Trying to eat healthy can be a challenge when you are broke and kind of picky... help?

FrozenTundra511

I buy a big pack (10-20) of chicken thighs at Costco or a grocery store and bake them on a broiler pan (or cookie rack on top of a cookie sheet) to remove excess fat while it cooks. I toss one or two into my lunch every day. Low calories, healthy. Should be between $10-$20 depending on where you shop and size of package. Perhaps some Halos/Mandarins and Chobani. You should be able to do this for under $30 and your week is covered.

Party_Cat

I am so glad to see I am not the only picky financially challenged eater out there! I love this community. Thank you so much, everyone for the awesome ideas!

purplemystra

I bring Progresso Light soups for my lunch. My favorite is chicken pot pie, chicken corn chowder and chicken and dumplins. The whole can is only 160 -200 calories, depending on which one. The sodium isn't too bad. I sometimes add green beans or mushrooms to make more filling. For snacks I like Quaker Popped mini rice cakes. BBQ, Cheddar and Ranch are all good flavors. It's my chip fix. Light microwave popcorn is great too. I'm the only one in my house eating healthy so I have to budget my food and theirs. Sometimes I lose out on the money so I got to find inexpensive stuff. Sometimes I get small cans of chicken and make chicken salad. I go to Panera's and get the Kraft light olive oil mayo packets. They are free. I don't eat mayo often but when I do it's free. I always take extra condiments, napkins and utensils. Saves me money.

wannabefitformy30

I won't eat most of the same things as you, hello fellow picky!!! there are still plenty of great things out there you can eat! I eat a lot of chicken, salads and beans. All are very budget friendly. Eat the fruits and veggies you like, where I live frozen is much much cheaper this time of year! As always water is a readily available cheap drink option. I hated drinking it the first couple weeks but now aside from coffee it's pretty much all I drink! If you have better self control than I have you may be able to eat whatever you want just in moderation. You can do it!!!

j_ringsaker

FrozenTundra511 wrote: »

I buy a big pack (10-20) of chicken thighs at Costco or a grocery store and bake them on a broiler pan (or cookie rack on top of a cookie sheet) to remove excess fat while it cooks. I toss one or two into my lunch every day. Low calories, healthy. Should be between $10-$20 depending on where you shop and size of package. Perhaps some Halos/Mandarins and Chobani. You should be able to do this for under $30 and your week is covered.

This is what I do for the most part and it works and is a lot cheaper than going out for lunch. I also will buy lo-cal premade lunches (boo sodium) for 10/$10. Love 'em.

clf1284

Everyone's posting great advice! I haven't read them all, but I do want to add something. If you like fruits and vegetables, don't overlook your local produce stands. My parents own one and I currently work for them. You can find great deals at them! We often reduce produce simply because it's not pretty anymore. You still get the good stuff but save money!

hamoncan

You'll never go broke eating soup and sandwiches. I've got family that think nothing of eating that for lunch and dinner every day. There's a 101 different ways to make both.