eat 1 yolk for whatever amount of eggs you eat. Most of the minerals are in the whites. You get essential fats and some good cholesterol from the yolk.
      • zotzed, on 07/10/2008, -1/+1Actually, organic eggs will lower your cholesterol, and non-organic eggs will raise your cholesterol.
  • TimDigg, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2I'm a huge oats fan myself, trouble is, I hate the instant stuff, but don't have time for the real thing each day, so it's a weekend ritual for me
    • elenadragon, on 07/09/2008, -0/+4You can microwave old fashioned oats. It only takes a few minutes. I eat them every day for breakfast. Yum. :)
      • TimDigg, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2See thats the thing, I like it on the stovetop....has a better taste(could be my imagination)
      • elenadragon, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1My Dad likes them on the stovetop too. He sets it up on the stove to cook overnight, so it's ready in the morning without much preparation.
      • madeingermany, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1I'm with you on this one. I only mw my oats with some milk for 1min. I usually add some yogurt and fresh fruit. Top with nuts or flax seed. Healthy AND delicious :)
      • Skorme, on 07/09/2008, -0/+13/4 cup of oats with some cinnamon and raisins rocks!
    • Xihix, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2You can go get rolled oats in bulk for very cheap. I get a months worth for like $3.
    • warispeace21, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1Steel-cut oats is the only way to go.
    • torontoliam, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1I like massive bowl of oats with milk up to the level of the oats. Add frozen mixed berries and a couple spoons of brown sugar. Microwave for 3 minutes. I've been eating this every day for about the past 5 years, even in the heat of the summer. My girlfriend says it tastes like wallpaper paste, but it's my staple. I calculated $1.50 a bowl, but that's about 2.5 cups of the stuff - enough to keep me full until lunch time.
  • zakatov, on 07/09/2008, -1/+61Tuna! I can't believe they forgot tuna! Dirt cheap and almost 100% protein.
    • DDMX, on 07/09/2008, -2/+18mercury
      • timothycrash01, on 07/09/2008, -0/+8Mmmmmmmm, tasty mercury.
      • madeingermany, on 07/09/2008, -0/+8and Flipper
      • teh_spazz, on 07/10/2008, -1/+2The mercury content is so low that it won't affect you in any way. I used to guzzle the stuff when I was losing weight and I haven't had any problems.
      • strypersarmy, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1your username made your mercury comment. teh_spazz.
    • djepik, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2Yeah, I think you're supposed to limit yourself to 1 can per week or something to avoid mercury poisoning.

      I actually have no idea what the limit is, but I know there is one, and that if you stay under it, its all good.
      • timothycrash01, on 07/09/2008, -0/+3Everything I've looked at says no more than 12 ounces a week - or about 2 cans.

        Type 'how much tuna per week" into google will give you a bunch of FDA, etc. sources all saying the same thing.
    • cyborgmexican, on 07/09/2008, -0/+11mercury can kiss my ass!
      • xNaquada, on 07/10/2008, -0/+8Mercury can kiss Uranus?
      • NoData, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1brings a whole new meaning to bite my shiny metal ass.
    • elmetald00d, on 07/09/2008, -0/+6100% protein?
    • torontoliam, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1I heard of a muscle-builder that was in my friend's class that downed 5 cans a day and got mercury poisoning.
  • tcpip4lyfe, on 07/09/2008, -11/+3Harden the ***** up and eat thick burgers everyday.
  • Borgcube636, on 07/09/2008, -6/+3Watch this documentary trailer! Nutrition is of the utmost importance to a happy healthy life:
    Food Matters - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4DOQ6Xhqss
  • Kazbaeden, on 07/09/2008, -0/+20"their natural sugars make them sweet to the palate while their rich flavor and color make them nutritious for the body"

    I didn't realize flavor and color are now considered nutrients.
  • metatait, on 07/09/2008, -0/+5In my area apples are up to $1.79 each. With the way food prices are going this list won't be accurate for very long...
    • whiteghetto, on 07/09/2008, -0/+3each?

