Healthy food: budget mode

missoctober1991

Ok, so I just started this and could really use some help as far as dieting goes. I'm 19, live by myself and dont have the money to go to trader joes and get all the healthy food the world has to offer. I have some extra money this month after rent and am going grocery shopping in a couple days. I need help on what I can buy that doesnt cost an arm and a leg and is still good for me. Also, i have 2 jobs and need something i can either make fast (20min and under) or can grab and go. I know im asking a lot but, its worth a try.

Imahottmess

Fruits and veggies that are in season will be cheaper. Grapes are in season, and you can make snack bags of those to grab on the go.

audreyjane312

Buy fruit and eat it fresh or cut it up and freeze it. Not only is it good for you but it tastes amazing and like a popsicle. Also do tons of fresh veggies, If you are going to use frozen just be sure to check the label to make sure there is nothing added to them. They should just list the veggies if there is nothing added. For a quick fast meat I love a side or two of veggies with something like Aidell's chicken sausage, its high in protein and low in fat with zero carbs. Just some ideas. I use these things for me and will precook meals too, my fitness coach recommended all this to me. Good luck!

Jennieam

If you want to have something warm, think about making some soup. I also purchase pre-made risotto - depending on the type, it can be filling and not very high in calories.

I also buy low-GI bread, which is loaded with nuts, seeds etc. I often use this if I need a quick snack.

Lisa_222

You don't have to have a trader joe's nearby to eat healthy. Think simple. chicken breasts or a port chop and a bag of steamfresh vegetables. You can lightly flour the breast or chop and pop it in the oven or cook in a frying pan with a teensy bit of oil, a cover on a low burner. Don't over cook or it will be lousy. It is done when its no longer bouncy to the touch. Salt and pepper and its done in a few minutes. You can make several breasts and slice them up and throw on salad the next day.

Chicken soup is so easy and will make several meals. Carrots, parsnips , rutabagas and celery, onion and a little garlic, salt and pepper all in a pot of water with a small chicken for about an hour and a half. When the chicken is done (you can move the bone easily) take it out, let it cool and pull off all the meat and get rid of the skin. Throw it back in, add a little chicken broth if you want more chicken flavor and you got soup for a week. You can put rice or noodles in too if you like, but cook separately and add each time you heat it up or your soup will turn to sludge. Its so good and really easy.

Sandwich steaks are easy and good. Cut the tough middle out (I call it a vein, but its connective tissue) and just fry in a pan, no oil, for about a minute, till pink. Throw on bread with lettuce and you're set. Easy.

Pasta-not a lot, it can get away from you. But a dish of penne with some botled sauce, red or pesto, is tasty and good as long as you measure and don't go for seconds.

You can make yourself a roast and that will last one person several days. If you don't have a pan, buy an aluminum one or even buy one of those oven bags and throw the meat and veges in there. It all cooks up in the bag and the instructions are right on there. Divide into portions and you have food waiting for you for a few days.

That's a few healthy things you can do. There are so many more. Don't be afraid to experiment. Go out and buy a cookbook. I think there's one out that's like a 5 ingredient cook book, where nothing has more than 5 ingredients, which is great for a budget or just a lazy cook. I've been wanting to get that myself. Good luck!

Oh, one more thing. Get your meat on sale. Ask your grocer when the sale days are, ask the butcher. You can save a lot of money cooking whatever is on sale. Often times there will be buy one/get one free. Buy one to cook and one to freeze. You can do ok if you pay attention to the prices and ask for some assistance.

ruthie_ann

Remember, it is always cheaper to eat less than more :-)

Thamantha

Eating on a budget tips:
Plan out your meals in advance weekly, and then ONLY buy the food needed to make those meals
Don't buy the 'buy one get one free' offers unless it is something that keeps for a long time, and you would have bought anyway.
Frozen veg can be very helpful if you are short on time
If you do have time once a week then do a large batch of cooking and freeze several portions for when you don't have time (I do this with soup, chilli, and bolognaise).

Zeromilediet

Make something that will have leftovers for lunch or another meal you can freeze. Planning meals is cheaper than grabbing something on the fly, so sit down and make a menu for the week and do your shopping based on that. You can even do a roast or chicken and divide the leftover to freeze for lunch or meals like stroganoff, or throwing in soup.

Edit to add: there's a new book out called Frugavore that is about frugal eating, might be worth a look.

AFwifey2010

Haha, Melanie. You forgot to add that you don't cook.

No but really. Use frozen veggies. And when you win the lottery get Shakeology. It's literally everything you're looking for. Just expensive.

I went so far over on my calories today so I'm not much help. But good luck best friend. You're winning anyways. Lol

AFwifey2010

Damn, go you. You lost 19lbs!! I can't wait til I'm there

eviltwinkie

frozen veggies. Brown rice. Beans. Lots of beans. Spend a little time to make some quick soups. Quick chili. I pad my chili with veggies chopped small. Hard boiled eggs - quick to grab protein. I just cooked a 2 lb pork roast in the rice cooker on 'slow cook' mode while I worked today. It'll get shredded and eaten for days with mostly veggies, beans, and/or in wraps/tortillas.

iheartyarn

For bfast I almost always eat scrambled eggs in a corn tortilla. Both are cheap lunch is leftovers or a salad. Dinner, batch cook, and eat the same thing all week. Might sound boring but its the cheapest way to go. Make soup, chili, a chop a bunch of stir fry veggies, make a sauce, and cook up some rice, and its easy to quickly throw together a stir fry every nigjy.

jadedone

lentils are super cheap and versatile.

You can make lots of different lentil soups: indian inspired, italian inspired, Louisiana inspired with little effort. (water or broth, chopped onion and carrot, spices, optional: sausage or other meat).

Do you ever make tacos? replace half of the meat with beans, a little cheese, salsa, and other veggies. I like cooked spinach and/or squash.

Number 1 rule: eat seasonally. In my region we are deep in tomatoes, heart greens, beginning of apples, end of plums and peaches and in the middle of grapes. These are cheapest in all stores.

Buy canned or frozen strategically (canned tomatoes are a key staple for me since you can make salsa, marinara sauce or use it in soups.)