Poor student trying to lose weight!

Gemzzz12

It sounds silly that it would be hard to loose weight when you don't have much money to spend on food but I'd like to eat in a healthy way and I see loads of good recipes that has expensive food in it! Fruit that is nice is expensive! I cant just buy loads of pasta and live of that anymore :P So I would love a friend who might have some tips on dieting cheaply.

rockmama72

Do you have access to a full kitchen? If not, what equipment do you have?

Gemzzz12

Yes I have quite a good kitchen just with limited fridge space!

nicole595

I eat reasonably healthy and fee both my boyfriend and on about $200 a month. Buying this in larger quantities tends to make the money go further, (such as a big bag of potatoes, for instance) so if you have the space, freeze things! I'll make a big pot of homemade curry and split it into five or six portions, making sure to weigh the meat in each one and keeping track of what else goes into it so I can create it as a recipe. I do the same thing with different kinds of soup, stews, chili's, anything really! So basically I'll go out, spend about $20-$30 on buying a whole bunch of ingredients, and spend a day in the kitchen cooking and freezing. But when I'm done I'll have about a weeks worth of food (for two people) which also saves me TONS of time when I get home from class! Everything is proportioned and weighed, simply pull it out of the freezer, pop it in the microwave, maybe make some rice or cut up some bread, dinner is ready! And the bonus of making things yourself, rather than buying premade stuff, is that you can control how much of everything goes in to it and have a better control on the calories!

rockmama72

For kicks, I just googled "healthy recipes college students"--there are tons of links! This one has some good advice on what you can do with five basic veggies:

http://pickyeaterblog.com/healthy-easy-meals-great-for-college-students-or-busy-professionals/

rockmama72

I eat reasonably healthy and fee both my boyfriend and on about $200 a month. Buying this in larger quantities tends to make the money go further, (such as a big bag of potatoes, for instance) so if you have the space, freeze things! I'll make a big pot of homemade curry and split it into five or six portions, making sure to weigh the meat in each one and keeping track of what else goes into it so I can create it as a recipe. I do the same thing with different kinds of soup, stews, chili's, anything really! So basically I'll go out, spend about $20-$30 on buying a whole bunch of ingredients, and spend a day in the kitchen cooking and freezing. But when I'm done I'll have about a weeks worth of food (for two people) which also saves me TONS of time when I get home from class! Everything is proportioned and weighed, simply pull it out of the freezer, pop it in the microwave, maybe make some rice or cut up some bread, dinner is ready! And the bonus of making things yourself, rather than buying premade stuff, is that you can control how much of everything goes in to it and have a better control on the calories!

I do this too, for a family of five. (Not for $200 of course!) We always have a freezer stocked with homemade stuff. Soups are pretty cheap to make.

Gemzzz12

Thats a good idea! After exams I'l definitely have a go at pre cooking dinners!
I just had a look at the website and theirs some really good recipes their! Thanks! I will be having a good scan of the recipes.

GodivaTrailrider

Most big supermarkets have Aisles of 'non british' food... often you find stuff in them thats massively cheaper than buying elsewhere in the shop, like spices. I have found chick peas are a great thing to keep in the kitchen. Again from the same aisles you can often find tinned chickpeas at 30p ish , tinned tomatoes about the same..... well there's the basis of some good meals depending on what spices you like .... for 60p.

knra_grl

all great suggestions also for fresh veggies if you prepare them when you get home they will take up less room in your refridgerator space. Wash and cut everthing to the size you like and just put them in a resealable bag - lettuce even keeps well already cut up since you wash it at the time it is usually quite wet so I slide a couple sections of paper towel in the bag before i put the lettuce in and it absorbs the moisture and I think it also helps keep it fresh. Doing this I also find I have no excuses about having enough time as it's already done and there waiting for me.

bogo_baby

I am trying to loose weight on a budget of $30/week for my son and myself, it's not too difficult so far to keep my calorie count low... the hard part is keeping nutrients high for the both of us. I tend to scour the weekly ads for sales on fresh fruits/veggies/meats. I am learning how to coupon as well for things. I can't afford $1/greek yogurt on a daily basis, so I "splurge" on greek yogurt as a reward for meeting goals... but I stick to my budget pretty well with "meal replacement" shakes going on sale (the powders with skim milk average $0.67/serving)... I will add in peanut butter, chocolate chips, coffee, bananas, oatmeal, whatever I am in the mood for if I am hungry... which does raise the cost per serving, but not too much.

