Confused

IamSherryArnoldtoo

I have lots of limitations on what I will and won't eat. I have a very limited budget as well and by that I mean like $20 every two weeks for groceries. What are some inexpensive foods that would be healthy for me to help me loose weight?

laserturkey

Dried beans or lentils and brown rice are really cheap and a good start to all kinds of meals. They just take some extra time to prepare. With those as your base, you can spend the rest of your budget on veggies and other things to make complete recipes.

JTick

Why do you have limitations on what you will or will not eat, and what are they?

tonedthighsbubblebutt

Preparing ahead and shopping smart will help you. Make soups and chili in batches. Eat leftovers throughout the week. Roast whole chickens and turkeys. Portion and freeze the meat so you don't have to buy convenience food such as lunch meat. Can you make your own bread? There are several no yeast recipes online. Try to use beans rather than meat as your main protein sources if meat is too expensive. Shop sales for meats and fresh produce to save money. Do you have the grocery store Aldi near you? What about pruce chopper or price rite? Produce there is fairly cheap. If you can manage it, buy things in bulk and freeze them such as family sized packages of chicken breast, etc. If produce is on sale, you can also generally freeze many items for later such as fresh berries, squash, etc. You may also want to consider a donation center if your situation is truly dire.

cokekitty

It's gonna sound crazy, but a vegetarian or vegan diet can be extremely wallet-friendly if you know what you're doing. Meat is EXPENSIVE. Try to avoid buying it if you can, or if you can't, buy it at its cheapest and freeze it. Get to know your freezer. It's gonna be your friend.

Frozen fruits and veggies are great because they can actually be more nutrient-dense than their fresh counterparts, they're wicked cheaper, AND they keep longer. Canned is good too, but generally more expensive and loaded with salt.

Dried beans, rice, lentils, and other grains are also wicked cheap, especially if you can buy them in bulk. I personally buy my beans canned but that's because I'm spoiled and impatient. If you do, rinse them thoroughly before you use them.

Oatmeal's also great. You can buy huge amounts of oats cheap, and it's so versatile you can go an entire week without eating the same oatmeal twice. Pumpkin pie overnight oats are a dream come true for me. I love them.

If you don't have a crockpot, consider buying one, and make tons of soups and stews. They're nutrient dense, keep well, and you can throw everything into your pot and just let it go all day. It's also a great way to clear up leftovers before they go bad.

Pasta is also cheap and versatile.

I don't know exactly what your limitations are, but I spend about as much as you do on groceries monthly and all that stuff I mentioned is more or less what I survive on (I'm a vegetarian, transitioning vegan). Being healthy AND frugal can be a challenge, but when in doubt, go back to your basics. You don't need to be too fancy. Pastas, rice dishes, smoothies, soups, oatmeals, all of these can be super cheaply made, ridiculously good for you, and with the added benefit of not breaking the bank.

Good luck!

stillnot2late

OP I have extreme limitations on what I will and will not eat. It's by choice - things that I like vs. things I don't like, then there are those I feel I won't eat even if I were starving.

Hscsusiq

Beans and rice or corn are a whole protein. If you like yogurt make your own easily (heat milk to 110F add a bit of yogurt and leave in oven with light on overnight)
Oatmeal can be sweet or meaty (oatmeal soup with bouillon cubes)
I used to eat a cheap tuna with canned veggies and a slice of cheese on top. Cheese melted into the rest in the toaster oven or pan on super low.
Whole fruit and veggies can be cheap if you shop the sales and get things where there's little waste. they keep well, too.
Meat is for special meals, but if you boil up the bones and juices you can make chicken legs and thighs ($0.59\#) lasts a long time. Mix. it with rice and veggies and eat that for a week.

Cherimoose

I have lots of limitations on what I will and won't eat.

Well what are they? That way i don't waste each other's time listing foods you won't eat.