$20 Food Showdown: Fast Food vs. Healthy Food (2016)

By , Melissa Rudy, Health & Fitness Journalist
Of all the excuses for unhealthy eating, cost is one of the biggest. Many people assume they can't afford to buy healthy food, and that it would be cheaper to grab fast food rather than plan meals and cook at home.

To debunk the myth that healthy eating is expensive, we headed to our local grocery store--and a few fast food restaurants--to see how much $20 could buy. In most cases, our money went farther at the grocery than the drive-thru. We think this shows that healthy eating is possible on any budget.

Check out the photos below to see what we bought. Prices may vary in your area (some items were on sale when we shopped), but we think you'll be surprised at how far you can stretch a buck at the supermarket when you buy healthy foods! 

(Grocery prices from Kroger in Cincinnati, Ohio; fast food prices from greater Cincinnati area, 2016.)