At The Optimist Daily, we care deeply about food. We believe food is medicine, and we’re incredibly concerned with how our food is grown and how it affects our bodies.

Sunday’s Optimist View was a testament to our desire to create discussion around food as we explored the potentially damaging effect that grain consumption has on our brains, something that was uncovered by American neurologist David Perlmutter. Today we’re going to talk about how some of the best tips that bestselling author Max Lugavere has to offer for those of us trying to shop for healthy food on a budget.

First tip: don’t be afraid to buy cheaper, frozen produce. Many people tend to think that frozen produce is not the same quality, but that’s a false assumption; frozen fruit and vegetables are picked at the peak of ripeness and immediately frozen so their quality has not been compromised in any way.

Another good way to save some money by picking up tuna, salmon, and sardines in cans. Of course, you want to make sure that the seafood was caught in a sustainable manner before buying.

Tip number three: buy beans! Beans are not only cheap, but they’re packed with nutritional value.

Lastly, is it worth paying a little more for organic food? That choice comes down to whether or not the fruit or vegetable has to be peeled. If there is a peel that needs to removed, like oranges or bananas, skip the organic choice and higher price. If you are consuming the entire food item, as you do with grapes or tomatoes, you should choose organic for the healthiest option.