Are you looking for the cheapest superfoods? They’re usually expensive and hard to find, but there are some diamonds in the rough. Cheap superfoods are available – you just have to know what superfoods to look for and where to look for affordable superfoods. Below, we have accumulated a list of 5 cheapest superfoods out there and accompanied them with some darn good recipes and ideas for you to try today! Read on and find out how to include more in your daily routine.
1. Spinach
Spinach is a relatively simple green, but it is definitely a superfood. This superfood, which is rich in calcium, folic acid, vitamin K, fiber, vitamin C, carotenoids, and iron, is not just nutritionally amazing; it’s also tasty and cheaper than kale!
At Costco, a wholesale store, a pound of baby spinach is just $3.79. At Winco Foods, five ounces of the same green is a mere $2.78. Sure, regular, non-organic baby spinach is less expensive, but it’s also twice as dirty as far as pesticides are concerned. Try this spectacular green in Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms or Spinach Dip!
2. Strawberries
The Anishinabe Indians of the upper Midwest of America depended on strawberries as a key part of their diet, especially in the month of June when the berries were particularly ripe. Because strawberries, or “heart berries” according to the American Indians, are indigenous to North and South America, these berries are sacred which explains why they are now considered a superfood.
These tiny little red berries are chock full of phenols like anthocyanins and ellagitannin, both of which are potent antioxidants that protect the organs by defending autosomal cell membranes. Other benefits of this simple fruit include: anti-inflammatory compounds, cancer protection, and heart boosters. If you purchase organic berries, they might be more expensive, but they are still reasonable as far as superfoods are concerned. At Trader Joe’s you can buy 16 ounces for $3.49 in their West Coast and Texas stores and $3.79 in their East Coast, Midwest and Southeast stores. To use up your strawberries and reap their benefits, check out this comprehensive list of 25 strawberry-centric recipes or just make this Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie and some Raw Strawberry Creme Truffles while you’re at it!
3. Quinoa
Quinoa is full of protein – there’s 8 grams of complete protein and 5 grams of fiber per cup of this pseudo-grain! It has quite the reputation as being a superfood, and rightfully so because of its dense nutritional profile. There’s a larger demand for quinoa nowadays, so the price of it has steadily declined. You can now purchase a pound of organic quinoa for around $4.99, which cooked yields four and a half cups. Make some Quinoa and Sweet Potato Bolognese, some Quinoa Oat Muffin Clusters, or Quinoa and White Bean Burgers.
4. Bananas
This smiling, yellow fruit often gets a bad rap as being overly carbohydrate-dense, but they are the perfect, potassium rich, superfood. Look at those lovely shining fruits just sitting on your counter looking sad. They are a superfood! Make this Banana and Blueberry Brunch Bread Cake, or slice up those fruits for a Banana Oatmeal topper. Do you have overripe bananas? Don’t throw them away! Take a stab at some of these delightful recipes. Whatever you do, you should know that organic bananas are the best, and they are super cheap, coming in at around $1.99 per three pounds or $0.66 for a single pound.
5. Sweet Potatoes
These orange tubers are brimming with beta-carotene, which raises vitamin A levels in the blood. Because of this and their other remarkably dense nutritional profile, sweet potatoes can be considered a superfood. Organic sweet potatoes can be purchased for around $1.20 a pound or $6.99 for 6.5 pounds – a little bit more than white potatoes, but better tasting and richer in vitamin A. You can do many things with sweet potatoes, including make these Sweet Potato Waffles, Hearty Barley-Lentil Soup with Potatoes, Roasted Sweet Potatoes, or Spicy Sweet Potato Salad!
All of these superfoods are worth the buy. Not only are they relatively inexpensive compared to other superfoods, but they’re also easier to find. With this list of the cheapest superfoods and recipes and tips for how to use them, you can make a wide variety of recipes, and you’ll get more nutrients by consuming these foods.
