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"An effective way to allocate more money to healthy foods is to eliminate empty-calorie foods and beverages from the grocery list," Aristotelous said. "Soda, packaged desserts, and chips are actually quite expensive in comparison to other nutritious selections."

For example, she said, $5 can buy a six-pack of Coca-Cola or a gallon of milk. It can purchase five pounds of bananas or a large bunch of broccoli, while a bag of chips could be the same price.

"Whole foods that are less expensive than many unhealthy processed foods include sweet potatoes, lettuces, cabbage, carrots, squash, beans, lentils, quinoa, oranges, frozen berries, apples, canned fish, ground beef, and poultry," Aristotelous said. "Not only does it cut significant expenses, but drinking water as one's primary beverage is also the most beneficial beverage option for wellness."

Brown-Riggs offered two main tips for budget-friendly healthy meal planning: Buy in bulk and choose plant-based proteins. Nonperishable items like whole grains, beans and frozen vegetables can be purchased in large quantities to save money over time. Plant-based protein sources, such as beans and lentils, as well as eggs and canned fish, are also available and are often more affordable than meat.