It's a tough road, but manageable... $30/week for two is nothing compared to most peoples food budgets, but we manage

knra_grl

I am trying to loose weight on a budget of $30/week for my son and myself, it's not too difficult so far to keep my calorie count low... the hard part is keeping nutrients high for the both of us. I tend to scour the weekly ads for sales on fresh fruits/veggies/meats. I am learning how to coupon as well for things. I can't afford $1/greek yogurt on a daily basis, so I "splurge" on greek yogurt as a reward for meeting goals... but I stick to my budget pretty well with "meal replacement" shakes going on sale (the powders with skim milk average $0.67/serving)... I will add in peanut butter, chocolate chips, coffee, bananas, oatmeal, whatever I am in the mood for if I am hungry... which does raise the cost per serving, but not too much.

It's a tough road, but manageable... $30/week for two is nothing compared to most peoples food budgets, but we manage

Wow that's awesome...I need to start budgeting a little better also but good job! Not sure if $30 would fill my 23 yr old son though he has a hollow leg and they are really long :ohwell:

willdb76

Eggs are very cheap, healthy and a good basis for a lot of meals; veg is actually cheap if you shop around too (avoid prepackaged stuff). Generally by avoiding processed ready meals, I would have thought your food bill would go down not up...

Mangopickle

. I can't afford $1/greek yogurt on a daily basis, so I "splurge" on greek yogurt as a reward for meeting goals...

Invest in a Donvier yogurt sieve. Greek yogurt is really just sieved yogurt. Vanilla yogurt is waaaay cheaper by the quart. When the yogurt is the consistency you want just return it to the original container. Or buy a yogurt maker. You can use your fav brand as the starter culture and control the milk fat.

explorationerin

I have to feed me and my son on a low budget, i spend 30pound a fortnight on a meat pack from the butchers, then i spend about 25a week on veg salad,and fruit and the odd bits here and there needed to make a meal. I always have eggs in too.

1two3four

All of this is great advice.

I don't know if your deals are as good as where you live but two of my grocery stores are good for buying fresh foods that are going out of date within 5 to 7 days. I can usually get pre-cut fruits and veggies for a good deal with 3 or 4 days to go, meats at half price to cook or freeze that day and dairy with 5 days left on the date. If you can find this kind of deal near you it's actually kind of fun. The store nearest me also has a tendency to over buy on items that go on sale, so that it's almost certain the day after the sale you can actually get the foods cheaper than the sale price!

Wash and cut everthing to the size you like and just put them in a resealable bag - lettuce even keeps well already cut up since you wash it at the time it is usually quite wet so I slide a couple sections of paper towel in the bag before i put the lettuce in and it absorbs the moisture and I think it also helps keep it fresh.

I do this except I don't actually cut the lettuce, I tear it will my hands. I find the lettuce seams to brown faster when it's cut.

lindsaylove07

Budget budget budget! I suspect you have more money than you think! This was my problem! Also, plan ahead!! But the best thing I can say, is IT IS POSSIBLE! Stick to it!

Nmt100

Are you near a local market where you can get access to cheaper meat, fruit and veg? If not other cheap places to get food are Chinese supermarkets. When I was at uni I was probably spending £20 or less for a week of food by shopping round a bit.

klyn7788

Buy a crock pot (I'm sure you can find a used one that could be cleaned up) and cook for the week. I do this to keep on track during the work week when things get busy. As long as you can get used to eating the same thing a for a few days in a row, this makes things a ton easier. Here are a few of my favorites.

http://www.milkfreemom.com/vegan-quinoa-sweet-potato-chili/

http://www.wifessionals.com/2012/12/trickster-turkey-chili-crockpot.html

WonderCort

Get used to buying what is on sale. Sure you might really think you want those strawberries but at $5 a package this week you go with the bananas that are $0.29 a lb or the oranges that are on sale for $1.99 for five pounds instead. Then you stick with it. Sure the fresh asparagus looks incredible buuuut they are $3.00 a for a tiny bundle so you get the cucumbers that are on sale 3 for a buck. Eventually you train yourself to love all these foods. Remember it's JUST food and food is fuel, food is not love. It is so important to dedicate time in searching out and finding recipes with these foods that you LOVE otherwise it will not be sustainable in the long run. Also get used to the fact that healthier meals on the cheap do not take 2 minutes in the microwave and are ready to go, give yourself time to prep foods (either on the spot 1 person meals or ahead of time in bulk and then freeze). It's a constant learning process. Often times the issue isn't cost, the issue is adjusting to a more varied food palette (or being willing to eat a larger variety of foods) and taking the time to follow through.

