How to be Broke and and on a Diet?

sassyjvg

I am coming to the realization that the way I have been eating lately, while highly successful, is not realistic to my budget and I don't know how I am going to transition to a more affordable diet, given my current budget. Right now and for the past 7 months, I have bought and used these items on a regular basis: Protein powder 27.00/month, pb2 4.99 bi-weekly, bananas(reasonablly priced) stevia 70ct box, bi-weekly, coconut oil 52 oz. 30.00 every 2 months, green tea 10.00/monthly, popcorn, 10.00 monthly. This does not include the required fruits and veggies, or leaner more expensive cuts of meat. Do you have any suggestions on cheap diet friendly eats OTHER THAN BEANS???

nicehormones

I too have a small budget for food. You may want to start buying other brands and more fruits and vegetables. I buy body fortress protein powder. It's $15 bucks at Walmart. I've never had PB2, but maybe start making that a once in a while treat? Olive oil works fine for me. Make sure you cook everything at home and try and use what you have around to make meals. I almost never throw out food because I plan all my meals a week ahead and use everything that I buy. Tuna is also cheap and a good source of protein. Make a tuna melt!

Cyphio

Hello,
I have been surprised to see a lot of posts on the message boards about individuals buying protein powder. Is this something that has been prescribed by a doctor? Typically you can get plenty of protein through a normal diet and if you are looking to save some money, eliminate the protein powder all together. Perhaps focus on some cheap sources of proteins like beans (yes I am not the biggest fan either) or eggs which are very affordable. I also agree with the tuna comment in the prior post. Hope this helps!

bjfrezell

Protein powder 27.00/month, pb2 4.99 bi-weekly, bananas(reasonablly priced) stevia 70ct box, bi-weekly, coconut oil 52 oz. 30.00 every 2 months, green tea 10.00/monthly, popcorn, 10.00 monthly.

Skip the protein powder. You can eat fish (tilapia, tuna, etc.) to get a lot of protein. Cottage cheese and yogurt are also packed with protein and they're cheap! Skip the coconut oil. Not sure why you need it but there are other oil options out there. Buy generic stevia if you really need it. Focus on eating clean vegetables, fruits, nuts, and meats. You should be good just with those. Hope that helps?

neanderthin

None of those items are required in the least. This will allow for more fruit and veg that is more important anyway and you don't have to buy expensive lean cuts of meat......that's just a diet industry way of getting people to buy processed foods that are low in fat. Dietary fat from natural sources are healthy and shouldn't be looked upon as something to neglect.

DGK12

www.bountifulbaskets.org
See if there's one in your area. You get a lot of fruits and veggies, for 16.50 every Saturday. It's a Co-op thing, and a ton of fun. Plus, you don't get to pick your foods. It's a surprise every week

emilyrenee1

It's sad that it IS more expensive to eat healthy than to eat junk food but I think the key is to plan ahead so you're not throwing things away and essentially throwing your money in the trash. I cook with a lot of vegetables and I try to buy things I can use in multiple ways (my top picks are spinach, tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers and mushrooms). You can do so much with these ingredients: make salads, put them in pasta, stir fry, sautee or grill them for a side dish, etc. etc. etc. If I know I have some things on their last leg, instead of throwing them away I'll make a soup or something and then freeze it for later.
I've never been into the protein powder thing because I just don't like the taste and I find it easy to get it in other places (shrimp, tilapia, grilled chicken, eggs, yogurt are all cheap and yummy)!

twinmom01

Skip protien powder and eat your protien - another poster gave good sources - eggs, greek yogurt, cottage cheese

Cut out stevia and popcorn

I adore coconut oil - if you have a Trader Joes near you they have both Coconut oil and good olive oil for very reasonable prices (under $6) (they also have frozen fish for great prices too) - I go through a jar and a bottle every month so ~$12/month for both...

buy and eat fruits and veggies based on what is in season and on sale.

sassyjvg

Hello,
I have been surprised to see a lot of posts on the message boards about individuals buying protein powder. Is this something that has been prescribed by a doctor? Typically you can get plenty of protein through a normal diet and if you are looking to save some money, eliminate the protein powder all together. Perhaps focus on some cheap sources of proteins like beans (yes I am not the biggest fan either) or eggs which are very affordable. I also agree with the tuna comment in the prior post. Hope this helps!

I went to protein powder because of it's helped curbed my appetite, is quick and taste great! Also it was a sneeky way for me to get water in my diet seeing since I dont care to drink it much. I like all the suggestions I've been given thus far. Sounds like it's time for me to wean myself off of conveinence and start eating with the family. Maybe I can start using the bagged popcorn and not microwaved.:noway:

KateCon912

Contrary to popular belief, it's not more expensive to eat healthy.

