In our struggling economy, with rising food prices, making healthy choices at the grocery store is a challenging, but attainable goal. Even on a tight budget you can stock your cupboards and refrigerator with fresh, nutrient-dense foods. There are a few simple tricks that will help you make nutritional, affordable selections.

The first healthy choice you can make in the grocery store is to buy ingredients, not prepackaged foods. The lure of cheap, easy-to-prepare meals can be hard to ignore, but a diet rich in snack cakes and pasta products will leave you deficient in necessary nutrients and sluggish from excessive calories, sugars, saturated fats and sodium.

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Brown rice and whole wheat pastas bought in bulk will not only save you money, but are heart healthy and will keep you feeling full longer. Lean meats and legumes can be prepared in a variety of ways and will add inexpensive protein and flavor to a healthful fiber-packed dish or salad.