Nutritionists Swear By These Walmart Food Finds (All Under $15)

If you think healthy eating means spending more, think again. Walmart has a slew of nutritious options that even dietitians love, all for under $15. To help you shop smarter, we've consulted with two registered dietitians: Rachel Raymond, owner of Balance Your Bites Nutrition, and Helen Tieu, founder of Diet Redefined.

Their favorite picks make it easy to fill your cart with nutritious foods that are easy on the wallet and good for your health while you save money at Walmart. Many of these products are also shelf-stable, frozen, or sold in resealable packages, so they can help reduce food waste while making meal planning easier. The lineup includes options for breakfast, snacks, lunches, and simple dinners.

Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.

Price: $2.97

Tieu loves this yogurt, which is tasty, versatile, and affordable. "Plain Greek yogurt is a staple in my kitchen. It's a great source of protein. Mix with frozen berries or fresh fruit, with a dollop of honey for a healthy, high-protein treat," she says.

The plain flavor also works well in savory dishes. Try using it in place of sour cream on tacos or baked potatoes, blending it into a dip, or adding it to salad dressing. The product has earned thousands of customer ratings on Walmart's website, with shoppers frequently praising its value and versatility.

Price: $7.94

These gluten-free, no-added-hormone chicken strips are less than $10, an excellent source of protein, and perfect for a quick lunch. Raymond loves their versatility and how "there are a million ways to enjoy these." She likes to pair them with sliced apples, vegetables, and hummus.

The manufacturer describes the strips as grain-free, gluten-free, low in carbohydrates, and low in sugar. Because they can anchor several different meals, you could serve them over a salad, tuck them into a wrap, or pair them with roasted vegetables. The strips can also be portioned before cooking, which makes the bag practical for shoppers feeding one or two people.

Price: $2.87

Cottage cheese is a fabulous product that you can add to salads, eat on its own, or even use in elaborate meals like lasagna.

According to Tieu, "It's an excellent source of lean protein." She also suggests serving the cottage cheese "with fresh or frozen fruit, or on top of whole grain toast for a high protein snack."

For a savory snack, try adding tomatoes, cucumber, black pepper, or an everything-seasoning blend. When using cottage cheese in a recipe, blending it first can create a smoother texture for sauces and fillings.

Price: $2.98

If you want a healthy snack, look no further than this Mexican tuna salad bowl. It combines tuna with corn, red beans, jalapeño peppers, and just enough cumin to make it flavorful.

Raymond loves how easy it is to make into a complete course and suggests pairing it with apples and peanut butter to turn it into a complete meal.

The 5.64-ounce bowl contains 230 calories and comes with a spork, making it particularly convenient for work, school, travel, or a picnic. It also has an easy-peel opening and does not need to be assembled from separate ingredients. Customers have given the bowl an average rating of about 4.5 out of 5 stars, with hundreds of ratings posted.

Price: 92 cents

Tieu only has good things to say about canned goods like chickpeas: "Canned legumes are a must, being a very convenient source of plant-based protein, fiber, and micronutrients. An underrated superfood, in my opinion." She suggests adding them to "salads, stir fries, soups, or chilis."

The standard Great Value can contains 15.5 ounces, and the chickpeas provide 6 grams of protein per labeled serving. They can also be drained, rinsed, seasoned, and roasted for a crunchy snack or blended with tahini, lemon juice, and garlic to make hummus. Rinsing canned chickpeas is a simple option for people who want to remove some of the liquid and surface sodium before using them. With more than 5,000 ratings and a 4.6-star average on Walmart's website, they are also a well-reviewed pantry staple.

Price: $4.97

Raymond loves these chicken sausages for both the nutrition they offer and their great taste. Her favorite recipe involves baking them in the oven with "cubed sweet potatoes, halved brussels sprouts, and wedges of red onion. Toss in olive oil, garlic powder, or other seasonings. Once done, drizzle with a sauce made out of equal parts honey and Dijon mustard."

Marketside sells its fully cooked chicken sausage in a 12-ounce package containing four links. Depending on availability, shoppers may find chicken apple or chipotle and Monterey Jack cheese varieties. Walmart describes both as gluten-free and made without added nitrates or nitrites. Since the links are fully cooked, they can also be sliced and reheated for pasta, grain bowls, breakfast scrambles, or sandwiches.

