Shop smart at the market; find beans that pack the biggest nutritional punch; choose 100 percent whole wheat bread instead of white.

A healthy meal doesn't have to cost a bundle.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—A new poll shows that more than 80 percent of people in the U.S. are making an effort to limit spending on food and groceries, and 40 percent admit they’re sacrificing nutrition for cheaper, less-healthy foods.

THE DETAILS: Multi-sponsor Surveys conducted the 2009 Economic Impact Market Segmentation Study, questioning 1,008 adults about their spending habits, well-being, and financial situations during the current recession. While cuts in entertainment, clothing, and dining out topped the list of ways to trim budgets, spending less on food was right behind them. When asked what foods they were eating more often in an effort to save money, those most frequently mentioned by the respondents were: Pasta and macaroni, sandwiches, soup, eggs, cold cereal, bread, peanut butter, tuna fish, beans, and hotdogs.

WHAT IT MEANS: Please don’t eat hotdogs for dinner every night. You can have the best of both worlds, saving money and eating nutritious foods, with a little planning. A tough economy shouldn’t rob you of the right to eat good food. Besides, with money tight, it’s more important than ever to eat well so you’ll stay healthy and out of the doctor’s office.

Here’s how to find nutritious food without breaking the bank: