Depending on where you live, the time of year it is, and market conditions, the essential staples of a healthy diet can sometimes get pricey. But that doesn't mean you have to bypass the fresh fruits for cans of sugary fruit cocktail or skimp on other essentials. Beyond obvious strategies like buying generic when possible and using manufacturer and store coupons, there are ways to eat healthy on the cheap.

Frugal Food Choices

When buying fruits and vegetables, take advantage of seasonal farmers' markets and roadside produce stands if you have them in your area. You can usually get a much better price on produce that is direct from the source than you can on the supermarket variety, where you're also paying for shipping, advertising, and overhead. Canning, freezing, and dehydrating fruits and veggies can also help you extend your summer purchases.

If you have access to a warehouse or wholesale type of store where bulk goods and economy or restaurant-sized food staples are sold, you may be able to save some money that way. Make sure the packaging is such that you won't end up wasting half of a jumbo package of yogurt or cereal because it spoils or gets soggy. Proper airtight storage and/or freezing can help with some food products.

Seek Out the Sales

Keep an eye on store sales each week, and stock up on the better deals for later use whenever possible. For example, you may find great deals on turkey just before Thanksgiving and Christmas, so buy extra and freeze. But don't be lured into buying junk food just because it's two-for-one this week. For perishable goods, check expiration dates — a good price isn't worth much if the food will go bad in a few days.

The Real Cost of “Convenience” Foods

Another way to cut your grocery expenses is to think twice about buying heavily packaged or prepared foods. Buying precut and pre-washed produce or cereals and crackers that are divvied up into individual serving-size packages is more expensive than buying the regular stuff. The same goes for meat and poultry. It's typically much cheaper to bypass the preformed patties and seasoned and sliced strips and do the prep work yourself from less expensive cuts of meat. If you can make the time to buy whole foods and clean, slice, and repackage them yourself where necessary, your wallet will be in much better shape.

That's not to say that some of these products don't have their time and place occasionally. Time is money, and you may find that buying a bagged salad once in a while when you're strapped for time allows you to provide a more balanced meal for your family than you'd be able to prepare otherwise.