Eating healthy can be expensive … but it can be really inexpensive too. In fact, many healthy foods cost less than junk foods, according to an analysis of more than 4,000 foods by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service.[i]

They found, for instance, that potato chips cost, on average, twice as much as carrots by portion size. And onions, pinto beans, lettuce, and bananas all cost less per portion than do ice cream, soda, French fries and chocolate candy.[ii] You might be surprised to learn that many of the healthiest foods can be purchased for less than $1 per serving!

That’s right. Instead of wasting that dollar on a supersized soda or an order of fries, you could be getting your body something it’s really craving: proper nutrition.

Healthiest Foods for Under a Buck

Countdown #1010. Watermelon

Suggested Serving Size: 1 cup

Price Per Serving: 0.17

Nutrition Info: Watermelon contains powerful antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin A, as well as potassium and magnesium … and very few calories!

Did You Know? Watermelon contains phytonutrients such as lycopene, beta carotene and citruline, which your body converts to the amino acid arginine. Arginine helps relax your blood vessels, which is good for your heart and also the route by which Viagra works. Because of this, researchers believe watermelon may help to prevent and treat erectile dysfunction.[iii]

Countdown #99. Carrots

Suggested Serving Size: 1 cup

Price Per Serving: 0.25 (whole carrots)

Nutrition Info: One cup of carrots provides more than 400% of the recommended daily value of vitamin A, along with vitamin K, fiber, vitamin C, potassium, manganese, vitamins B6, B3, B1 and more.

Did You Know? For each 25-gram per day increase in carrots, your risk of coronary heart disease decreases by 32 percent.[iv] A 25-gram serving of carrots is about half of an average sized carrot, so it’s an easily attainable amount!

Countdown #88. Strawberries

Suggested Serving Size: 1 cup (about 8 large strawberries)

Price Per Serving: 0.89

Nutrition Info: One cup of strawberries provides over 140% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C. They’re also a rich source of manganese, fiber, folate, and antioxidants.

Did You Know? Based on common serving sizes, strawberries are ranked #3 among all U.S. foods for their antioxidant capacity (only blackberries and walnuts scored higher)![v]

Countdown #77. Mushrooms

Suggested Serving Size: 1 cup

Price Per Serving: 0.54

Nutrition Info: Mushrooms are a good source of selenium, vitamins B2, B3 and B5, copper, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and more.

Did You Know? Mushrooms provide excellent support for your immune system. Virtually all edible mushrooms are beneficial, but even the common crimini mushroom (button mushrooms) contains a long list of immune-enhancing phytonutrients (beta-D-glucans, fucogalactans, and more) that may be even more powerful than those in more exotic mushrooms like shitake.[vi]

Countdown #66. Bananas

Suggested Serving Size: 1 cup

Price Per Serving: 0.21

Nutrition Info: Bananas contain vitamin B6, vitamin C, manganese, fiber and potassium.

Did You Know? Bananas are sometimes said to have a mood-enhancing effect because they contain tryptophan, an amino acid that helps your body produce the feel-good hormone serotonin.

Countdown #55. Spinach

Suggested Serving Size: 1 cup

Price Per Serving: 0.52

Nutrition Info: One cup of cooked spinach provides more than 1,000% of the recommended daily value of vitamin K, and over 377% of the recommended daily value of vitamin A. It also contains manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B2, calcium, potassium, vitamin B6 and more.

Did You Know? Spinach contains more than a dozen phytonutrients known as flavonoids that have both anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer benefits.[vii]

Countdown #44. Beans

Suggested Serving Size: ½ cup

Price Per Serving: 0.28

Nutrition Info: Beans are a wonderful source of protein and fiber, and they also contain nutrients such as folate, manganese, magnesium and iron.

Did You Know? Beans, and black beans in particular, are an often-overlooked source of antioxidants that provide many of the same anti-inflammatory and heart-protective functions as those found in fruits and vegetables.

Countdown #33. Tomatoes

Suggested Serving Size: 1 cup

Price Per Serving: 0.76

Nutrition Info: Tomatoes are a rich source of vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, potassium, molybdenum, manganese, the antioxidant lycopene and more.

Did You Know? Tomatoes contain a nutrient called 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid, which has anti-dyslipidemic affects.[viii] Dyslipidemia is a condition in which there is an abnormal amount of fats in your bloodstream, which can lead to conditions like atherosclerosis or cirrhosis. Eating tomatoes may help prevent these diseases.

Countdown #22. Eggs

Suggested Serving Size: 1 egg

Price Per Serving: About 0.15

Nutrition Info: Eggs contain complete protein, choline, tryptophan, selenium, iodine, vitamin B2, vitamin B12 and the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin.

Did You Know? Eggs are an important source of choline, a nutrient that keeps your cell membranes functioning properly, allows nerves to communicate with muscles, prevents the build-up of harmful homocysteine in your blood and reduces chronic inflammation.[ix] Up to 90 percent of Americans may be deficient in choline.

Countdown #11. Wu-Long Tea (a traditional Chinese tea)

Suggested Serving Size: 1 cup

Price Per Serving: 0.92 per day for 6-month supply

Nutrition Info: Rich in phytonutrient polyphenols known as catechins, which are naturally occurring antioxidants that help to boost metabolism and burn fat

Did You Know? Researchers revealed that people who regularly drink Wu-Long Tea burn 2.5 times more calories than those who drink green tea.[x] And, drinking Wu-Long Tea 15 minutes before meals helps eliminate "carb cravings” by regulating insulin spikes.