5 Healthy Lunches Under $3

Think eating healthy means eating pricey? Guess again. By Seth Czarnecki, QualityHealth News At fast-food restaurants, dollar menus are plentiful. Choose wisely, and you can probably eat lunch for less than $3. But what happens when you want something healthier than a burger and fries? Can you eat well and eat cheaply? As it turns out, you can. The following five recipes can be prepared for less than $3 a serving, with one penny-saving dish even ringing up at less than a buck. When calculating the costs of these five lunches, only the prices of the main ingredients were included. The costs of seasonings, like salt, pepper, and oregano, were not. Turkey Chili Though chili probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think healthy, ground turkey is cheaper and leaner than the beef variety. Main Ingredients: Ground turkey $0.25/serving Canned diced tomatoes $0.29/serving Canned black beans $0.36/serving Canned red beans 0.36/serving Green bell pepper $0.25/serving Brown rice $0.23/serving Onion $0.30/serving Total: $2.04/serving Recipe: In a large pot, sauté 1 yellow onion, 2 tablespoons of minced garlic, and 1 bell pepper. Once onions are soft, add 1 pound of ground turkey and with 1 teaspoon each of dried parsley, dried basil, and dried oregano. After the turkey is browned, combine 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can black beans, and 1 can red beans with 2 tablespoons of paprika, 2 teaspoons ground cumin, and 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Simmer for 30 minutes to and hour. Add brown rice. Makes five servings. Bean Salad Pockets With the most expensive element being the pita (cost: a whopping $0.49), this midday meal is both high in protein and low in fat and cost. Main Ingredients: Black beans $0.36/ serving Pimento $0.16/serving Olive oil $0.19/serving Wheat Pita $0.49/serving Total: $0.84 Recipe Curried Chicken Salad Sandwich A zesty variation on a lunch classic that's just as light on your pocket as it is on your diet. Main Ingredients: Whole wheat bread $0.86/per two slices Red or green grapes $0.39/serving Canned chicken breast $1.64/serving Total: $2.89/serving Recipe: Combine one 9-ounce can of chicken breast, ½ cup grapes (halved), 2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon curry, ¼ teaspoon paprika in a bowl. Mix well. Makes two servings. Cajun Fish Sandwiches Why settle for a plain ol' tuna salad sandwich when you can kick it up a notch for cheap? Main Ingredients: Frozen flounder fillet $0.59/fillet Cucumber $0.10/serving English muffin $0.66/muffin Light sour cream $0.56/serving Total: $1.91/serving Recipe African Creamy Cold Tomato Soup A new take on an old classic. Feel free to pair it with a tuna sandwich for only $1.50 more. Main Ingredients: Fresh tomatoes $0.32/serving Avocado $0.16/serving Buttermilk $0.54/serving Tomato paste $0.13/serving Total: $1.15/serving Recipe Chicken and Prune Pinwheels Here's a cheap, easy, and delicious way to keep your lunch interesting. Main Ingredients: Chicken breast $1.58/serving Prunes $0.64/serving Total: $2.22 Recipe Information courtesy of Quality Health