The price is right

These budget-friendly clean recipes and two-week meal plan can help you break through those plateaus — without breaking the bank.

WHETHER YOU’RE GROCERY

shopping for one or trying to nourish a family, food bills can add up fast — especially if you’re consistent with your healthy get-lean diet. After all, wild salmon, grass-fed beef and microgreens aren’t cheap. What’s more, food prices have increased by more than 3 percent overall in the past year. (Thanks, pandemic.)

But you don’t have to spend a fortune to eat like a champ. You just need to seek out and buy foods with a big nutritional bang for your buck. There are plenty of frugal-minded superfoods, so even if you’re pinching pennies, you don’t need to pass on nutrition.

Harvard researchers

found that the price disparity between healthier eating habits (i.e., more fruits, vegetables and lean meats) and lousy ones (i.e., more sodas and snack foods) is only about $1.50 a day.

Contrary to popular belief, eating healthy is possible on a budget. Check out these stealth health foods that won’t bust the bank.

ASIAN CABBAGE SLAW

MAKES 4 Servings

Use this slaw in tacos made with corn tortillas and strips of top sirloin steak.

INGREDIENTS

8 cups red cabbage, thinly sliced

1 large carrot, cut into matchsticks

4 scallions (green onions), chopped