Diets for People on a Very Tight Budget

Losing weight is a goal many people try to tackle, but the process can sometimes be costly as many diet foods are hard to come by or expensive. You can create a diet plan that is easy on the wallet in a number of ways. Paying attention to low-cost foods that are high in nutrition will help you stay healthy without breaking the bank.

Produce

• Produce like fruits and vegetables can be a dieter's best friend, as so many fruits and veggies are packed with nutrition but low in fat and calories. Some fresh produce can be pricey, especially if you're buying off-season items. Buying fruits and vegetables that are in season will cut down on costs. You can also visit a local farmer's market for deals on nutritious produce. Some produce that are typically inexpensive year round are apples, bananas, carrots and zucchini.

Grains

• Grains are a necessary part of any diet, but some carbohydrate grains can be high in calories and sugar. Avoid white breads, pastas and white rice and head for healthier alternatives that are also low cost. A large tub of oats is low calorie and goes a long way to stretching your dollar for a healthy breakfast. A bag of dry quinoa is a cheap alternative to white rice or pasta and is typically cheaper as well. Brown rice is as cheap as white rice, but a lot friendlier on your waistline.

Water

• Water is a key part of anyone's diet, whether they're trying to lose weight or not. Nutritionists recommend you drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Water from your tap is free to drink, making it the most inexpensive drink available. If you don't like the taste of tap water, invest in a water filter that attaches to your tap, or fill a jug with tap water and place it in your refrigerator for a few hour to chill it.