Buy less food = save money.

slkehl

I eat a lot of eggs and whole wheat bread. Both fill me up well, thus resulting in less food bought and less calories consumed. For my fish, I get canned tuna when it's on sale.

nisijam5

Hello,
Maybe I can start using the bagged popcorn and not microwaved.:noway:

It's easy to pop your own popcorn and bag it...buy a container of popcorn seeds, put some oil in a pan. When the oil is hot, add the popcorn seed. Oh, don't forget to put a lid on it. Then, you can get creative with toppings like parm cheese, garlic, etc. Way cheaper.

felicia8604

I too have a small budget for food. You may want to start buying other brands and more fruits and vegetables. I buy body fortress protein powder. It's $15 bucks at Walmart. I've never had PB2, but maybe start making that a once in a while treat? Olive oil works fine for me. Make sure you cook everything at home and try and use what you have around to make meals. I almost never throw out food because I plan all my meals a week ahead and use everything that I buy. Tuna is also cheap and a good source of protein. Make a tuna melt!

with the tuna you can also make a tuna sandwich .... tuna, mayo, finely chopped red onion, finey chopped celery all mixed up. then toast your bread and put sliced tomato and sliced cucumber on it. MMMMM its so yummy!

woou

Look up some ethnic markets on Yelp.com. They usually have good prices on fresh foods -- meat, veggies & fruits. i.e. broccoli $0.69/lb, 12 mangos $5.99, boneless chicken breast $1.99/lb, various fish $1.69+, etc.... doubt I could afford them at the big chains like Safeway, Giant, Shopper's, etc....

cwatson1214

Hello,
Maybe I can start using the bagged popcorn and not microwaved.:noway:

It's easy to pop your own popcorn and bag it...buy a container of popcorn seeds, put some oil in a pan. When the oil is hot, add the popcorn seed. Oh, don't forget to put a lid on it. Then, you can get creative with toppings like parm cheese, garlic, etc. Way cheaper.

or you can place those plain popcorn kernels in a paper bag, fold it a couple of times then place in the microwave. top aith the same things. much easier and faster

kristen6022

I'm going to ask why you use so much stevia that you need to buy it bi-weekly...you may want to go cold turkey there.

Protien powder isn't necessary. Use olive oil it's cheaper. PB2 isn't necessary.

Actually I save money eating the way I do now than eating out all the time (which is how I gained the 35 pounds I lost). It doesn't have to be expensive. Do you have an Aldi near you? I basically live there, everything is very reasonable and their produce beats every grocery store around hands down.

zebraspots2069

www.bountifulbaskets.org
See if there's one in your area. You get a lot of fruits and veggies, for 16.50 every Saturday. It's a Co-op thing, and a ton of fun. Plus, you don't get to pick your foods. It's a surprise every week

BOO HOO none in OHIO :sad:

likeschocolate

Good sources of protein: Tuna, chicken (especially if you watch your weekly sales flyers), eggs, cottage cheese and yogurt. While I use whey -- i think one can get sufficient protein without that. Little things add up -- for example using a cole-slaw blend instead of iceberg lettuce in salads.

Also watching the weekly flyers usually gets you into some nice veggies & fruits for the week.

I don't buy coconut oil -- and cook with a little bit of olive oil instead (or I avoid adding oil where possible -- to me the change in taste is acceptable, but everyone is different).

For popcorn, I find buying raw kernels bulk is cheap. Bought an air-popper at walmart for about $15 I think. I add some salt, spices, and spray on butter after when needed. Or you can also make it in a saucepan / pop it yourself as some have suggested.

Overall though I hear what you are saying -- that eating healthy can be a challenge one has to overcome on a budget.

janinermt

skip the protein and get it in your foods, buy only seasonal veggies and fruits. You can skip the popcorn ( I recently just gave up a major popcorn addiction) it is not good for you, bad for your digestive system and you can find a more filling option with less calories.

Mrs_TrimWaistFatWallet

Cut protein powder intake and eat more chicken (more filling). Likewise for peanut butter.
Skip sugar instead of buying stevia..or use real sugar.
Why coconut oil? Use regular oils until you can afford more. Not worth the extra price...

Now you have room to buy big packs of veggies and meats at Costco

bradXdale

Everyone else pretty much said it. Buy alternative brands (don't pay for a brand name) and plan your meals by price! That way you know exactly how much you're spending and not spending a penny more.

Also try to shop deals, coupons, buy one get one's and free is never a bad thing if you can find it.

sassyjvg

I'm going to ask why you use so much stevia that you need to buy it bi-weekly...you may want to go cold turkey there.

Protien powder isn't necessary. Use olive oil it's cheaper. PB2 isn't necessary.

Actually I save money eating the way I do now than eating out all the time (which is how I gained the 35 pounds I lost). It doesn't have to be expensive. Do you have an Aldi near you? I basically live there, everything is very reasonable and their produce beats every grocery store around hands down.