Fuzzipeg

Eating well does not have to cost a fortune. Please don't forget you can use beans, lentils and things for protein. They are cheaper if you buy them dried but you do have to soak them, (planning) before you can use them.

Have fun with all the suggestions.

mlauraa

$50 grocery shopping for a week..

Big oat meal box $3.75
Banana $1.50 for about 5 bananas
apples-$3-5 for a pack of 10
Milk $2-$4
ALMONDS- $5 BIG PACK
Yogurt-$4.50 for a 8 pack
Chicken Breast- $10 for a 4-6 pack maybe even cheaper
5 packs of frozen veggies of your choice -$8-10

And waterr.

Hope this helps

evilangelwings

I'm not sure where you live, but in the UK you can get organic veggie boxes delivered to your door, which sounds like it would be expensive, but I used to get a big box of veggies (potatoes, onions, carrots + 5 randoms) for £20 (~$30). It would last me 2 weeks in combination with a few bits from the supermarket and things in the cupboard. It saved me money because when I would buy veggies from the supermarket, I would just default to my favourites without purposely buying in season i.e. cheaper foods. Buying frozen/tinned veggies is a money saver too, especially things like frozen berries, tinned tomatoes. Also consider buying bags of things in bulk e.g. pasta, rice, other grains like bulghur, couscous etc, so you have a cupboard of basics. Sure, it costs in the beginning but they will last months! Other random things may be cheaper in bulk too, for example at my supermarket, 1 L of soya milk costs ~ $2, but you can buy 10 L for ~$15. And check out offers/coupons too

aurical84

There have been a lot of great responses already but my two cents...

Shop the sales - If there are multiple stores that you could shop at, check all to see which has the best sales If you can, stock up - portion and freeze extra for later use. Avoid prepared foods as much as possible - while convenient, they're not as good for you and much more expensive per meal.

Also, don't be afraid to buy manager's special items. They're totally fine as long as you use them within a day or two (more if it's not produce) and you can save a lot of money. If you don't have immediate plans - freeze it! The best time to get managers specials deals is later at night, after the "after work" rush.

Soups/Stews, Beans and rice, and chili are all very inexpensive (especially if vegetarian), easy to make, and freeze well.

I love roasting whole chickens - I swear it's really easy, very versatile (main paired with mashed potatoes and veg, top salads, make sandwiches, etc... when you think you've stripped the carcass bare, use it to make delicious chicken stock), and, finally, because it is often the cheapest way to buy chicken (here, regular price is $0.99/lb and go on sale for $0.79/lb).

Root vegetables are very inexpensive, store for a really long time and are very versatile - baked, roasted, mashed, pureed, steamed... doesn't matter!

poma91

I am also a student and living on a budget and honestly since I started eating cleaner I noticed that I was spending less money on food. I guess you don't notice how much junk you are buying till then

RelevantKnowledge

Losing weight doesn't have to cost money. You're obviously eating something; Eat less, save money. Go for a walk; It's free.

mcglothinm

Everyone has given you great advice. You did say that you don't have a ton of room to store food, so I don't know how well it would work for you to make a big pot of soup for example and then freeze it, since you may not have room to freeze it.

As for some meals, I would suggest:
-eggs, since they are cheap and have lots of protein
-homemade smoothies (6oz. yogurt, 1 cup frozen fruit, 1 cup milk)
-Find meat on sale, and then plan meals or a menu around your protein
- Baked potatoes/ sweet potatoes store well outside of the fridge and freezer and make good sides.
-Salsa chicken (chicken, cooked in salsa, then shredded). Good with tacos, salads, wraps, etc...
- Eat fresh fruit that doesn't have to be refrigerated (will help with your storage) and those are usually the cheaper fruits as well.

alfiedn

I stopped buying meat when I was in grad school because it's so expensive! If you use beans, lentils, nuts, and other sources of protein, it's not a problem. I suggest finding a local farmer's market if you can. You can usually buy great produce for reduced prices. I thought my grocery bill would go up when i started buying fresh produce, but it in fact went down drastically! The more I can buy fresh, the more vitamins and nutrients I'm getting (because I'm eating veggies and fruits rather than pasta and bread). I also suggest buying your beans and grains uncooked. When you buy uncooked beans, you get so much more for your money! Make them and then freeze them so they are easy to use in recipes later. I also used brown rice a lot (now i use quinoa a bit more than rice), which is easy to make and cheap.

