Trying to eat a healthier diet can be tough, particularly when you're on a budget. So often, foods that are not good for us are cheaper than healthy alternatives. It's a fact of life that a bag of apples or oranges frequently costs more per serving than that two-for-one box of cupcakes on the supermarket shelf.

So, if we choose foods that make our bodies healthy, are we doomed to making our wallets feel a little anemic?

Not necessarily. Studies have found that people who switch to a healthier diet often discover that their grocery bill decreases over time as they become better bargain shoppers.

With a little careful planning, you can trim the financial fat from your food bill. Here are a few tips for making healthy food choices more affordable:

• Build flexibility into your diet. Healthy eating becomes more affordable when you bend your diet to fit what is on sale. Planning to buy pea pods only to find that fresh green beans are 50 percent off? It makes sense (and cents) to choose the beans and adjust the meal.

• Look for coupons, sales and clearance items. Always keep an eye out for coupons, sales or other specials that can help stretch your budget. Two-for-one offers result in big savings if you enjoy one of the items now and freeze (or store) the other for later.
  
  Some supermarkets also slash prices on fresh foods that are nearing the end of their shelf life. Bananas may go on sale as their skins begin to turn even though they are still ripe and delicious. Buy plenty, peel them, cut them up and freeze them so you can make tasty and nutritious smoothies anytime.
  
  Certain stores also offer discounts on food products for people with frequent-shopper cards.