How to eat better foods that you really cant afford? (here is a before during and current picture)
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CICO is all you need for weight loss. However, if you're asking how to get more nutrient dense food on a budget, I have some experience. Frozen veg is your friend. It's usually pretty cheap, but still great quality stuff. Lean turkey is generally the same or cheaper than hamburger or pork. Fruit, buy what's in season or on sale. Frozen is also good there, but sometimes more pricey. Do the math and figure out the price per lb and compare to the fresh. Sweet potatoes are very nutritionally dense and close in price to white potatoes. If your making baked potatoes, just make yours a sweet potato.
Also, do you cook the meals? If so, prepare the entire meal as if everyone was eating your healthy diet, and then add one "bad" dish that everyone else likes (you won't eat it of course). And, they can slap on as much butter and what have you as they like to their "healthy" food.
Good luck! You've made some awesome progress so far!0 -
mamapeach910 wrote: »serafinelaveaux wrote: »I sympathize with you, I really do. I hate when people say oh it costs the same to eat healthy as it does not to. What crap! I go to the store and I can get 3 boxes of generic Mac&Cheese for $1, or 1 bell pepper IF it's on sale.
What does the bell pepper have to do with anything? You can get real rice, real lentils for less than you're paying for the nutritional wasteland known as boxed mac&cheese.
Cheap, and super easy to "cook".
For real. Bag of lentils: 89 cents. Bag of rice? What? $2.00?
And how many meals is that compared to boxed mac and cheese?
And yes, while red bell peppers might be sometimes expensive, not all produce is. Look in the front of the produce department for that week's loss leaders. They will be on sale that week, sometimes with coupons. Frozen vegetables are VERY inexpensive and just as nutritious as fresh.
I have a giant vat of navy beans cooking in the crock RIGHT now with some cheap frozen veggies, ketchup, tomato juice, garlic and onion powders, and a heavy sprinkle of seasoning salt. Will serve with buttered white bread. Total dinner cost? Pennies.
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By the way, we have similar stats. I started at 229 and I'm currently at 190.0
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My husband eats a lot of junk, so I understand how that is. I make a grocery list for myself and our boys (they're only 21 mos old so they eat what I give them) and then I tell my husband to write down or text me his list. More to the point though, staples on my list are milk, eggs, plain nonfat yogurt, 1% cottage cheese, apples, at least 2 bunches of bananas, 1 bunch celery, 1 bag baby carrots, 2 red bell peppers, 1 seedless cucumber, and bread. The milk is for the boys, yogurt and bananas we share, the veggies and apples are for my lunches, and bread is for the boys' lunches and sometimes mine. I make a huge pot of soup for the week for my lunches, or lately I've been bringing sandwiches. We also go through a lot of oats, rice, cream of wheat, wheatena, lentils, barley, pasta, canned veggies, some canned fruits, unsweetened applesauce, peanut butter, jelly, and honey. Then just whatever random stuff for dinners during the week. Fresh produce can be pricey depending on what you get. Frozen and canned are great options if you're on a super tight budget. I would really recommend going heavy on the rice, lentils, barley, and oats. They will keep you full for cheap and you can find some really easy, cheap, healthy recipes using those things if you do a little searching online!0
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melimomTARDIS wrote: »Nothing wrong with flour tortillas and cheese. Lots of austism spectrum kids eat that way exclusively.
Oh wow....yeah....I can vouch for that!
