You don't even have to turn on the oven — just poke some holes in your potato and cook it in the microwave. But of course, you can turn potatoes into just about anything, from mashed potatoes and gravy to hash browns to french fries to scalloped potatoes.

Use them to add calories and carbs to your meal. Fruits can often be significantly more expensive than many of the veggies you'll find in the produce section, but that doesn't mean you have to succumb to scurvy. Some fruits are on the cheaper end of the spectrum, and luckily for all citrus lovers out there, oranges tend to be one of those fruits.

The average orange costs less than a dollar, per the USDA, making it a relatively accessible fruit even for those with tight grocery budgets.

Some people don't love oranges because they've only ever eaten them on their own, but there's much you can do with this citrus fruit. Of course, you can always juice it and enjoy it at breakfast, but you can also add it to salads or use the juice to marinate chicken or pork.

Plus, if you're out of lemons and limes, it can add a touch of acidity to dishes that need it just expect it to add a bit of sweetness as well.

We love berries, but that doesn't mean we can always afford them when we go to the grocery store. If you're looking for a cheaper fruit option, you should add some bananas to your basket.

They're among the least expensive types of produce you can buy, at just 51 cents a pound on average, per the USDA. Bananas provide a decent amount of calories per serving, which is why a banana makes for an excellent quick breakfast on the go. Slice it up and add it to toast with peanut butter for a filling, complete meal to start your day.

Craving ice cream but don't want to spend extra money on a dessert? Use bananas to fulfill your cravings for sweets by freezing them, then blending them with some cocoa powder and honey or sugar.

The bananas will form a thick, ice cream-like texture that's hard not to love if you're already a fan of bananas.

It's important to get plenty of green veggies on your plate, which means you want to fill your fridge with as much green as possible. That can get expensive if you're mainly opting for kale and arugula, but there are green veggies out there that can stretch your dollar.

Like so many of the veggies on this list, there's a lot you can do with celery. It's worth keeping some on hand just to have something to snack on with or without some peanut butter , but it's also a great addition to soups and chicken salads.

If you're looking for a way to add more crunch to your diet, or you're just looking for a refreshing veggie to liven up your meals, you can't go wrong by grabbing some celery.

Another cheap option for the fruit lovers out there is apples. The USDA says that apples are one of the lower-cost fruits out there. However, when you're shopping for apples, you should take a close look at the prices for each individual variety.

Some types of apples require more intensive farming practices than others, and some may have to be shipped from farther away, both of which can raise the price. However, in general, apples will be one of the cheaper fruits available in the produce section. Apples aren't quite as cheap as bananas, but they're still relatively inexpensive, typically coming in at between one and two dollars per pound, per the USDA.

Eat them on their own for a quick snack on the go, or add them to your oatmeal in the fall for some extra flavor. Don't forget to use them in apple-based pies like desserts and galettes as well.

If you're looking for cheaper produce at the grocery store, it may surprise you that honeydew melons tend to be on the less-expensive end of the spectrum. Of course, that comes with a caveat.

While these melons are often packed with nutrients, they also won't provide the amount of calories that you'll get from other fruits, like bananas. Regardless, most melons are budget produce, which is why there's nothing wrong with picking up some honeydew from the store every once in a while.

On average, honeydews cost less than a dollar a pound, per the USDA, making them a seriously good — and refreshing — deal. Cutting up some melon and eating it on its own makes for a healthy and cooling side dish, but that doesn't mean you can't combine your honeydew with other ingredients.

It's delicious as part of a fresh fruit salad, especially when it's combined with other types of melons. Oranges are also one of the most popular fruits in the world. They can be enjoyed as a snack, juice, or a major ingredient in various recipes. They are an excellent source of vitamin C.

Check out Flipp for the best local deals on oranges here. Jackfruit has tons of nutritional value. It has a good concentration of vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. You can find the best deals on jackfruit here. Pineapple is a common fruit that can be enjoyed raw, as juice, or in smoothies.