Oh you noticed my obssession with sweet eats eh? Well, I drink lots of hot green tea all day, I use it to sweeten plain greek yogurt along with coconut oil(tasty treat), and to bump up the sweetness in my protein shakes. I have saved lots of calories this way. I have agave and honey but at the rate that I drink my hot tea, I'm sure there would be a price to pay on my behind it seems.

margieward82

Check into Zaycon foods online. Maybe they have an event coming to your area soon. It's a great way to buy meat in bulk for much cheaper!

Elizabeth_C34

Try to find a farmer's market near you. We usually go on the weekends and stock up. You can get a trunkload of veggies for $40-$50.

Protein supplements are not necessary to weight loss. You can use them if you need, but it's still much better to get protein from lean meats or other whole food sources.

MandaKayMakesIt

Use PB2 sparingly (a little does go a long way!) and start using full fat (albeit natural) peanut butter. The fat in any sort of nut butter is the good kind of fat. Heart healthy and all that

Eating healthy is not more expensive than eating junk--don't buy into that! I choose generic brands (if I trust that I'm not compromising quality) and spend the majority of my cash on the best produce--and then fill up on that! Lean proteins and good produce are all you need to be successful and healthy!

tlinval

I have to say I've found it cheaper to eat healthier vs. junkier. Don't know why people say it's more expensive.

All of the things you listed aren't "needed" to lose weight. Sure, they've helped you, but there are other ways. Or do it differently. For example, like someone suggested before, buy popcorn in bulk and some paper lunchbags, a few tablespoons of popcorn in the bag, fold it and pop it for a few minutes in the microwave. CHEAP!!!

islandnutshel

skip the meat or only have it a few times a week. Beans, brown rice, lentils, are soooo cheap. even eggs are cheap when you consider how many meals they can make.
I shop for veggies at a farmers market and leave with a trunk full for 20-30$.
my biggest expense is dairy. milk yogurt sour cream cottage chease, sour cream, cream cheese, cheese. i should cut the dairy or invest in a cow.
Also skipping the middle of the grocery store with all of the refined products such as crackers, bars, mixes....
home made salad dressing taste better and are cheaper.
i make bbq sauce, teriaki, sweet thai, marinades, salad dressings. Saves a ton of money and you can make quality products.
My biggest saving came when i realised how much food I throw out. I stopped shopping in huge portions and now only shop for 2 or three days. We eat what is in the fridge before we buy more and throw out a whole lot less.
Hope you find a usefult tip in my monologue.
Best wishes

skyeblu18

Perhaps you can try shopping at cheaper super markets, or Target and Walmart. I know the items in their grocery section are reasonably priced.

slbeutler

I would take a deeper look at your actual budget and spending for a month and see if food is really the area you need to cut back on. You might be surprised at what you discover. I just printed out my May bank statement and used the following system of highlighting from Dani Johnson and found I had a lot of unnecessary spending in other areas that needed to be cut.

Blue=house, utilities etc.
Yellow=Groceries (not eating out)
Purple=Transportation costs
Orange=Everything else that is not an absolute necessity (eating out, starbucks, subscriptions, cable etc.)

the average person finds at least $500 in completely unnecessary spending. I had a lot more and was completely shocked. Now I will have more money to save, pay off debt and buy the healthy foods I need.

SaraJRosburg

I don’t necessarily agree with everyone telling the OP that she shouldn’t worry about protein powder and should just get her protein from other sources. Quality meat is very expensive. Not to mention the fact that an individual need to find what foods/diet works for him/her. If the OP finds it easiest to get her protein in shake form, than more power to her for making a healthy decision that works for her. It’s more likely for her to continue with a healthy diet if she eats things she likes.

It’s so frustrating when people post a topic on MFP only to have others steer from the original question so they can throw out their opinion and not offer suggestions to the question being asked.

sassyjvg – I would suggest trying Amazon.com for your protein powder. You can buy a larger quantity to get you through several months, rather than buying it monthly, and usually you can get free shipping on larger orders. This is a seller that I’ve gone through before... http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Double-Chocolate/dp/B000QSNYGI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337709272&sr=8-1.

Also, do you use coupons much? Most stores will allow you to double up on coupons by using a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon on the same item. I would look in your Sunday paper or on Coupons.com. Target stores are good about posting coupons on their website that can be combined with the coupons found online. Also chat with your friends that are also on a limited income and let them know to keep their eye out for sales on specific items you like, and you can do the same for them.

As for Popcorn – are you buying Microwave popcorn? That can tend to be pricy (and loaded with sodium) if you’re not careful. I would suggest buying an old school bag of popcorn kernals and popping it yourself in a skillet on the stove, its cheaper and healthier.

Hope my minor suggestions are helpful – and keep up the good work.

WaterBunnie

I'd agree with the others. Ditch the processed crap and start afresh with real foods. I've found it cheaper as I'm no longer eating rubbish between meals or eating as many takeaways or meals out.

Oats are especially cheap and make a tasty filling breakfast as porridge made with milk over a banana or drained tinned fruit so you don't need to add any sweetener.

Keep at it!