You don’t have to break the bank to feel good, become leaner, and build some lean mass. There seems to be a common misconception that optimally fueling your body is inordinately expensive. Eating healthy can be affordable and extremely simple.

Benjamin Franklin once said: “Be industrious and frugal, and you will be rich.” The man is on the hundred dollar bill, so his financial advice is good enough for me. You don’t need to overspend on cleverly marketed health foods, which may not even work for you. All you need is hard work in the gym and these three muscle-building meals, each one costing under 3 bucks!

Meal 1

• 5 Whole Eggs ($1.25)
• 2 cups Spinach ($.20)
• ½ cup Oatmeal ($.85)
• 1 Apple ($.35)
  This is a killer breakfast. It will get your body up and running with the fuel it needs to seize the day. Scramble 4-5 whole eggs with 2 cups of spinach and enjoy that with ½ cup of oatmeal with chopped apples on top.
  
  Total Cost: $2.65
  

Meal 2

• 8 oz. Chicken Breast ($1)
• 4 cups frozen Broccoli ($1)
• 8 oz. Sweet Potato ($.80)
  Ideal for lunch, dinner or post-workout meal, this great combo delivers nutrients that will help you pack on serious gains. You can bake the chicken and boil the sweet potato ahead of time, then reheat it with the broccoli to make this meal as convenient as it is affordable.
  
  Total Cost: $2.80

Meal 3

• 8 oz. Tilapia ($1.12)
• 1/3 cup Black Beans ($0.33)
• 1/3 cup Green Beans ($0.33)
• ½ Avocado ($0.45)

Total Cost: $2.23

Another great meal for lunch or dinner, this one costs slightly more than $2, but it provides everything you need to keep adding muscle to your frame. Plus, you add variety by swapping fish for chicken. The prices shown for green and black beans are for organic varieties sold in cans. You can get fresh or frozen for around the same price. Cans of non-organic beans are even cheaper.

The best thing about these three muscle-building meals is their simplicity. You don’t have to be the next Bobby Flay to execute these recipes. They are simple but very effective. Sometimes if your diet is stuck in a rut, the best thing you can do is go back to the basics with old-school meals like these. Hopefully, these meals can save you some money, time and stress; and you can get the most bang for your buck at the grocery store.