      here they are between 1.69 and 2.99 a lb.
      depending on the type
    • luken355, on 07/10/2008, -0/+0I know! i bet the apple farmers will do something stupid like give us a whole bunch of cheap apples in the fall to get us addicted and then jack up the prices the rest of the year! It's a CONSPIRACY!!
  • bg233, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2None of these can be purchased for under a dollar in Hawaii.
  • f4nt0m4s, on 07/09/2008, -9/+13Life's too short. A double cheeseburger at Micky D's is 1 dollar, and it's high in Vitamin Deliciousness.
    • 9bpm9, on 07/09/2008, -1/+2I'd love to live where you live, they definitely aren't a dollar here.
      • f4nt0m4s, on 07/09/2008, -0/+6Are you from outside the United States? The US Dollar Menu has the Double Cheeseburger for a dollar, and they have the Two Apple Pies for a dollar...that's my road lunch if I'm in a hurry. My wallet and tummy would be sad if they didn't have the dollar menu. :(
    • bytor4232, on 07/09/2008, -0/+5ah yes. The $1 heart attack.
    • Vironex, on 07/09/2008, -1/+13Life is too short. That's why I smoke, binge drink, eat McDonald's foods, play with knives, don't get enough sleep, and pick on violent-looking men. ...Or maybe that's why it's going to be too short. Same thing.
    • scalded, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1I'd love to live where you live, they definitely aren't delicious here.
  • parallax7d, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2brown rice, and sprout it yourself. super healthy and super cheap
    • smeatish, on 07/10/2008, -0/+0Very cool, gonna try that - thanks for the tip
  • zephc, on 07/09/2008, -3/+8Submitted by Brenda Walsh, a "31 year-old girl from Beverly Hills (US)"
    Uh huh.
  • bblande, on 07/09/2008, -1/+25Bananas are laced with win.
    • bytor4232, on 07/09/2008, -1/+1Big win. Next to favorite fruit after Cucumbers.
      • Skorme, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1mmmmmm cucs...
      • chris006, on 07/09/2008, -1/+4both found in the phallic section of the produce department
  • 9bpm9, on 07/09/2008, -4/+2Most of these things are not cheap and aren't even close to under a dollar, and why is it that I just say a list a few days ago on Digg saying nuts are bad for you and you should eat salty pretzels instead if you want salt.
  • lotuseater, on 07/09/2008, -0/+4Don't forget lentils... 4 bucks for two pounds usually, and they are healthier than *****
    • serif69, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1***** burns calories, lentils add calories. It's a win-win situation.
  • dstz, on 07/09/2008, -1/+12Olive oil
    + tomatoes (tomato paste is cheap and ok)
    + olives
    + fresh garlic, onions
    + cumin, paprika, pepper (have a heavy hand with those)
    + garam masala (cheap Indian spice mix) or ras el hanout (cheap Moroccan spice mix)
    + chili sauce
    + lots of vegetables (main ingredient)
    served with potatoes or rice
    = easy, cheap and delicious... any meat can be thrown in too
    • djepik, on 07/09/2008, -1/+11Is this the recipie for olive oil?

      Should I just drink it?
    • Triticum, on 07/10/2008, -0/+2Isn't ras el hanout one of the bad guys in Batman Begins?
  • criznell, on 07/09/2008, -7/+3snicker bars are delicious
  • TomT223, on 07/09/2008, -8/+3Taco Hell has a whole bunch of things under $1.
    • ObeseSnake, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2The Bell of Justice rings for thee!
    • Lasereth, on 07/09/2008, -2/+5Buried for saying Taco Hell like every other 40-50 year old person in the US. Let me guess, you say Pizza Slut, Booger King, Tarjay (instead of target) and all of the other corny store memes.
  • asnider, on 07/09/2008, -2/+4Kind of a ***** list. Wild rice is NOT cheap, and I have never seen a can of chick peas (garbanzo beans) for "about a buck."

    Yes, this are healthy foods, and I actually like most of them (and they are inexpensive compared to pre-packaged crap), but I would definitely not classify most of them as "under $1."
    • chris006, on 07/09/2008, -0/+0trader joe's has all sorts of beans for $1-$1.50 and if, as the article suggests, you buy them in larger portions and unprepared you'll save a lot
    • vidaliasweet, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1I usually find Goya brand cheaper, its in the international foods sections, not usually with the regular canned beans isle.
  • Discobiscuits, on 07/09/2008, -7/+32Anyone else feel awkward as ***** reading an article from a site named "Divine Caroline"? I swear my dick shrinks in horror everytime I find myself on this site.
    • Austinh57, on 07/10/2008, -1/+2I laughed out loud at your comment. Well played, sir.
    • jakejeffries, on 07/10/2008, -1/+1Good one!
    • teh_spazz, on 07/10/2008, -1/+2Both of you, instead of leaving wasteful, idiotic comments, just press the green thumb.
  • Typhoon2009, on 07/09/2008, -2/+1Where the ***** do you find eggs that cheap? I mean maybe if you get the seediest eggs available loaded with antibiotics and birthed from hens with ***** manufactured feed...
    • sremick, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2Or buy them direct from the farm.
      Or buy them from someone you know who has chickens.

      I can do both for $1/dozen.