While this is up for debate, many enjoy pineapple as a topping on pizza. Search for pineapple on Flipp for the best deals. Papayas are an excellent source of vitamin C. They are also a good source of folate, copper, magnesium and vitamin A. You can find great deals on papaya here.

There are many different kinds of apples and their prices may differ depending on the type — some are cheaper than others.

They are low in calories but high in fiber and vitamin C. Apple is readily available year round and is one of the cheapest fruits to buy. Check out fresh deals for apples on Flipp. Pears have essential vitamins and minerals including vitamin C and vitamin K. They also contain smaller amounts of calcium, iron, and magnesium.

Find the best deals on pears here. By incorporating these budget-friendly fruits into your diet, you can enjoy delicious and nutritious options without breaking the bank. Skip to content. Money Saving Tips. Roast pumpkin for that deliciously sweet caramel flavour and serve with the Sunday roast.

You can also put roast pumpkin in risotto , make roast pumpkin frittata or roast pumpkin salad. Pumpkin curry is also delicious. Carrots are usually around 99 cents a kilo in the supermarket, giving you great value for money.

They are also very versatile: eat them sweet or savoury, raw, boiled, steamed, pureed, roasted or sauteed. They are great with a little honey. Grate them in fritters or cakes. Make carrot soup. I grate them along with zucchini into just about anything to stretch meat and make meals healthier: mince patties , fish patties , spaghetti bolognese , just to name a few.

You might also like this printable fruit and vegetable storage chart. Both varieties are cheap, filling and nutritious. Sweet potato can be used in just about any way regular white potatoes can be used.

Roast, mash, steam, fry, turn into chips. Serve as a side, bulk up curries and casseroles, make gnocchi. If you have potatoes, you have a meal.

Like onion and garlic, a dash of citrus can level up the flavour of many dishes. Jamie Oliver puts a squeeze of lemon on just about everything.

As well as eating them plain, you can also juice them or add a squeeze to your glass to liven up plain water. Keep citrus juice for even longer by squeezing and freezing it in ice cube trays.

Citron tart a really frugal but oh so decadent dessert , marmalade, lemon curd , lime and chilli stir fry, lemonade, compote and citrus and poppy seed muffins.

My favourite ways to eat apples include apple slices with peanut butter, apple turnover , apple crumble , apple muffins, apple pie, apple pancakes, apple puree and caramelised apples.

Ever-frugal fruit and vegetables are just the start. To eat healthy on a budget and get plenty of variety, couple these with in-season, frozen and homegrown produce. Seasonality has a big impact on the cost of fruit and veg.

You can also check out these printable seasonality guides for Australia , although again, there will be some regional differences.

Missing Grapefruit; or bunch of cilantro, radishes, or green onions, $/ea.; grapes, $/lb.; summer squashes and organic oranges, $/lb Bananas: Bananas are often one of the most budget-friendly fruits available. They are a good source of potassium and provide quick energy

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Discounted budget-friendly fruits - 14 Cheapest Fresh Fruits And Vegetables You Can Find At The Grocery Store Year-Round · Carrots · Cabbage · Potatoes · Oranges · Bananas · Celery Missing Grapefruit; or bunch of cilantro, radishes, or green onions, $/ea.; grapes, $/lb.; summer squashes and organic oranges, $/lb Bananas: Bananas are often one of the most budget-friendly fruits available. They are a good source of potassium and provide quick energy

November 20, By Feeding Westchester Food Education. Below are three buying tips that can help you do so, and you can check out our blog post about grocery shopping on a small budget for other tips: Eat seasonally. and the produce will be at its peak flavor, too!

Stores will often feature fruits and veggies that are grown locally, which is another added perk to eating seasonally. Buy in bulk.

Sometimes, purchasing a larger quantity of a fruit or vegetable will get you a better price per serving. Buying the larger size will significantly lower your per-serving cost. Just make sure to incorporate baby spinach into more of your upcoming meals so that you can get the most bang for your buck.