Price: $3.52

Frozen berries are a good source of vitamin C and fiber. They're also more affordable and convenient than fresh berries, especially during the off-season.

There are tons of ways to enjoy whole berries, but Raymond likes to boost their healthy attributes in a smoothie: "I'd make a protein smoothie with these, including protein powder, milk of choice, hemp hearts or walnuts, chia seeds, banana, and berries," she shares.

The medley comes in a 16-ounce resealable bag, so you can use only the amount needed and return the rest to the freezer. Beyond smoothies, the berries can be stirred into oatmeal, thawed for yogurt, cooked into a quick sauce, or incorporated into baked goods.

Price: $9.96

Turkey offers a healthier alternative to beef burgers and works for a variety of meals, from classic barbecue dinners to quick stovetop lunch options.

Because they can go directly from the freezer to the grill or skillet, you do not have to remember to thaw an entire package first. For other serving ideas, crumble a cooked patty into a grain bowl or serve it with roasted vegetables instead of a traditional bun.

To keep them healthy, Raymond likes to "slap them on the grill or air-fry frozen and pair them with a spring mix side salad." That way, you're also avoiding extra carbs and fat.

Price: 98 cents

Another healthy, easy-to-meal-prep option that Tieu loves is frozen vegetables. She appreciates the super affordable price and how easy they are to include in meals.

"Frozen vegetables are non-perishable, just as nutritious as fresh vegetables. I always keep a batch of fresh vegetables in the fridge, along with a stash of frozen vegetables in the freezer for times when I run out of the fresh ones."

The steamable bag includes carrots, green beans, corn, and peas. Walmart says the mix has no added sugar, artificial preservatives, or added chemicals, and one labeled serving contains 50 calories. The vegetables are ready in minutes and can be eaten as a side or added to soup, fried rice, potpie filling, casseroles, and pasta.

Price: $7.92

Protein bars are an affordable option if you're avoiding sugar and salt bombs in your snacks. Besides being convenient, our experts say they are a "high-protein snack option when you're on the go."

Great Value sells several flavors and package sizes, so check the nutrition label rather than assuming every bar has the same ingredients or nutritional profile. The peanut butter and dark chocolate chewy version provides 10 grams of protein per bar and is available in five- and 15-count boxes. Individually wrapped bars are easy to store in a desk, gym bag, or travel bag.

Tieu suggests always packing one bar in your bag or bringing the whole package on trips.

Price: $2.48

If you've been hearing bad things about cereal and have been avoiding it, you'll be happy with Tieu's next pick. As she explains, "Bran flakes — without the raisins — are a healthier cereal option that's high in fiber, whole grain, lower in sugar, and provides micronutrients."

The cereal is made with whole wheat and wheat bran. Besides serving the flakes with milk, you can add them to yogurt for crunch or mix them with nuts and dried fruit for a simple snack. The cereal has earned an average rating of about 4.6 out of 5 stars from thousands of Walmart customers.

Price: $3.84

Canned tuna is convenient, a great source of Omega-3 fats and protein, and easy to add to a meal, regardless of your cooking abilities.

The only concern is the mercury content, but Tieu is quick to offer a solution: "Aim for canned light tuna over canned albacore tuna, as it's much lower in mercury. Ideally, aim to consume a limit of two cans per week."

In addition to sandwiches and casseroles, the tuna can top crackers, salads, grain bowls, or baked potatoes. Since the unopened cans are shelf-stable, the multipack is useful for keeping several quick protein options in the pantry.

Eating healthy on a budget is possible if you know where to look. With dietitian-approved Walmart staples priced under $15, you can enjoy nutritious food and save money shopping. And to stretch your grocery budget even more, always shop Walmart's Great Value and Marketside brands for fresh produce. You'll get the same nutrition as from national brands, but for far less.

Before adding an item to your cart, compare the price per ounce or per serving rather than looking only at the package price. Larger packages are not automatically the better deal, especially if part of the food may go unused. Frozen produce, canned beans and tuna, resealable dairy products, and individually portioned proteins can make it easier to buy only what your household will eat. Checking labels also helps you compare protein, fiber, added sugar, sodium, allergens, and serving sizes among similar products.