Take one shopping cart, fill with pre-packaged snacks, frozen fries, frozen pizzas, cans of soft drinks, frozen corn dogs, bags of potato chips, packets of cookies, boxes of sugary cereal, and cartons of chocolate milk. Not only have you got yourself a recipe for a heart attack from the food - the shock of your grocery bill might do just as much damage!

On the other hand, if you fill that cart with fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, basic grains like brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, couscous and rolled oats, some lean cuts of meat, some legumes, beans, milk, lowfat cheese, whole-grain bread, and the occasional chocolate bar, your heart, health, and wallet will be a lot happier.

“There is a big misconception that eating healthy—including lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, and low-fat dairy products—is beyond people's budgets,” says registered dietitian Dawn Blatner, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

“If you price out the cost of eating for one day, it is truly less expensive than most people probably think it is. For a 2,000-calorie meal plan, it costs approximately $6.69 per day. If you're a vegetarian, it is slightly less at approximately $6.33.

“As long as you aren't eating more than the recommended serving amount, your cost per day to eat healthfully should be no more than $7.”

At less than the cost of a latte and a piece of chocolate cake, or a frozen pizza, fries and soda, $7 a day for your health is worth considering.