After having a baby, money can get a little tight, especially if one parent is on parental leave with their job. Another normal issue after a baby comes along, is that you may want to lose your post pregnancy weight. We love our new little bundles of joy when they’re born, but not so much that darn post pregnancy weight, right?

Eating healthy is going to be a very important factor in your weight loss, especially in the first several weeks after childbirth when you can’t really do much for exercise (until you get your doctor’s “go ahead”).

Okay, enough rambling here. Let’s combine the two issues: tight on funds and post pregnancy weight loss. We are going to discuss the best healthy cheap foods to lose weight, starting….now.

Carrots

Being low in calories, rich in vitamins and minerals and a great source of fiber, carrots are great for keeping you healthy and for losing post pregnancy weight. They are also very inexpensive to buy and last a fair amount of time in the fridge. Eat them as a healthy snack with hummus, or steam them to have with dinner.

Oatmeal

Oats are a great healthy cheap food because they don’t cost much, and they are an excellent way to start your mornings off right. Why? Not only are they great for the heart, help to stabilize blood sugar, and include antioxidants, but they are also fiber rich. This will help to keep you regular as well as keep you feeling full longer.

Tip: Avoid the sweetened types of oatmeal, as they normally contain a fair amount of sugar. Instead, add fresh fruit such as berries or bananas (or whatever you like), and/or nuts or cinnamon to your oatmeal.

Eggs

High in protein and lower in calories, eggs are an excellent healthy cheap food. The high quality protein in them is good for post pregnancy weight loss because of its ability to keep you feeling full longer, not to mention the energy the protein will also give you. Every mom needs more energy, right?

Eat your eggs for breakfast to energize your body before you start your busy day, add one to your salad at lunch, or have one as a snack in between meals.

Apples

Apples make a great healthy cheap food because they are available all year round at an inexpensive price. They are great for post pregnancy weight loss as well because they contain a good amount of fiber and not a lot of calories.

Eat one as a snack with a little bit of natural peanut butter spread on top. Delish!

Bananas

Get your vitamins B6 and C as well as potassium and fiber from these tasty inexpensive healthy fruits. Add a banana to your morning whole grain cereal, smoothie or just on its own as a snack.

Beans

Packed with fiber and protein, beans are one of those healthy cheap foods that will surely fill you up while helping you to lose post pregnancy weight.

You can buy them at very reasonable prices either canned or dried (note: if buying canned, it is best to rinse them before eating to get any sodium off them).

Of course there are all sorts of kinds of beans: black, garbanzo, kidney, navy, etc. Enjoy them on their own, topped on a baked potato, in chili, salads, etc.

Whole Grain Pasta

Rich in B vitamins, magnesium, manganese and copper as well as fiber and protein, whole grain pasta is beneficial to your health, while being inexpensive to buy.

One cup of whole wheat spaghetti contains approximately 175 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 7 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber.

Add your choice of whole grain pasta to healthy homemade soups, casseroles or salads, or make your own veggie-packed tomato sauce to add on top of your pasta.

Broccoli

Packed with nutrients and antioxidants, but low in cost, broccoli makes the list of cheap healthy foods. It is also fiber rich and low in calories which, of course, is also beneficial to post pregnancy weight loss. Eat it raw or steamed for the best nutritional benefits.

Spinach

This is another “green” that is loaded with nutrients, while being easy on the wallet. It is also a great fiber source and very low in calories, making it an all around healthy food.

Add spinach into pasta dishes, soups or stews, or use it in salads.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes make the list of healthy cheap foods as they contain a number of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, as well as a low price. They are fairly low in calories and a good source of fiber making them great for post pregnancy weight loss.

Eat them mashed, baked, or cut in wedges with your preferred seasoning.

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Grocery Shopping Tips:

• Buying foods from the bulk bins is cheaper than buying them already packaged. Some healthy examples are beans, whole wheat pasta, quinoa, nuts and brown rice.
• Buy things like apples, oranges, etc. already bagged (in bulk) rather than paying by the pound.
• Buy fruits and veggies that are in season. You can always stock up on these and freeze them.
• Always keep your eye on flyers for sales and coupons (you can also order coupons from some websites, such as coupon websites or the manufacturer’s website).
• Buy the generic brands of foods. They are normally more inexpensive than the bigger brand names.
• Avoid pre-cut foods; they cost more. Instead of already shredded cheese, buy the block of cheese, and instead of pre-cut carrots, buy the uncut kind. With meat, instead of buying chicken breasts, buy a whole roast chicken and freeze some in portions. Also, instead of the pre-packaged (microwave-type) popcorn, buy the popcorn kernels and pop them yourself. It’s cheaper and healthier (because you won’t add the butter, right?).

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Hopefully these 10 foods can help you create some good meal ideas while saving you money at the same time. As you can tell by this list, healthy cheap foods are still attainable in this day and age. You can definitely have success with post pregnancy weight loss without paying too much for healthy foods.