Grocery List Time!
Erienneb
Posts: 592 Member
I'm making my grocery list, and I'm looking for tips on not-so-expensive ( I am a broke college student haha) foods to get. I am only learning to cook and sometimes am not so good so easy to make foods, and foods I can keep in the fridge at my work would be great. Any ideas?
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Replies
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As far as keeping food in the fridge or my desk at work, I always have the following:
Peanut butter (great w/ bananas on english muffin or frozen waffle)
Yogurt based ranch dressing in case I need to get a fast food salad
tea bags and honey
hummus and crackers
almonds or other nuts0 -
Thank you!0
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dried beans
frozen veggies
brown rice
lentils
quinoa
whole wheat bread
natural peanut butter
fruit0 -
Greek yogurt and lots of fresh produce!0
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dried beans
frozen veggies
brown rice
lentils
quinoa
whole wheat bread
natural peanut butter
fruit
Skippy Natural Peanut Butter looks and tastes just like the creamy version, however, so much better. I'd have to agree with this girl ^^^.0 -
I'm a huge fan of dried beans and brown rice. I make up a big batch of each over the weekend and then have it to use all week. I also usually buy a rotisserie chicken and pull it apart (no skin) and store it in a tupperware container to toss in the beans, or rice, or on a salad. Also, I always have plenty of yogurts (there are tons of yogurt coupons available). Hope this helps!0
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tuna
string cheese
100 cal nuts0 -
Onions (by the bag, super cheap!)
Carrots (the big ones are waaaaaaay cheaper!!)
Parsnips
Sweet potatoes
chicken broth
garlic
Those things mixed with some appropriate herbs, a little wine if you have it, and a protein of your choice (delicious with beef, chicken, lamb, even fish if you like that) are so versatile and super super healthy! Crock pot it, bake it, grill it, bbq it, it's delicious!0 -
Green peppers
Carrots
Onions
Spinach
Apples
(I could go on for quite awhile, but whatever produce is in season)
100-calorie ANYTHING
Milk
Yoplait light yogurt
Light sour cream
Oats (makes for a very easy, healthy AND CHEAP breakfast)
Chicken breasts (buy them fresh, use what you can, then freeze 'em because they last for a LONG time)
Brown rice0 -
dried beans
frozen veggies
brown rice
lentils
quinoa
whole wheat bread
natural peanut butter
fruit
This - and I would add
Grains:
Old Fashioned oats
Protien
(If you aren't vegan)
Eggs
Chicken Breasts (Chicken breasts are actually cheaper than ground burger many times)
Misc:
Boullion or Broth
(Spices that can be purchased cheaply - Like 50 cents at dollar general)
onion powder
garlic powder
italian seaoning
oregano
chili powder
cumin
Veg
Spinach is about $2 per bag - each bag should last a couple of days
The Holy Trinity of Cheap versitile Vegetables (see next line)
Onions, celary, and carrots (chop and simmer a few of these in a little olive oil for a minute or two - add a cup of rice - stir - for a minute or two then add two cups of your favorite broth and let it simmer for 15 minutes or until the liquid is mostly cooked out. Turn off the heat and cover. While this is covered and waiting cook one scrambled egg (salt and pepper to taste) - dish out a portion of the rice add your egg to it and stir in a little soy sauce if you like - it's quick it's delicious and you should get at least 3 meals out of about $1.50 worth of ingredients. Just cook a fresh egg each time you make it, or if you're feeling froggy add a grilled chicken breast. You can use simmered Onions Carrots and Celary to make your own Vegetable broth that works GREAT - these vegetables, even if you don't like to eat them alone compliment many foods very well
Good luck - I try to eat healthy on a budget too so anytime you want ideas or recipes let me know0 -
If you're going to be adding peanut butter to your shopping list...please be mindful of a recall that's going on now:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/24/peanut-butter-recall_n_1910437.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=2901438,b=facebook
Inexpensive staple items I have and I normally buy them if they're on sale or at club warehouses:
Chicken breasts
Frozen veggies
Eggs
Turkey bacon
Grain bread
Whole wheat pasta
Brown Rice0 -
Great suggestions!0
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Look for crock pot meals and invest in a crock pot. They can be made healthy, while you are gone, and then you divide them up into lunches (or extra dinners) Best part is, you can pretty much make anything in them! I'm pretty sure our stove top or microwave hasn't been used all summer. It's either been the crock pot or the grill.0
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Look for crock pot meals and invest in a crock pot. They can be made healthy, while you are gone, and then you divide them up into lunches (or extra dinners) Best part is, you can pretty much make anything in them! I'm pretty sure our stove top or microwave hasn't been used all summer. It's either been the crock pot or the grill.
This!0 -
bump...0
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tuna
string cheese
100 cal nuts
I second this and would add canned white chicken, pickles (even pickles with splenda) no sugar jello, watch for the soups when they go on sale especially the one's that are zero points on ww., peanut butter, and fruit0 -
Look for crock pot meals and invest in a crock pot. They can be made healthy, while you are gone, and then you divide them up into lunches (or extra dinners) Best part is, you can pretty much make anything in them! I'm pretty sure our stove top or microwave hasn't been used all summer. It's either been the crock pot or the grill.