      All it takes is breaking away from the mindset that the only place to get food is Walmart.
      • rohan1234, on 07/09/2008, -1/+5And what if you don't live near a farm?
      • bobbi21, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Man if you know someone who owns chickens and has fairly good access to that person I don't you're a good representation of the average digger.

        NB: Our walmart here doesn't have eggs :( we need one of those giant megasuperspecialawesome walmarts that like sells walmarts inside them.
    • brad016, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1you idiot all eggs are made like you described, loaded with chemicals, go raw & vegan
      • Typhoon2009, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1LOL NO
        With all due respect, I'd rather not. I just had the most delicious steak, a NATURAL steak, grass-fed, humanely raised etc. Frankly I'll be damned if I'm giving that delicious stuff up.
  • HanSolo69, on 07/09/2008, -10/+3I almost didn't read this article because I have never seen a Divine Caroline article of any worth, but I'm glad I did read this one. It let me know that I was right and should have gone with my gut and stayed away. There is nothing here. These are just ingredients or incredibly obvious choices.
  • malcolmlo, on 07/09/2008, -2/+6Too bad all that food tastes like crap. Also you cant just eat raw oats and kale. You have to like cook it and stuff. Im sticking with the dollar menu at mcdonalds.

    /end sarcasim
  • jerrycurley, on 07/09/2008, -5/+0So...food prices have supposedly been climbing for months now . But how come not one single food item I buy costs even one penny more than it did 6 months ago? Meats, poultry ,vegetables, fruits. Even rice and bread. All exactly the same.
    • katiekatekate, on 07/09/2008, -0/+3Really? Are you sure - you've compared your receipts or you use some sort of budget-tracking device? If so, where do you live, because I'm moving there. Around here, store brand bread went from $.89 to $1.29; bananas went from $.29 to $.65 per pound; chicken breasts and hamburger both went up about a dollar per pound; tuna used to be 3 for $1 and is now $.75 per can, and dairy products are practically a luxury now.
      • jerrycurley, on 07/09/2008, -0/+0I have not compared. Because I have a memory and get a fairly small selection of foods all the time. I can still get meat for $2-3 a pound for decent (but not great) cuts like top round. I can still buy chicken breasts in the 3+ pound sizes for $1.99 on sale pretty much every other week, and $2.99 regular priced. (with smaller packages about 50 cents higher per pound) Milk is still $1.49 a quart on sale (again, every other week usually) and $1.79 regularly. Bananas are still 49 cents a pound for me. Vegetables have gone up and down over the last 6 months just like they do every year. Coca Cola 12 packs are still anywhere between $2.50 and $3 depending on the sale. Powerade is still 95 cents a quart. Uncle Ben's brown rice is still $1.49 a box.

        All are the same as they always have been.
      • jerrycurley, on 07/09/2008, -0/+0That should be a half gallon of milk...not a quarter.
    • malcolmlo, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1Where do you live? I'd like to move there...whats it called? Never Neverland?
      • jerrycurley, on 07/10/2008, -0/+0Upstate, NY. Nothing is higher now than it was. Nothing. At a local supermarket, at Price Chopper, at Wegmans, and at Walmart.
  • Niz1, on 07/09/2008, -4/+1its for stuff like this digg really is a bookmarking site.
  • Scheissen, on 07/09/2008, -3/+3whey

    you learn to love the bland taste for the nutrition it provides and its cheap price
  • Omek, on 07/09/2008, -0/+2Dried legumes are about the cheapest I think. You can usually always find a wide assortment at your local store. Mix them together with some salsa, garlic, and spices in a slow cooker, and then throw it in a tortilla and you can have yourself a kick-ass bean burrito.
  • blacktriangle, on 07/09/2008, -3/+3Raw nuts are NOT under $1.
    • ghunt, on 07/09/2008, -0/+3per serving they are.
    • deaftly, on 07/09/2008, -0/+3Mine are
    • Easyoffbam, on 07/09/2008, -1/+4Unless they're on your mom.
    • MrSparkle666, on 07/10/2008, -0/+0Yes they are. Shop at stores that sell in bulk by weight. You can buy only a handfull if you want. These stores are common, but most people just don't even know they exist. Just follow the smelly hippies.
  • Retrospekt, on 07/09/2008, -4/+1*Lists every vegetable, food imported from China*

    Yeah baby, frontpage!
  • crcook, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1I'm not sure where the author is from, but I WISH food was that cheap in Hawaii.
    • mrcabnit, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1I wish i was in Hawaii :(
    • brad016, on 07/10/2008, -0/+2I was just about to make that same reply
    • crcook, on 07/10/2008, -0/+1Yeah, I guess I can't complain, sorry guys :( Gallon of milk is 8 bucks though...
    • bobbi21, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1Wow and I thought my milk was expensive.
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