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the year, you are enjoying home canned pears, without the preservatives, for less than 50 cents a quart, while others are buying canned pears and paying over $1 a can for quality that isn't as good.

It is of course great when you can grow your own produce, even in pots. But some people don't have this chance. Gleaning may be the answer. Many farms sell "U-pick" fruits and vegetables at a huge discount. You still get better and healthier produce, but you pay a small amount as compared to the supermarket.

One of the biggest laughs is when comparing TV dinners vs. expense and health benefits. Does anyone actually believe the commercials when they tell you how healthy their TV dinners are? How about this: Have you ever cooked something and had leftovers? These can be frozen to make your own TV dinners without any of the expense of buying them, and without boring the family with leftover meals.

Even using paper plates will work for this, however there's a pretty good chance you have friends or family who eat TV dinners. Have them save you the containers they come in, which easily keep the food separated. It is then easy to scoop the leftovers into the compartments of the clean TV dinner tray, cover it with plastic wrap, and freeze it for later use. It is healthier and way cheap. Again, you control what goes into it.

Boil-in-a-bag meals can be made in the same way. They are healthy, save money, and when you need it most, they save time as well.

Some healthy foods do cost more than the less healthy alternative. Olive oil costs more than vegetable oil; butter costs more than margarine, and so forth. There are two things to consider, though. First, considering the amount you are saving by using the above to save money, don't you think the small added expense is worth it? Second, and more importantly, what will be the expense if you have to go to the hospital for days because of clogged arteries and a needed bypass, because you ate high cholesterol, high fat foods that contained few of the nutrients needed for health?

You can eat healthy on a budget without cutting into your life savings. These are only a few of the ways to show how it can be done and the reasons why it should be. A great motto may be, "Save money, eat healthy."

Learn more about this author, Rex Trulove.
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