Focus on the most affordable items. Check out these fruits that tend to cost 50 cents or less based on average cost per cup equivalent: Watermelon Bananas Cantaloupe Apples Pineapple Canned tomatoes And here are some veggie options that cost 50 cents or less per cup equivalent: Potatoes Dried lentils, pinto beans, black beans, navy beans, Great Northern beans, and red kidney beans Dried black-eyed peas Fresh and frozen carrots Green and red cabbages Iceberg and romaine lettuces Dried lima beans Cucumbers Canned green beans Celery Frozen mixed peas and carrots Onions Canned mustard, turnips, and collard greens Fresh or frozen cauliflower Radishes Canned corn Green peppers Comparatively speaking, these fruits and vegetables can cost about the same or even less than a serving of some of the most popular highly processed snacks.

Easy Italian dinner—Blend a can of whole peeled tomatoes until liquefied, then saute in a bit of olive oil with some freshly minced onion. Meanwhile, cook a pound of whole grain pasta. Combine the sauce with the pasta for a simple but delicious pasta night!

Healthy after-school banana snack—Slice a banana in half lengthwise. Stuck in a veggie rut? Here are a few meal ideas that focus on the veggies listed above: Veggie-packed taco night!

Meanwhile, saute some veggies from our list, such as sliced green peppers, onions, and carrots. Load your taco shells with the beans and veggies, along with your other favorite taco ingredients, such as shredded cheese, salsa, and chopped lettuce for a healthy taco dinner.

Homemade chips—Got a hankering for something salty? Peel and thinly slice a few potatoes, toss them with a bit of olive or vegetable oil along with some spices such as paprika and sea salt, and place them in a single layer on a baking sheet.

Bake at degrees until your homemade chips are crispy on both sides. Try your own take on minestrone by browning some diced onion, pouring in some broth, and then adding in green beans, celery, and carrots, along with your choice of grain, such as farro or rotini pasta.

Subscribe For Blog Updates. The researchers were nice enough to figure out the most affordable mix of fruits and veggies that meet MyPlate weekly vegetable sub-group recommendations for a family of four.

The table below shows you what they came up with. This table is from the USDA publication The Cost of Satisfying Fruit and Vegetable Recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines. NOTE: prices are from There are a lot of ways to keep your meals from getting boring by changing up how you cook the veggies or season them.

Be sure to check out the recipes on our new website for inspiration. We even have a search function that you can use to find specific ingredients, like these low-cost fruits and veggies.

What other tips or questions do you have for getting enough fruits and veggies on a budget? Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Shop Farmers Markets Grocery store tours Shop Smart, Eat Smart Healthy Food Retail Initiative SNAP and EBT Farmers Market Manager Resources Save Sticking to your budget Virginia Fresh Match Contact Us English Español.

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Discounted budget-friendly fruits - 14 Cheapest Fresh Fruits And Vegetables You Can Find At The Grocery Store Year-Round · Carrots · Cabbage · Potatoes · Oranges · Bananas · Celery Missing Grapefruit; or bunch of cilantro, radishes, or green onions, $/ea.; grapes, $/lb.; summer squashes and organic oranges, $/lb Bananas: Bananas are often one of the most budget-friendly fruits available. They are a good source of potassium and provide quick energy

While it's tempting to believe that all produce is at its most abundant and lowest price during the summer, not everything hits its stride in July and August. Asparagus and peas, for example, are decidedly late spring or early summer crops; apples, pears, and root vegetables are best purchased in fall; and winter is peak time for a variety of citrus fruits and even some leafy greens.

Beyond that strategy, what are the best buys right now from your local grocer or farmer's market, besides those tried-and-true bananas? Here are some of Schueller's picks for the cheapest fruits and vegetables to buy right now. And if you're curious about having your roots and fruits delivered, we did some math and it turns out buying groceries online is no more expensive than shopping in person.

