adding calories without adding unhealthy food?

victoriavoodoo
victoriavoodoo Posts: 343 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I am a vegetarian as well as a poor college student. My problem is trying to cut out unhealthy foods(like pizza) while still meeting my calorie goal of 1200 a day. I don't get it. If I eat spinach salads and raw/steamed vegetables("healthy") I am way under but if I add in bready things or noodles my calories might stay under/ish and my carbs go over, and if i add fruit my sugar goes over. My boyfriend is doing this with me, and he cooks himself lean meats and that seems to balance it out(adding calories without going into a carb coma).
I know there are probably people who eat the foods they like and just count the calories but I want to actually eat healthier food and count calories(like, instead of 1200 calories of ramen and pizza I would like to start eating things with protein and not empty carbs). Is this impossible on a 50 dollar a week budget? (whole foods has a ton of things they advertise as healthy and vegetarian that i just can't afford and it's hard to keep fresh things on hand without a car)

Replies

  • sgthaggard
    sgthaggard Posts: 581 Member
    Nuts, seeds, avacados.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,419 Member
    To get protein, without meat, you are going to have to have carbs or fat. So, how about beans with brown rice and cheese? Or cheese omelet? Lots of protein, but vegetarians are going to have to eat carbs, all vegetables have carbs. Just stay away from the white bread...you could make your own pizzas on small whole wheat pitas. Beans, rice, eggs are going to be inexpensive ways to make this work.

  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    1200 calories a day is too low, eat more.

    There is nothing wrong with eating pizza...in moderation.

    Heavy calorie foods - nuts, seeds, avocados, olive oil, full fat cheeses/ dairy, peanut butter
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    Why do you think pizza or whole wheat noodles are unhealthy?
  • wareagle8706
    wareagle8706 Posts: 1,090 Member
    Quinoa. Tons of protein. Very filling and lasts forever.

    ETA: Beans. Again, protein and filling. And inexpensive.
  • adam1885282
    adam1885282 Posts: 135 Member
    Sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, less-processed soy, beans (garbanzo, pinto, black, etc, etc), greek yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs (vegetarian, not vegan, so dairy is okay?). And stay out of Whole Foods! Do you have a trader joe's around you?
  • wareagle8706
    wareagle8706 Posts: 1,090 Member
    Is that picture on your profile recent? If so it doesn't even look like you need to lose weight. I understand eating healthy though.
  • wareagle8706
    wareagle8706 Posts: 1,090 Member
    Sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, less-processed soy, beans (garbanzo, pinto, black, etc, etc), greek yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs (vegetarian, not vegan, so dairy is okay?). And stay out of Whole Foods! Do you have a trader joe's around you?

    Why stay out of Whole Foods? It's a great store.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    I'd say eat more bread and cheese. Don't pay too much attention to macros. I still don't get why people are so afraid of carbs.
  • possibri
    possibri Posts: 158 Member
    Nuts should be easy to locate on a college campus, too!
  • HypersonicFitNess
    HypersonicFitNess Posts: 1,219 Member
    Quinoa - actually has a full protein

    beans, lentils, soy products, nuts, seeds, avocado, almond butter, almond milk

    Hemp powder - inexpensive and you can incorporate into smoothies, yogurt (coconut or soy), oats or other hot cereals

    http://www.znaturalfoods.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=5&zenid=70afdd9e309393bfeaa7c75f953d9104

    You can always make a healthy pizza using Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted grain tortillas, fresh tomatoes, basil, spinach, artichoke, fresh mozzarella (if you are eating dairy), pine nuts
  • sgthaggard
    sgthaggard Posts: 581 Member
    Why stay out of Whole Foods? It's a great store.
    Probably because her budget is $50/week. :bigsmile:
  • adam1885282
    adam1885282 Posts: 135 Member
    Why stay out of Whole Foods? It's a great store.
    Probably because her budget is $50/week. :bigsmile:

    Bingo. It's none of my business really, but when someone asks for budget food advice ...
  • victoriavoodoo
    victoriavoodoo Posts: 343 Member
    Sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, less-processed soy, beans (garbanzo, pinto, black, etc, etc), greek yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs (vegetarian, not vegan, so dairy is okay?). And stay out of Whole Foods! Do you have a trader joe's around you?
    We're actually getting a trader joe's here mid-2013; I don't know much about it. And yes I eat eggs and some dairy.
    Is that picture on your profile recent? If so it doesn't even look like you need to lose weight. I understand eating healthy though.
    that picture is me three years ago and my goal. i have put on about 30 pounds since my prom lol
    To get protein, without meat, you are going to have to have carbs or fat. So, how about beans with brown rice and cheese? Or cheese omelet? Lots of protein, but vegetarians are going to have to eat carbs, all vegetables have carbs. Just stay away from the white bread...you could make your own pizzas on small whole wheat pitas. Beans, rice, eggs are going to be inexpensive ways to make this work.


    That was very helpful, thank you. Gah I love pizza.

    Why do you think pizza or whole wheat noodles are unhealthy?

    My mom gets on me for eating them, and i guess I mean like Domino's and Papa John's for pizza.
    The noodles I buy and prepare though so that's not as bad? I don't think the ones i get are whole wheat..I can start buying it though
    Quinoa - actually has a full protein

    beans, lentils, soy products, nuts, seeds, avocado, almond butter, almond milk

    Hemp powder - inexpensive and you can incorporate into smoothies, yogurt (coconut or soy), oats or other hot cereals

    http://www.znaturalfoods.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=5&zenid=70afdd9e309393bfeaa7c75f953d9104

    You can always make a healthy pizza using Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted grain tortillas, fresh tomatoes, basil, spinach, artichoke, fresh mozzarella (if you are eating dairy), pine nuts

    Thanks! I'll have to look up this Quinoa you guys keep mentioning

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