Healthy foods are more expensive per calorie, but are far less expensive when looking at weight or serving size. Whole grains, beans, vegetables, and fruit are much less expensive in a price-per-gram or price-per-serving size way. So, is eating healthy really more expensive? Not even remotely.

Processed foods trick us into thinking we are saving money, but we eat much more of them before feeling full and satisfied. A single serving of fresh fruit contains antioxidants, fiber, water, vitamins, and minerals and leaves us feeling much more satiated than a less expensive donut. Dense, calorie-rich foods seem cheaper but will be less filling than their low-calorie counterparts in the produce section. Processed foods lead us to overeat and as we consume more servings the price climbs. These are unnecessary calories that the body turns into fat. These processed foods are also very poor in nutrition—even if they are cheaper—stripped of the vital vitamins, minerals, water content, and fiber. Therein lurks another hidden cost of cheap, convenient food.

These high-calorie, processed foods contribute to obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, premature aging, and even cancer. Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States and many other countries. Obesity then contributes to an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. Think of the health-care costs that can build up around these conditions. It is undoubtedly cheaper to avoid these preventable diseases and remain healthy as long as possible by eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

If you truthfully want to save money, then healthy is the way to go.…