You can also find out whether or not meal kits actually save money compared to grocery shopping. Melons have long been a summer mascot, but not only because they are naturally refreshing and easy to feed a crowd with at a picnic or cookout.

That's when prices drop, and you also get more available variety in your melon selection. Now is when you should start to see large boxes of different types of cantaloupes, watermelon and honeydews in abundant display at your market, with peak season prices dropping as low as 30 cents to 40 cents per pound.

Stone fruits are those with a hard inner seed similar to a stone, such as cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots and pluots. These fruits make for great additions to summer salads or can even stand alone as simple, grilled desserts. If you live in an orchard fruit-producing state, Schueller recommends checking out farmers markets, or you can see if local farms in your area offer U-Pick operations, which can be a great way to save money by stocking up and canning or freezing these summer fruits for later on.

Having probably traveled from South America to make their way to your fridge, what you are paying for in this case is transportation rather than high-quality fruit.

June and July are prime berry season in the Northern Hemisphere, however, and these fruits also make for great candidates for freezing. Berry season starts to fizzle out by mid-August. Whether tomatoes are a fruit or a vegetable isn't really our concern when they are in as abundant supply as they are in July and August.

Our concern is how to get the most out of prime tomato season when stunning heirloom varieties are available to grace our Caprese salads, and dense Roma and plum varieties are begging to be canned.

Look for U-Pick operations or end-cap displays in your area for the most cost savings on tomatoes. While corn is technically a grain, in the summer we tend to consume it like a vegetable, and corn isn't only budget-friendly sustenance this time of year, it's budget-friendly entertainment as well.

Like most produce, those items with the processing left to the consumer tend to be lower in cost e. So when the shucking of corn is left to you, the savings are tremendous, especially right now when corn is especially abundant.

Besides groceries stores and farmer's markets, roadside stands may also offer great value for corn if you live in an area where corn is grown.

You know you've found a good deal for whole corn when the price indicates how many you can take per one or two bucks, maybe even going as low as 30 to 40 cents apiece. Bananas are the most popular fruit in the world and are packed with nutrients.

They are known for being a good source of potassium and contain many vitamins and minerals. You can find the best deals on bananas here. Cantaloupe are rich in vitamins and minerals. They are low in saturated fats and are an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin C.

Watermelon is a delicious yet nutritious fruit often enjoyed during the summer months. However, they have significant levels of vitamins A, B6, and C, as well as lots of lycopene, antioxidants, and amino acids. Search for watermelon on Flipp to find one on sale!

Continuing our list of the cheapest fruit to buy, did you know that grapes are one of the most popular fruits in the world? They are a good source of vitamin B and vitamin C.

You can find the best deals on grapes here. Oranges are also one of the most popular fruits in the world. They can be enjoyed as a snack, juice, or a major ingredient in various recipes. They are an excellent source of vitamin C. Check out Flipp for the best local deals on oranges here. Jackfruit has tons of nutritional value.

It has a good concentration of vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. You can find the best deals on jackfruit here. Pineapple is a common fruit that can be enjoyed raw, as juice, or in smoothies. While this is up for debate, many enjoy pineapple as a topping on pizza.

Search for pineapple on Flipp for the best deals. Papayas are an excellent source of vitamin C. They are also a good source of folate, copper, magnesium and vitamin A. You can find great deals on papaya here.

There are many different kinds of apples and their prices may differ depending on the type — some are cheaper than others. They are low in calories but high in fiber and vitamin C. Apple is readily available year round and is one of the cheapest fruits to buy.

Check out fresh deals for apples on Flipp. Pears have essential vitamins and minerals including vitamin C and vitamin K. They also contain smaller amounts of calcium, iron, and magnesium. Find the best deals on pears here. By incorporating these budget-friendly fruits into your diet, you can enjoy delicious and nutritious options without breaking the bank.

Skip to content. Money Saving Tips.