Eating healthy on a budget can be a challenge nowadays, especially with the rising costs of healthy foods. If you want to maintain or lose weight and improve your health, it's important that you eat a nutritious and well-balanced diet. However, how do you adapt such a diet if you are on a budget?

One of the general rules when it comes to healthy eating is to avoid processed foods and opt for whole, natural foods instead. Most processed foods today are very high in saturated fats, preservatives and other harmful ingredients. Aside from that, these foods also have very low nutritional content. Fortunately, whole foods tend to cost less than processed foods. So the next time you go shopping for groceries, avoid buying foods that come packaged in boxes, bags, cans, bottles and other containers. Instead, choose real foods.

For good sources of proteins, invest in eggs, chicken, fish, ground beef and milk. Pasta, rice and potatoes are all rich in carbohydrates. Don't forget to stock up on fruits and vegetables as well to get your dose of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Speaking of fruits and vegetables, you might also want to stock up on frozen veggies and frozen fruits if you are trying to eat healthy on a budget. Fresh fruits and vegetables tend to be expensive and their frozen counterparts are usually half the price. Frozen fruits and veggies also have a longer shelf life, so you don't have to worry about them expiring if you do not eat them in time. How many times have you thrown money down the drain when you let fresh vegetables rot in your fridge because you did not eat them soon enough? Frozen fruits and veggies have also been washed and cut so they can be readily eaten. Just be sure to choose frozen products that have undergone minimal processing to make sure they have retained their nutrients.

Another way to buy healthy foods on a budget is to shop from wholesale stores or groceries that let you buy in bulk. Even if you shop in ordinary supermarkets, you can still buy in the bulk during sales. Supermarkets and grocery stores occasionally let you take advantage of low prices if you buy more. This is an ideal time to stock up on healthy foods that you can store for a long time, such as rice, pasta and oats.

If you have more time in your hands than money in your pocket then you might consider growing your very own produce right in your backyard. Even though growing your own fruits and vegetables might take some effort, the reward is that you get to eat healthy for free anytime you wish. Growing your own foods also allows you to ensure that you are using fresh ingredients without any harmful additives.