What to eat?

hayleymarie3333

Hi all,

I'm just starting out on FP, and after some suggestion on what types of foods to eat. I don't want to spend a fortune on food but would appreciate any tips or suggestions on quick lunch and dinner ideas. Thanks

christinamilian117

Hey there!

I'm in the same boat. I'm a college student with pretty much no money to spare on food so I try to make good meals happen as best I can

For lunch, a pita pocket with some turkey is quick and easy. Maybe a little salad with balsamic vinegar and olive oil on the side (or stuff it in the pita pocket). Sandwiches are pretty easy to make, portable, and you can get fancy with them. Also, a panini press is one way to spice a boring old sandwich up.

For dinner, I've been buying bags of frozen chicken breast since they tend to be a bit cheaper and you can get a whole lot in one bag. I defrost the chicken in the fridge, rub them down with a tiny bit of olive oil, and throw them in a baking pan. I usually season them with some salt and pepper and the occasional garlic powder. Frozen vegetables have been my friend because of how cheap and long lasting they are. Pair the chicken with some sautéed veggies and BAM! To round out the meal, I sometimes have those instant cups of brown rice. It's quick, easy, and I can get other things done while waiting for the chicken to bake. The chicken takes about 20-30mins depending on how thawed it is.

If you're looking for quick quick meals, maybe try (depending on where you are) Smart Ones or Healthy Choice frozen meals. Some don't taste the greatest, but if you're in a hurry they work out alright.

I hope this helps.

hayleymarie3333

That's great! Thanks! I've been using wholemeal wraps for lunch with carrot sticks but getting a tad bored! Thanks for the advice

acheben

Honestly, what really helped me was to continue to eat the same food I always had, but less of it so that I met my calorie goal. I've found that cutting out food makes it a lot harder to lose the weight. You can always replace some of the higher calorie items with their low calorie alternatives or add some raw veggies to bulk up your meals.

cwolfman13

just eat food...just eat a well rounded, balanced, and nutritious diet. eat plenty of veggies...a couple servings of fruit...some lean sourced protein...healthy fats from things like nuts, olive oil, avocados, etc...some whole grains...and I'm partial to legumes.

Lasmartchika

I've been eating the same foods that I've always eaten... smaller portions, though. As long as it fits into your daily calories, you can eat whatever foods you like. No need to avoid any types of food, really.

hayleymarie3333

Thanks all! Great advice, I'll just eat smaller portions and try replace the bad stuff with more protein. Thanks

Kexessa

If you like chicken you can weigh out portions and cook it all on one day. Keeps pretty good in the fridge or freezer and this way you can add it to a wrap or salad quickly for extra protein. Or have a whole portion with some veggies or beans and rice for a meal. But pre-cooking it makes it handy and you're more likely to eat it if it's readily available.

KimberlyAndrews1

I'm on a very tight budget too, so clean eating is pretty tough, so I just do what I can. I'm like Christinamilian117's with my meals. I have a protein & vitamin drink for a meal or snack. And lunch I usually eat a Weight Watcher's Smart One's meal and some steamed veggies on the side or piece of fruit. Dinner is sometimes hit and miss. Snacks is a Weight Watcher's Ice Cream Bar or some nuts usually. My hubby will not eat healthy he wants to eat what he wants, so I try to compromise with him. I fix Chicken Breast a couple of times a week different ways using spices and I make parmesan chicken, etc. I use ground hamburger, but always try to buy lean. Fish I don't do...yuck! Dinner isn't always healthy, but I do what I can when I can...and I watch my portions and regardless of what I'm eating I stay under my calorie goal. Weekends are the toughest. Saturday is usually a cheat day. As for sides, sometimes it's canned veggies, but I try to usually do frozen, except green beans...hubby refuses frozen green beans. Sometimes I'll do roasted squash or healthy squash casserole. But like others, sometimes I get bored and need to change it up, but it's hard when your always broke and buy the cheapest things you can.

Kalikel

You can get frozen fruits and veggies pretty cheap. Compare prices and do it with a calculator if you aren't good at math. Not he stores price things differently to confuse people. Read at small print and do your own math.

Making your own bread is cheaper, much healthier and it tastes so much better, too.

Buy cheaper cuts of meat and learn to cook them. Some of the best dishes are made with the cheapest meats.

Eating healthy really is cheaper than buying processed, boxed dinners and stuff. You just have to learn how to do it.