:drinker:0 -
I hear you; while I've mostly only been cooking for myself the last few years, I did that on a graduate student's budget (ie: dirt cheap). And now I'm adapting to cooking for my meat-eating, not-in-love-with vegetables fiance (I'm a vegetarian). It sounds like you've done a great job. Most important: don't give up because of an *apparent* lack of results. Just keep going. There's already great advice above on foods, getting moving, etc. So a bit about my own attempts to shop more cheaply:
I unabashedly shop in the "discount" section of the produce section. You know, the little cart or corner most stores have with the bruised tomatoes, overripe fruit, the not-pretty-enough yams that look like a toddler's play-doh creations. I buy these and use them as soon as possible. If it's something that freezes well I buy as much as they have and make my own veggie packs (wash, chop, freeze on wax paper covered baking sheet, portion into bags for the next stir fry, soup, to add to spaghetti sauce, etc.). Depending on where you live, you might want to look for a local ethnic market--prices are often much lower than at standard chains. We're lucky to have a walking distance Mexican grocery store that often sells produce and staple pantry items much cheaper than our chain store. Avocados for only 75 cents each, peppers for 50 cents, mangoes for 69? Yes, please! I used to live near a Polish deli that practically gave away summer produce (tomatoes, squash, beans). Plus shopping at these places is kind of fun and takes no more effort than the shopping you have to do anyway.0 -
Dried beans are nutritious and uber cheap. Watch carefully for sales and specials, things marked down for quick sale; see if there is an Aldi or local discount type grocery.0
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My answer to this: Anything on sale at Sprouts and anything on sale (meaning I eat in season fresh food - it's difficult during the winter, though) at any other grocery store close to me. I'm excited that it is spring and all my favorite fruit and veg are coming back! Now to wait for the sales to pop up!0
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Hey, when I got tired of cooking 2 separate meals and started cooking the same thing for everyone, my family hardly even noticed. You can do this.0
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Around here our farmers market has a lot of seconds. I bought a whole flat of blueberries for $10. Now, there are plenty of bad ones, they have to be cleaned and so on. But, that's 10 LBS of blueberries for $10. I've hardly made a dent at all in the flat and have 28 ounces of cleaned frozen berries in the freezer. I bought a flat of strawberries for $9, which is a bit less than a dollar a lb, but most of those are decent.
I bought a couple large papaya for $1 each, had to trim em up a bit as they had some bruising, but, those are cleaned up and ready to go.
Beans are about the cheapest thing out there. Even decent rice doesn't cost much.0 -
Dried Beans -- all varieties
Rice
Frozen Veg
Eggs
Oats
My supermarket has a shelf of "less than perfect" produce that I hit all the time for stuff that is only cosmetically off. Best deals are Jicama (because it's usually a HUGE item with one little spot that can easily be cut away), Cauliflower, and sweet potatoes.
Also, look in to any local CSA (community supported agriculture) farms. Mine gives shares to people who volunteer on the farm (either in the field or in the barn at distribution time) and it provides 20 weeks of TONS of fresh, local produce.0 -
melimomTARDIS wrote: »Nothing wrong with flour tortillas and cheese. Lots of austism spectrum kids eat that way exclusively.
Oh wow....yeah....I can vouch for that!
:drinker:
Me too
add in smooth peanut butter and apple juice, and a flintstones vitamin.... You can live on that for a loooooong time. 0 -
When I was ready to start losing weight, I had the "talk" with my family about how some things are going to change as I was NOT going to have a "theirs" and "mine" kind of food lifestyle. It took a little doing, plus putting the chips and ice cream on hiatus for a while in my home, but they started to eat better. Now they eat well enough that I can bring some treats into the house and they won't eat just the treats.
I ate better and my family ate better. They could always get treats away from home. And it ultimately ended up cheaper eating healthy whole foods rather than always buying separate stuff like mac and cheese, cereals, etc.0 -
Eggs
Sweet potatoes
Progresso light soups
Fresh veggies (usually one or two on sale each week. Combine with for unique 'omelets')
Tap water (free!)
Head of lettuce
Salsa
Make your $big ticket item$ the meats- one or two a week (chicken, turkey, lean beef cuts) Itll be worth the budgetting health wise0 -
Justygirl77 wrote: »Okay, I understand your question. You have made good progress just controlling the portions of foods you already ate.
But now you are not progressing it seems, so you joined a gym. And you feel you should make some more changes to your diet but wonder how to "afford" healthier eating.
I think you are doing an awesome job!!!
So maybe just increase your veggie (lots of non-starchy veggies) intake with your meals every day. Like:
-- cook up some veggies in the pan with your morning eggs...a good investment for your money is ghee (it's a good fat that can sit on your counter while you are using it up, and it is good for high temp cooking).
--make a small pot of vegetable soup enough for a couple of days
--make a salad
This will add nutrition and fiber and make your meals go a long way. You'll feel more satisfied.
Yes you got it! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I am understanding a lot here from everyone.. and I relize processed and starchy are no good. Processed food may be my problem... I do eat some already prepared meals that I bet are processed!
LLOTS OF ADVICE HERE, and I will listen to all!