I do try to do this, we have a 5gal crock pot haha. I live with my parents still though and while they are very supportive of my food and what I want to eat, the needs of the many override me with the crock pot sometimes. But I do what I can with it.
Thank you all for such wonderful and delicious sounding food!0 -
If you have local orchards, produce stands, or farmer's markets, those are great places to buy inexpensive, in-season produce. We have a local orchard that sells a wide variety of apples, pears, and peaches between 69cents a pound up to $1.29/lb. Squashes, tomatoes, (one place I go to sells dried beans) peppers, melons, onions, potatoes, and egg plant for a lot less than what the grocery stores sell. Be careful of buying bulk with certain items. The deals may not be as good as they seem, and if you are living on your own, you may end up throwing out a good portion of it. Good luck!:happy:0
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Onions (by the bag, super cheap!)
Carrots (the big ones are waaaaaaay cheaper!!)
Parsnips
Sweet potatoes
chicken broth
garlic
Be careful with onions, though, it is said that if you cut an onion you have to use it right away because even if it's wrapped up it will absorb all the bad stuff it can!!0 -
flat out bread (90 cals)
laughing cow cheese
apples, peaches, grapefruit ,limes, lettuce, red onions, broccoli, spinach
Parmesan cheese
Spray olive oil
yogurt- i like Activia, (70 cals)
Tilapia filets
Kitchen basics vegetable broth
pepper and salt
chicken breast (if you buy it frozen it may be cheaper)
Canned tunna0 -
Look for crock pot meals and invest in a crock pot. They can be made healthy, while you are gone, and then you divide them up into lunches (or extra dinners) Best part is, you can pretty much make anything in them! I'm pretty sure our stove top or microwave hasn't been used all summer. It's either been the crock pot or the grill.
I do try to do this, we have a 5gal crock pot haha. I live with my parents still though and while they are very supportive of my food and what I want to eat, the needs of the many override me with the crock pot sometimes. But I do what I can with it.
Thank you all for such wonderful and delicious sounding food!
do your parents have a garage? Buy your own crockpot, make your food and let it cook out in the garage, then bring it in and container it as you need. Then when you move out on your own, you still have your own pot to take with you. Also, read around either the library's of your college, or a public library for a cheap way to get crock pot recipes out of books.0 -
spaghetti squash. add some low sodium jarred pasta sauce and a bit of ground turkey you can get it for about $1.50 a pound at aldi. dinner for at least 3 night for under $5!
aldi is also a great place to buy cheap fish fillets and frozen chicken breast. their produce is usually crap though.
frozen veggies are usually pretty cheap, store brands are usually $4 a bag or so, and easy to toss into just about anything.0 -
On Saturday I will either Grill or Crock Pot several Chicken Breasts and steam or boil brown rice for lunches for the week
On Sunday, I chop up carrots (french fry size), bell peppers (any color), cucumbers (sliced lenghtwise)
Buy:
Eggs
Low fat part skim mozzerella cheese sticks
Peanut butter (some stores offer a generic version of the natural)
Generic Wheat Crackers
Fresh Berries
Mixed nuts (almonds, cashews and pistachios)
Mixed baby greens
Eggs are cheap - Take two eggs put them in a baggy, add a small amount of milk - add whatever you like - I typically add fat-free/low fat cheese and bacon bits, maybe some onion..) lie the bag flat in Microwave heat for 25-35 seconds (you'll see the egg cooking) flip over and heat an additional 15-20 seconds; they slide out and are great
Hope this helps, good luck!0 -
A few of you mentioned crock pot cooking as a god way to make low calorie/ healthy meals. Do you have an suggestions on where to get recipes?0
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dried beans
frozen veggies
brown rice
lentils
quinoa
whole wheat bread
natural peanut butter
fruit
Kraft Unsweetened Unsalted is also yummy for us PB purists
Skippy Natural Peanut Butter looks and tastes just like the creamy version, however, so much better. I'd have to agree with this girl ^^^.0 -
A few of you mentioned crock pot cooking as a god way to make low calorie/ healthy meals. Do you have an suggestions on where to get recipes?
My wife gets some on pinterest, but those have been very hit or miss. I haven't really cared for them. Other than that, a simple google search (Crock pot recipes healthy cooking) will yield thousands if not millions of recipies. Also, you can download books from amazon, your local library, book stores, etc.
We have found the key to crock pots is not necissarily the recipe itself. Like regular cooking, it's how you make it. If you like the basis of a recipe, make it once, and then adjust it as you see fit to make it fit your tastes.0 -
cookie dough pop tarts0
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Great ideas! :happy:
Edit to add: skinnytaste.com has a ton of crock pot recipes (and others) that are healthy and delicious0 -
Canned tuna, tomatoes, chick peas, spinach, carrots, brocoli, cabbage0
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Canned veggies
Canned beans
Frozen veggies
Frozen fruits!
low fat icecream
sugar free jello pudding
chicken breast
canned Tuna/Salmon
Oatmeal
Nuts ( which you can also freeze to make it last)
spiced Tea bags
hot chocolate packets
grocery items can be a lot cheaper if you shop at ethnic stores. ( Mexican, Indian )
err yes ( pop tarts for fun time! )0
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