Healthy Breakfasts: Store-Bought Versus Homemade

Instant oatmeal packets, which really just do the measuring and sugar-adding for you, typically cost 21 cents a packet. Getting oatmeal at a fast-food restaurant will cost several times that: between $2 and $4.

1/3 cup rolled oats + 1 tablespoon raisins + 1 teaspoon brown sugar

When's the last time you paid for breakfast with the change in your pocket? Homemade oatmeal cooks up for less than a dollar per serving — even with the addition of raisins and brown sugar. In fact, the biggest price variables (and we're still talking pennies) are whether you choose organic or conventional, and steel-cut or rolled oats. Quick-cooking steel-cut oats are another good option — they offer a similar toothsome texture at a fraction of the simmer time.

$3.45 is a pretty standard price at chains like Starbucks, although if you pick one up at a coffee shop or cafe, you’re probably looking at upward of $5.

6 ounces plain yogurt + 1/2 cup berries + 1/4 cup granola

A homemade yogurt parfait costs just $1.60 when you use 1/2 cup of thawed frozen raspberries, 6 ounces of plain yogurt and 1/4 cup of granola. You can bring down that cost even more by using less expensive fruit, such as bananas or apples. By making a parfait at home, you can choose your favorite yogurt, be it high-protein Greek or low-sugar plain, as well as a healthier granola (look for one that has less added sugar and is loaded with nuts and seeds).