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I absolutely CANNOT stand when people say that buying healthier "clean" foods is cheaper (or cost the same) than buying reg grocery foods, because this isn't true for everybody. When you're 21, living near a pretty expensive NYC area, and don't have a car, you're reduced to buying things like $5 gallon of milk, $7 carton of eggs, a really small box of cereal for $5.75, olive oil for $10 etc, etc. By the time I get the basic necessities, my bill is already $250-$300 for ONE week's worth of food.
What I started doing is picking 2-3 staple veggies and fruits that I like and seeing if they're on sale in bulk or I buy them frozen. Then I pick the cheapest chicken breasts (the cheapest I can find near me is about $3 and are usually super thin but I deal), a packet of turkey burgers, and/or a fish. Then I add, wheat bread, brown rice, wheat pasta, and/or cereal (which last me like 2-3 wks so I don't buy them every week). I find recipes online that contain whatever I bought and I improvise. I also buy milk, cheese, and a big tube of Greek yogurt (these usually last me about 2 wks as well) The bill comes up to about $100-$150 depending per week. Stock up on canned foods as well just in case. If I run out of food AND money, then I just get creative with whatever is left in my fridge.
Most of my dinner meals are vegetables with some kind of lean meat and sometimes with a little bit of starch (brown rice or pasta). Lunch I usually have a turkey burger or a sandwich or salad. Breakfast is usually cereal, eggs, or oatmeal. Snacks are usually greek yogurt with fruit and/or nuts.
Also, lentils for 89 cents?? Where the hell do you people live? Cause I'm moving!0 -
Sounds like you are doing great.
Buy dry beans, lentils, oatmeal, canned beans, canned vegetables, frozen vegetables, eggs, rice, onions, garlic, potatoes, carrots, peanut butter.
Make a large pot of soup once a week.
Buy a whole chicken or chicken thighs instead of chicken breast.
If you have a slow cooker use it.
Cut meat up and put in a casserole, soup or stir fry to stretch it farther.
Don't pay someone to cut up, bone, skin or shred your food for you. Buy things whole and do it yourself.
Buy store or generic brands.
Check out farmer's markets. Start a garden... even a container garden. Make friends with a gardener.
Hummus is cheap and easy to make and very filling.
A bag of popcorn that you cook on the stove or air popper is good for a cheap snack.
Also reccomend budgetbytes.com for recipes.0 -
I'm baffled by everyone saying to just keep doing what she's doing when you can't see her food diary. What we eat is not simply a matter of losing weight...!
First of all, weight loss is critical to regaining health. On proof alone I know the OP is doing a whole bunch of things right.
Second, I don't think big changes to her diet makeup will accelerate her weight loss.
That being said there are ways to squeeze room in a tight food budget.
An example from today a poster worried that the yogurt at three times the price was preferable, while the cheaper full fat version she bought is just as nutritious.
Don't miss the forest for the trees.
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I absolutely CANNOT stand when people say that buying healthier "clean" foods is cheaper (or cost the same) than buying reg grocery foods, because this isn't true for everybody. When you're 21, living near a pretty expensive NYC area, and don't have a car, you're reduced to buying things like $5 gallon of milk, $7 carton of eggs, a really small box of cereal for $5.75, olive oil for $10 etc, etc. By the time I get the basic necessities, my bill is already $250-$300 for ONE week's worth of food.
Even at $7/dozen, $250 is 35 dozen eggs. That's five dozen a day. That's 4200 calories/day of a very high protein food.
Sorry, the math doesn't hold up.
Hell, I can feed myself maintenance calories and a reasonable macro mix at Chipotle and Pret a Manger for less than $300/week....and that's eating out every single calorie...
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I absolutely CANNOT stand when people say that buying healthier "clean" foods is cheaper (or cost the same) than buying reg grocery foods, because this isn't true for everybody. When you're 21, living near a pretty expensive NYC area, and don't have a car, you're reduced to buying things like $5 gallon of milk, $7 carton of eggs, a really small box of cereal for $5.75, olive oil for $10 etc, etc. By the time I get the basic necessities, my bill is already $250-$300 for ONE week's worth of food.
