Eating healthy is cheaper than eating highly processed, unhealthy junk food. Many Americans choose to believe otherwise — eating badly and making excuses for daily, ultimately harmful, habits — without actually looking into the facts.

The fact is that when choosing food to cook at home over the less healthy option, a person receives more quantity and quality for their dollar. To prove this fact, I used myself as an experiment for back-to-back months.

In the first month, I ate out. My diet consisted of fast food restaurants and the typical junk food. It cost me approximately $200. I began the following month by shopping at the supermarket, finding great deals on grains, vegetables, dairy and protein that would last me anywhere from days to weeks. I spent $151 that month. Not only did I save money and receive more the second month, but also the quality was much higher. I knew what I was eating because I bought and cooked it.

Mark Bittman, food journalist, author, and columnist for The New York Times, explained in his own research how contrary to popular belief, shopping organically is also not the only option to shift in the healthy direction. He argues that there is work involved, which may turn people away, but the better options are available. I proved this.

Bittman also addressed the argument for fast food and how it is said to be the better option because it is cheaper per calorie. America eats an excess of calories per day regardless, therefore the argument is invalid. Supermarket, healthy cooking not only costs less and supplies more, but it allows for healthier calories. There are always possible substitutions. Whether it is more water and less soda, or more carrots and fewer potato chips, ultimately we are deciding to put the work in to see the difference.

“Anything you do that is not fast food is terrific; cooking once a week is far better than not cooking at all,” said Marion Nestle, professor of food studies at New York University and author of “What to Eat.”

Economists found that cheapest food ranges from grain, dairy, vegetables, fruit, protein and unhealthy foods as most expensive. Protein and unhealthy food are very close in price, but there are less expensive options such as eggs and beans for protein.

In fact, these cheaper food groups are what supply the healthier calories. Therefore, by eating the unhealthy option for the purpose of calorie intake, and saving money, you are actually wasting your time.

However, fast food companies do not help this issue and rather enforce settling for the bad calories. In 2009, approximately $4.2 billion went into marketing for fast food. America has been conditioned to believe that highly processed food is the cheaper and faster option.

The common belief is that junk food saves time. However, it may take longer than cooking your own meal would.

A highly popular argument is that there is no time for grocery shopping and cooking because we are always too busy.

Although, if you have time to drive to McDonald’s, sit in the 25-minute line and order a meal that is probably too large for one person, there is time for food preparation at home.

Our reason for junk food being cheaper than healthy food is not based off of facts, but it is based off of our excuses and our misuse of time.

The Department of Agriculture reports that more than 2 million Americans in low income, rural areas live at least ten miles from a supermarket. More than 5 million homes with access to cars live more than half a mile from a supermarket.

“We have all heard that eating a healthy diet is expensive, and people have used that as an excuse for not eating a healthy diet, … but healthy foods does not necessarily cost more than less healthy foods,” said Andrea Carlson, economist and co-author of a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service.

If we allowed ourselves more time to take care of our bodies rather than watch an extra hour or television, or check another hour of social media, we would find that there are many hours of the day that can be dedicated to shopping and cooking a meal that will be cheaper and healthier for us in the long run. Many may want to choose the easier, unhealthy option, but that does not mean that it is cheaper.

I suggest conducting a self-experiment much like I did in order to prove how much cheaper, fun and beneficial eating healthy is for the average American. Take the time to research and find the best options for you at your supermarket, and I assure you the differences financially, physically and emotionally will show. Healthy food really is cheaper than highly processed junk food in many different ways.