Cheap & healthy foods that are low in dairy and gluten?

mermaidrhirhi
mermaidrhirhi Posts: 39 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hello MFP'ers!

I am just getting back in to healthy eating, but I am on a student budget. I am open to new flavours, and would love some great suggestions!

A few things:
- must be non-dairy. Dairy in products is sometimes okay, because I can have small amounts (cheese for example is usually okay) but lets say a cup of yogurt? Not so much.
- Staying away from excess gluten. I have joint issues that low gluten intake helps with, and it prevents me from eating fast food, something I used to be tres guilty of! Nothing extreme though, if gluten is in a sauce or something, I don't mind.
- would love transportable options. A good lunch means I won't spend money during the day!

Would love to hear your views :)

Also, if this is similar to your lifestyle, or interests you, feel free to add me! I welcome supporting and being supported by others!

Replies

  • shining_light
    shining_light Posts: 384 Member
    Really depends on where you are. I remember college for me, and fruits and veggies were really cheap compared to anything processed. Frozen anything is also cheap. I buy frozen chicken breast, frozen gluten-free sausage, frozen shrimp, frozen white fish, and frozen veggies. Dried rice is cheap, oats are cheap(not necessarily gluten-free, but they have no gluten of their own), potatoes are cheap depending on time of year. Canned, no-salt-added fish and veggies are also great, though canned fish is getting much more expensive. :grumble: I miss eating tuna regularly! (I know that's weird)

    My best advice would be to find a frozen version of whatever the fresh food is if you're on a tight food budget, because you will always get better value for your money.
  • cpdiminish
    cpdiminish Posts: 84
    Though I get that many people seem to find forms of relief from avoiding gluten , I would advise against trying to do "low" gluten or go in and out of eating gluten free.

    Gluten is addictive, so not having it can cause symptoms such as headaches and brain fogs ... and it can take a week or more to get through gluten withdrawal.

    I do cringe when I hear of people who go half-way on gluten like this because it makes life much more difficult for people who actually have to avoid all gluten. It does not help to have restaurant staff think that a little bit of gluten won't hurt, have people not take a gluten intolerance seriously or be grouped with a bunch of people just enjoying their placebo effect, or to have people make jokes about another "fad" diet when even minute amounts of gluten can make a person sick for days.

    People either have a negative reaction to gluten and have to be gluten free, or they do not. Pick one.

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