What I started doing is picking 2-3 staple veggies and fruits that I like and seeing if they're on sale in bulk or I buy them frozen. Then I pick the cheapest chicken breasts (the cheapest I can find near me is about $3 and are usually super thin but I deal), a packet of turkey burgers, and/or a fish. Then I add, wheat bread, brown rice, wheat pasta, and/or cereal (which last me like 2-3 wks so I don't buy them every week). I find recipes online that contain whatever I bought and I improvise. I also buy milk, cheese, and a big tube of Greek yogurt (these usually last me about 2 wks as well) The bill comes up to about $100-$150 depending per week. Stock up on canned foods as well just in case. If I run out of food AND money, then I just get creative with whatever is left in my fridge.
Most of my dinner meals are vegetables with some kind of lean meat and sometimes with a little bit of starch (brown rice or pasta). Lunch I usually have a turkey burger or a sandwich or salad. Breakfast is usually cereal, eggs, or oatmeal. Snacks are usually greek yogurt with fruit and/or nuts.
Also, lentils for 89 cents?? Where the hell do you people live? Cause I'm moving!
A bag of dried lentils. Not canned.
I live in New Jersey.
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I got to tired to read all of these so might have already been mentioned but my two biggest tips:
1. Stop drinking things you have to buy. Drink all water. You dont need to drink anything else. Maybe some cheap green tea bags and brew it then let it cool (with nothing added, no sugar) if you really need a treat sometimes. Sound like too much? Work towards it. Why I love water - seeing people in Africa without it and knowing what its like to be truly thirsty. Love water, it is better than anything else and its free.
2. Eat beans. Beans are cheap and good for you, and there are so many types. They are also better for the environment, grocery store meat is full of chemicals and hormones, and it reduces the need for factory farming and cruelty to animals so you aren't putting negative food in your body (natural meats in small quantities are good, but if your trying to save don't bother or make it a birthday treat). Work towards it.
I know its hard, but dig down deep and make the commitment. It gets easier. Now the idea of even drinking pop makes me feel sick, and the last time I ate a piece of beef 3 years ago I ended up in a ball of pain. These things are expensive and bad for you - so just cut them!
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Frozen veggies have been a really big budget saver for me. I usually stock up when they are on sale and then use the steamer basket in my rice cooker or a microwavable steam bag to cook them.
Also depending on what grocery store you go to, you may be able to go to their website and download coupons for things that normally don't have coupon offers. Every once in awhile I will find coupons for fresh meats and produce. Usually if these stores have a loyalty card you can upload the coupons right on the card. I'm also able to get coupons for my total purchase after spending a certain amount.
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I remember being 22, living in Boston, and eating healthy on a 1600 per month stipend... when my rent was 1300 per month. Some people just aren't good at problem solving, I guess.0
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mamapeach910 wrote: »
A bag of dried lentils. Not canned.
I live in New Jersey.
Even at Whole Foods, lentils are only $1.99 per pound. And that's Whole Foods.
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mamapeach910 wrote: »I absolutely CANNOT stand when people say that buying healthier "clean" foods is cheaper (or cost the same) than buying reg grocery foods, because this isn't true for everybody. When you're 21, living near a pretty expensive NYC area, and don't have a car, you're reduced to buying things like $5 gallon of milk, $7 carton of eggs, a really small box of cereal for $5.75, olive oil for $10 etc, etc. By the time I get the basic necessities, my bill is already $250-$300 for ONE week's worth of food.
What I started doing is picking 2-3 staple veggies and fruits that I like and seeing if they're on sale in bulk or I buy them frozen. Then I pick the cheapest chicken breasts (the cheapest I can find near me is about $3 and are usually super thin but I deal), a packet of turkey burgers, and/or a fish. Then I add, wheat bread, brown rice, wheat pasta, and/or cereal (which last me like 2-3 wks so I don't buy them every week). I find recipes online that contain whatever I bought and I improvise. I also buy milk, cheese, and a big tube of Greek yogurt (these usually last me about 2 wks as well) The bill comes up to about $100-$150 depending per week. Stock up on canned foods as well just in case. If I run out of food AND money, then I just get creative with whatever is left in my fridge.
Most of my dinner meals are vegetables with some kind of lean meat and sometimes with a little bit of starch (brown rice or pasta). Lunch I usually have a turkey burger or a sandwich or salad. Breakfast is usually cereal, eggs, or oatmeal. Snacks are usually greek yogurt with fruit and/or nuts.
