What does 1200 calories under the poverty line look like?

Stacyann21255

I am trying to do the same thing. I have set my fitness pal at 1500 calories. But I usually end up only eating 1200 to 1400 calories. My husband and I usually eat yogurt for breakfast. I will keep following your progress. Good luck. I have lost 10 pounds in 1 week.

EllieTheLondoner

Can't add much that's not already been said, but I shop as much as possible in Aldi, and the freezer is my friend! I batch cook, buy frozen meat and vegetables, and stuff on offer.

I went through a very tight financial period, and it was tough to eat right. In the end I upped my food budget to 40% of my budget because I wasn't going to let poverty stop me losing weight.

You could save some money by switching out the protein powder for breakfast with something like eggs + veggies. But your overall eating looks pretty good.

urloved33

serindipte wrote: »

My basic grocery list is along these lines:
eggs, milk, bread
family packs of chicken and pork (they can be divided down into smaller packs and frozen)
rice
lettuce, carrots, broccoli, onions, potatos
bag of apples
peanut butter
turkey or ham sandwich slices
frozen veggies
canned mushrooms
pasta & sauce
cheddar cheese (the block is cheaper and you can shred it at home)

With the above and what you likely have on hand (seasonings, butter, dressing), you can make a wide variety of foods that would fit within your calorie allowance.

Basically, though, look at what you're already eating and you can likely made some minor adjustments in cooking styles (if you fry often) and portion sizes to get your meals down to meet your calorie goals. I would double check that goal as usually means someone is going for too much weight loss, too fast. If you don't have much to lose, you should consider setting your rate of loss lower.

^^^this^^^ plus BACON - cant be without bacon, yogart or popsicles (1.97 for 18) tortilla chips 1.76 party size - salsa 1.49 and avocado. WAL MART. gotta have quac!

Sumiblue

Dried beans and lentils are super cheap and filling. I make big batches of chili or different Indian dishes and they make 10-12 servings, often. I freeze them in portions that my husband takes to work or for quick dinners.
Beans and greens, beans and rice use staples like dry beans, frozen greens (collards or spinach), canned tomatoes & rice.

RadishEater

triciale555 wrote: »

I haven’t read l the comments so don’t know if it’s been suggested but frozen fruit with yogurt /granola. (Buy the big tubs of yogurt instead of individual)
I saw you freeze chicken on sale. Eggs for protein in your salad.

Perhaps I just eat a lot of yogurt but to me I haven't found it to be particularly cheap even in tub form. Granola is definitely not cheap in my area of NY. It would be much cheaper to buy oats and other grains and honey and make your own.

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12

A year ago I was living on a tight budget while I wasn’t working. My goal was to limit my weekly spend to $60 a week for me and hubby including detergents and toiletries. I’m vegan and hubby isn’t.

First I tried coupons but I gave that up quick as I found that coupons were for big brands which cost more than store brands even with the discount.

I tried scouring the offers in the mail to work out which store had the best offer each work. That seemed like a waste of time too - Aldi was the lowest cost store near me so I gave reading the ads and just shopped there.

I found the following worked for me:

- meal planning and prep. Knowing what we were eating and when meant I only bought exactly what we needed. Prepping on one day a week and freezing food saved time in the week as well as money on products I’d have otherwise bought preprepared - you can make enough soup for lunch every day of the week for only a couple of dollars.
- Shopping at Aldi for non perishables, the fruit and veg can be good too - go early and only buy what looks good
- Shopping in the local farmers shop for vegetables
- Buying in season - fruit and veg in season are affordable and yummy!
- Buying frozen and canned veg - it’s cheaper and just as healthy. Look for store brands.
- Infrequent trips to Target for items I couldn’t get in Aldi, I only went once a month and took a list so I didn’t impulse buy

I’d get my shopping budget out of the bank each month in cash. Physically seeing what I had to spend and what was left helped me to think about if I really needed to get something.

I’d think about the budget a month at a time which gave me flexibility to buy meat on offer and freeze it. Meat was a big buy so it really helped to get the savings. It would have been easier if we’d both been vegan, as dried legumes and pulses are really great value! Toilet paper and detergent were also big dents in the budget.

Shopping on a budget I found that I couldn't impulse buy, but I did eat healthily and stick to my budget.

The basics of a healthy diet are the same no mater your budget. Fill you plate with veggies, then add small portions of protein and carbs, try to opt for whole grain. Remember that healthy doesn’t have to be special or expensive.

HestiaMoon1

If you are new to food insecurity, there are some things that you should know.
Planning the week of food is essential. Get as many meals out of a set of core foods as possible.
Stock your pantry with jarred and canned vegetables and your freezer with frozen vegetables and fruit.
Protein powders and drinks often do NOT qualify for EBT.
Seeds and plants that grow herbs or vegetables DO! (and they grow indoors)
The HOT rotisserie chickens don’t qualify, but ask your grocery if they can put any extra at the end of the day in the fridge section, even for one minute ....and it does.
Chicken thighs are inexpensive and full of good nutrition and flavor.
Your local food pantry has LOTS of staples - rice, beans, soups - that can stretch an animal protein an extra day. And they’ll have cake mixes
- don’t ever feel guilty about buying cake mix
- or sweets
- or sodas.
It’s nobody’s business.

HestiaMoon1

PloddingTurtle wrote: »

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Get the free pdf recipe book download of Good and Cheap by Leanne Brown in English or Spanish.

I'm a single, which in itself presents some challenges when purchasing/using up food and implementing an interesting meal plan. I can't buy a food and only use 10% of it in my meal plan without having an issue with excessive waste. After three months of balancing the needs of my budget with the needs of my diet, I've discovered that my more efficient and successful meal plans start with the understanding that the most cost-efficient meal plans will require me to eat the same meals for a week at a time, or at least five of the seven days. This repetitive meal plan serves two purposes: it uses up the fresh food I just bought, and I find I don't mind eating the same meals every day for a week. In fact, I find it easier to have less choice. I think I also have problems when provided with too much choice, so when I open the refrigerator to get out the ingredients for my evening meal, there is no dithering around wondering what I feel like eating.

This topic interests me. I'm looking forward to what others might suggest.

This is excellent advice. I hope everyone who is facing challenges with food costs sees it.