I totally agree with cooking ahead, which is something I'm doing now more than I used to. I also agree with buying eggs for sure. Eating less of what you are eating now might make you feel really hungry because your mind will be expecting to eat as much as you used to. Eating a similar amount, but less calorie dense foods might make you feel better (even though you will still be eating less calories).

Another trick is simply don't buy sweets. If you don't have them, you can't eat them. Three years ago, I started out in the work force and had pretty much nothing and very little work. I didn't buy any sweets for a long time and really ate to fuel my body. I tend to be an emotional eater, so this was an interesting way of looking at food for me. I've settled back into my old ways since, but if you only buy what you NEED, you save money and can live healthier.

dmt4641

This blog stopped a while ago but the archives are still there.

http://cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com/2004/02/master-recipe-list.html

Also, find the veggies and fruits you want that are less expensive and focus on those. They are generally less expensive when in season and taste better then too. Cabbage, broccoli, kale, carrots, zucchini, sweet potatoes etc are usually pretty inexpensive. Meat can get expensive so shop the sales at your grocery store each week.

Gemzzz12

Wow. So much great advice! Thanks

breakingthecycle722

I am trying to loose weight on a budget of $30/week for my son and myself, it's not too difficult so far to keep my calorie count low... the hard part is keeping nutrients high for the both of us. I tend to scour the weekly ads for sales on fresh fruits/veggies/meats. I am learning how to coupon as well for things. I can't afford $1/greek yogurt on a daily basis, so I "splurge" on greek yogurt as a reward for meeting goals... but I stick to my budget pretty well with "meal replacement" shakes going on sale (the powders with skim milk average $0.67/serving)... I will add in peanut butter, chocolate chips, coffee, bananas, oatmeal, whatever I am in the mood for if I am hungry... which does raise the cost per serving, but not too much.

It's a tough road, but manageable... $30/week for two is nothing compared to most peoples food budgets, but we manage

I know exactly how you feel! The other day I went grocery shopping for our family of four with our last fifty dollars I about cried . Its amazing what we do though

emboslice94

Try buying from bulk stores, like Bulk Barn or something. You can get pretty good prices on things like Brown Rice Pasta (keep that around & make up some healthy spaghetti sauce you can just toss into the freezer), buying chicken on sale in large quantities to freeze it, no name frozen veggies and fruit are usually on sale I find, then there's oats, eggs, brown rice etc.

Typically my weekly grocery list only has fresh veggies (this week is tomatos, kale, cucumbers and peppers), Greek Yogurt, red meat, whatever fresh fruits I want that week that are on sale, eggs, tortillas if I ran out and whatever is the "big" thing I'm making that week (this week is Spaghetti Sauce ) So I buy all the ingredients for that that I may not already have (already have the ground turkey and canned tomatos!) so I can make a huge pot of it. The last two weeks I had chili, so you can do stuff like that, makes life easy, especially as a student, to have meals like that to just grab out of the freezer.

Probably my biggest expense is Greek Yogurt, but I live off the stuff, I eat it everyday, it's worth it for me.

Granted, I also buy staples at Costco every few months that I do budget for. I highly recommend going to a place like this, even if you don't have a membership, hopefully someone you know does, or their parents, and just go with them. I tend to buy those giant bags of frozen veggies and fruit, or if their bulk fresh veggies looks good, I'll buy it, and freeze it, same with fruit. Then I buy my chicken, preferably breasts but thighs end up being less expensive most of the time, and I buy lean ground chicken/turkey, I also get my oats and my brown rice there and eggs for that trip. Additionally, you get great deals on canned salmon and tuna there which I also stock up on. Also, canned beans, and packages of lentils. I put aside money every month for my trips to Costco, which is mostly why my weekly grocery list isn't too bad cost wise.
Then at the bulk food stores like Bulk Barn, I get my gluten free pastas (buckwheat, brown rice etc.), nuts that I may want, crunchy peanut butter, and maybe some chocolate if I'm in the mood hehe.

I think probably the biggest thing is just planning planning planning. I hope my example helped, though I don't know if it is the best, part of my goals is putting on muscle so I do need to eat a lot, but I try to be as cost efficient as possible, so hopefully it does!