Also, lentils for 89 cents?? Where the hell do you people live? Cause I'm moving!
A bag of dried lentils. Not canned.
I live in New Jersey.
I live in b.f.e, with one grocery store within 30 miles. (This makes the food more expensive) bagged lentils are 1.19 a lb here, not on sale. Navy beans/great northern beans are 1.75 for a 2lb bag.
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mamapeach910 wrote: »I absolutely CANNOT stand when people say that buying healthier "clean" foods is cheaper (or cost the same) than buying reg grocery foods, because this isn't true for everybody. When you're 21, living near a pretty expensive NYC area, and don't have a car, you're reduced to buying things like $5 gallon of milk, $7 carton of eggs, a really small box of cereal for $5.75, olive oil for $10 etc, etc. By the time I get the basic necessities, my bill is already $250-$300 for ONE week's worth of food.
What I started doing is picking 2-3 staple veggies and fruits that I like and seeing if they're on sale in bulk or I buy them frozen. Then I pick the cheapest chicken breasts (the cheapest I can find near me is about $3 and are usually super thin but I deal), a packet of turkey burgers, and/or a fish. Then I add, wheat bread, brown rice, wheat pasta, and/or cereal (which last me like 2-3 wks so I don't buy them every week). I find recipes online that contain whatever I bought and I improvise. I also buy milk, cheese, and a big tube of Greek yogurt (these usually last me about 2 wks as well) The bill comes up to about $100-$150 depending per week. Stock up on canned foods as well just in case. If I run out of food AND money, then I just get creative with whatever is left in my fridge.
Most of my dinner meals are vegetables with some kind of lean meat and sometimes with a little bit of starch (brown rice or pasta). Lunch I usually have a turkey burger or a sandwich or salad. Breakfast is usually cereal, eggs, or oatmeal. Snacks are usually greek yogurt with fruit and/or nuts.
Also, lentils for 89 cents?? Where the hell do you people live? Cause I'm moving!
A bag of dried lentils. Not canned.
I live in New Jersey.
Connecticut, here. As in, Gas is still $3 a gal, can't get milk for less than $4 per gallon.
Eggs are on sale this week for 99c per dozen, regular is about 2.50. From a farmstand for organic backyard pampered? $5 per doz, max. And, that's still a good bargain for protein of that quality, ounce per ounce.
Dried beans and lentils only go over $1.50 per pound if you buy the super gourmet prepackaged stuff, even at WF bulk, you average about $1-$1.25 per pound for enough to feed a whole family for multiple meals.
A package of Tofu is usually $3 or less, that's also a day's worth of protein for my family of 5.
Frozen veg are usually 99c or less per pound on sale.
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Farmer's market is always a great idea, they are completely organic and pretty cheap!!
YMMV, and uh...who cares? Eating healthy /= eating organic. Also, depending on location, this may not yet be an option for the OP. We don't all live in locations with year round growing seasons.0 -
@Realia I hear you about the challenges of shopping in a dense urban environment with few transportation options. When you do have an opportunity to buy (cheaply) in bulk, take it.
@knt217 I can see the OP wanting to make healthier choices. I'm taking a stab that it includes greater variety and more fruits and vegetables.0 -
@jgnatca My comment was not to the OP- hence the reason for the quoted portion. The OP is trying to save money, she doesn't need to be guilted into the organic scam, and farmers markets aren't always organic anyway. And they also aren't always the best way to save money. I've very rarely saved money at a farmers market over buying things on sale at the store. What farmers markets are good for is getting the freshest produce since it (should) come straight from the farm to the market. And again- the farmers market may not even be an option for the OP at this time of year.0
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serafinelaveaux wrote: »I sympathize with you, I really do. I hate when people say oh it costs the same to eat healthy as it does not to. What crap! I go to the store and I can get 3 boxes of generic Mac&Cheese for $1, or 1 bell pepper IF it's on sale.
What does the bell pepper have to do with anything? You can get real rice, real lentils for less than you're paying for the nutritional wasteland known as boxed mac&cheese.
Cheap, and super easy to "cook".
Mr. Knight that your logic and start walking. There is no place for that here. I just bought a five pound bag of potatoes for $.99--not as cheap as $.19 Ramen but I will get more meals out of that bag of potatoes.0
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