Food Choices...on a strict budget

Yogurt is amazing. People rave about Greek yogurt, but I find that it's just plain gross. Normal yogurt still has protein.
I eat eggs obsessively. With a million ways to cook them, there has to be a way that your kids will like.
Not totally sure, but I think there's some good string cheeses. I haven't had them since I was a kid, but they used to be my favorite.
Nuts are good, high in calories but delicious all the same.

I seem to get more protein when I don't try. It's everywhere -- dairy, meat (though I'm vegetarian), whole wheat breads and pastas, vegetarian faux meats, and everything else. Good luck finding something your kids like :flowerforyou:

Eggs, especially egg yolks, are really high in cholesterole. So I wouldn't advice eating them "obsessively". My mums cardiologist says 3 eggs a week max.

I eat about a dozen eggs a week and my cholesterol is just fine. I don't eat a lot of processed junk with added fat. Your body used some cholesterol so having eggs isn't going to do you in if your diet is full of healthy foods and not constantly over eating.

Edit to add link with scientific support that eggs aren't going to kill your cholesterol: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/7301/title/Reevaluating_Eggs_Cholesterol_Risks

Yogurt is amazing. People rave about Greek yogurt, but I find that it's just plain gross. Normal yogurt still has protein.
I eat eggs obsessively. With a million ways to cook them, there has to be a way that your kids will like.
Not totally sure, but I think there's some good string cheeses. I haven't had them since I was a kid, but they used to be my favorite.
Nuts are good, high in calories but delicious all the same.

I seem to get more protein when I don't try. It's everywhere -- dairy, meat (though I'm vegetarian), whole wheat breads and pastas, vegetarian faux meats, and everything else. Good luck finding something your kids like :flowerforyou:

Eggs, especially egg yolks, are really high in cholesterole. So I wouldn't advice eating them "obsessively". My mums cardiologist says 3 eggs a week max.

I eat about a dozen eggs a week and my cholesterol is just fine. I don't eat a lot of processed junk with added fat. Your body used some cholesterol so having eggs isn't going to do you in if your diet is full of healthy foods and not constantly over eating.

bump! I love Aldi's I also like that Wal-Mart will ad-match anything, wo you do not have to go to a million different stores to get the great deals.

You can add beans into your diet. There are so many varieties that should be able to find a kind you would like.

http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/beans-legumes-highest-protein.php

Buy fresh if you can, canned if you want to just try out. Fresh beans can take a while to cook so look up online for different methods, etc. Here is one: http://www.vegancoach.com/how-to-cook-beans.html

Please, remember to rinse off beans specially if you buy in cans. This will take away the excess sodium, etc.
One last comment about beans. It will take your body a bit to get used to digesting the beans but after a while you will be fine. Lol.

Good luck,

Ed from NYC

I used to buy my kids snacks that I don't like to eat.... like strawberries, pickles, etc.... Things I knew I would not munch on. I also got them to eat more veggies by melting cheese on theirs, but left mine nakey.

someone mentioned it, but I also like the greek yogart. I mix it with oatmeal,nuts and even my kashi cereal. I dont drink much milk. But have started eating the string cheese also. I have the problem of getting too much protein. Still trying to get used to the well balanced meals. Just been at this for couple weeks, so still work in progress.

I have another question, which yogurt is better. I tried Yoplait strawberry cheesecake yogurt and I honestly did not like the taste. I have resorted to eating frozen yogurt because regular yogurt was not good.

Greek yogurt has more protein than regular yogurt. I always buy the big tubs of plain greek yogurt at the Costco (about $5) and spoon a bit into a bowl and mix with peanut butter and cereal (generally granola but whatever is on hand). In a pinch, you could add some honey or stevia if you like it sweet (my husband adds chocolate chips :-) Kids seem to enjoy peanut butter yogurt, too.

I've been working on meals that I can make in great quantity and a low price so that no only can I pull meals quickly from the freezer, but I know what to buy when it's on sale. I try to combine a meat with a bean/lentil to keep protein high, fat content low, and costs down. Generally, I aim to spend about $1 on canned goods and $2/lb on meat/beans. I live in Canada so I don't know if the pricing will be the same. I also buy things in bulk (like rice, onions and carrots).

Here are some cheap recipes that I use regularly (keep in mind that you can alter the spices to match your flavour preference):

Pork Stew - 14 portions - 1 cup each

Chopped Onions 2 bulbs
Chopped celery 2c
Chopped carrots 2c
Diced Tomatoes 796ml can 4 cans
Canned Peaches and Cream Corn 1 can
Canned Black Beans 1 can
Garlic Powder 2 T (optional)
Cumin 1 T
Coriander 1T
Oregano 1T
Paprika 2 T
Pork Loin roast/stewing meat 1kg

Serve with Jasmin Rice 1/4c / adult / meal

1. Brown all sides of the pork roast in a hot pan so that the outsides are golden brown.
2. Place pork roast in a crock pot on high.
3. Add everything else but 2 cans of tomatoes. If you are worried about spices, then hold back and add more later.
4. Cook until the pork roast can be pulled apart by forks - about 6 hours.
5. Add everything into a very large pot (or half the ingredients over two pots) and add the remaining 2 cans of tomatoes. Adjust spices.
6. Freeze meal portions in tuppaware containers. (1 c/adult, 1/2c/child would be my guess)
7. Serve with rice

Red Lentil & Beef Sloppy Joes - 8 adult portions
Onions (chopped) 2
Ground Beef 1 lb
Garlic Powder 1T
Diced tomaotes 2 cans
Dry Red Lentils 1 cup
Ketchup 1/2 cup
Cider vinegar 2T
Worcestershire sauce 1T
Ben's Hamburger Buns 8
Olive Oil Margarine

1. Sweat onions in a bit of olive oil or margarine.
2. Add ground beef and cook until brown. Drain excess fat.
3. Add remaining ingredients and simmer on med (to med low) for 10-15 minutes or until lentils are tender.
4. Serve on toasted hamburger bun halves with side salad or green vegetable.
5. Freeze meal portions in freezer.

(adjust lentil content to your own preference)

Crockpot Chili: 10 adult portions

Ground Beef/turkey/pork 1 lb
Red Kidney Beans 1 can
Diced Tomatoes 796ml/can 2 cans
Onions chopped 3c
Carrots choped 2c
Celery chopped 2c
Cumin 1T
Cayenne 2t (optional)
Paprika 1T
Oregano 1T
Garlic Powder 1T (optional)

1. Brown beef in a pan and drain excess oil.
2. Add all ingredients into a crockpot on high.
3. Cook until well combined - 2 to 3 minimum, 6-8 hours is better.
4. Taste and adjust spices. Serve with rice.
5. Freeze meal portions.

Beans! You can prepare them yourself or buy them canned, and they're inexpensive. Your kids may not like them if they are finicky, but they'll help you up your fiber and protein for a low cost.