Make my shopping list!

Being on a very tight budget due to some financial difficulties...Getting healthy food is tough...Specially with a family of 6...2 in school and a husband who thinks all healthy food must taste awful.

Id like to go out and get food specifically for me. But ll I can think to get is
Cottage cheese
Baby carrots
Whole wheat bread
Chicken
Eggs
Asparagus
GrapeFruit
and some low fat low cal snacks to much on for those times I want to binge out on junk.

Thats pretty much all I can think of to get!!!

That all can be gone in a week. So Im think what are some things YOU get for yourself thats healthy? If it sounds good..Ill throw it on my shopping list!
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Replies

  • No fat Greek yogurt; brown rice; lean beef, salad; apples; broccoli; whole grain pasta. These are some of the things we buy.
  • notsosimplyabby
    notsosimplyabby Posts: 138 Member
    Anything GREEN: pickles, broccoli, celery, etc!
    Couscous instead of rice.
    Egg Beaters
    Salsa (you can do so much with salsa! grilled chicken with salsa, salsa in your egg beater omlette, etc!)
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    You don't have to buy special food to lose weight. Frozen veggies are more nutritious than fresh unless you grew the item yourself. Cottage cheese is full of salt. Whole wheat bread is no better than white bread, you want whole grain bread if you plan to eat that. Low fat low cal junk food is still junk food and pretty much negates any of the other clean eating habits.
  • Jenny_Taylia
    Jenny_Taylia Posts: 540 Member
    No fat Greek yogurt; brown rice; lean beef, salad; apples; broccoli; whole grain pasta. These are some of the things we buy.


    How does low fat greek yogurt taste?
  • Jenny_Taylia
    Jenny_Taylia Posts: 540 Member
    You don't have to buy special food to lose weight. Frozen veggies are more nutritious than fresh unless you grew the item yourself. Cottage cheese is full of salt. Whole wheat bread is no better than white bread, you want whole grain bread if you plan to eat that. Low fat low cal junk food is still junk food and pretty much negates any of the other clean eating habits.


    Well that just brings my shopping list down to nothing but frozen veggies...
  • pelles
    pelles Posts: 32 Member
    Almonds - especially Dark Chocolate Roasted or Cinnamon if you are feeling snacky. These are kind of expensive, but I hide them from the kids & spouse and one pack lasts awhile.

    Blueberries

    Greek Yogurt - Vanilla tastes good

    Pears

    Kiwi

    Fish - frozen tilapia

    Chicken breasts

    Tuna
  • lieselLalor
    lieselLalor Posts: 169 Member
    I am in a similar situation trying to please my son and husband while still eating well so a few of the things that work for all of us are:

    Snacks
    -baby carrots (sometimes w/ peanut butter when I really want something sweet, its filling too)
    -honey wheat pretzel sticks (the kids will definitely like that and it's good when you want something salty)
    -smoothies (frozen fruit, plain greek yogurt, milk, protein powder, ice good for something sweet and my son loves helping me make it)
    -apples
    -hummus(with celery or baby carrots, or anything really)
    -grapes
    -almonds
    -hardboiled eggs
    -tuna pouches

    Cooking meals
    I am trying to use lentils and quinoa and always have at least 2 veggies with each meal. The more involved you get your kids in the cooking and shopping of healthy foods the more willing they will be to trying and enjoying them. Have them each pick a veggie for a meal and then you can decide how to cook it. They will feel like it was "their idea" and you aren't just forcing them to eat their veggies. Works every time!
  • AmyP619
    AmyP619 Posts: 1,137 Member
    No fat Greek yogurt; brown rice; lean beef, salad; apples; broccoli; whole grain pasta. These are some of the things we buy.


    How does low fat greek yogurt taste?

    disgusting. lol
  • lieselLalor
    lieselLalor Posts: 169 Member
    By the way, fresh veggies are still good for you, they just lose more nutrition the longer they sit in your refrigerator. Try to use them up right away. Frozen veggies are good because they freeze them right away so it "locks" in the nutrition.
  • WarriorCupcakeBlydnsr
    WarriorCupcakeBlydnsr Posts: 2,150 Member
    There are plenty of things you can get:
    Chicken, turkey,lean beef, fish, buffalo for meats, maybe even some beans- you can buy bags of dried beans inexpensively and use them in multiple dishes, it just requires a little work because you do need to cook them
    For Fresh fruits and veggies check out what fruits and veggies are in season, they tend to be less expensive (for example, apples are in season right now, you may find that prices are lower on apples than on citrus because it's out of season) OR you can buy frozen
    For dairy low fat or skim milk, non fat yogurt (greek yogurt is higher in protein and has a more creamy taste/ texture), low fat sour cream and cheeses (sliced, block, and shredded,) low fat or fat free cottage cheese
    Grains, look for whole grain products (whole wheat, whole corn, whole rye, whole barley, ect.) brown rice, quinoa

    Try to stay away from low fat snack foods, they tend to add up (intentionally or unintentionally)
    And remember, its not just about what you eat, it's about how much so watch your portion sizes.
    There are tons of sites that have great recipes that are low calorie (or can be easily modified to be)
    Best of luck to you!
  • Dethea
    Dethea Posts: 247 Member
    Buy dried beans. I cook three cups of beans in the crock pot for about 8 hours on high, with an onion, garlic, and two or three cubes of chicken bouillon. I serve it with a little bit of cheese and a scoop of greek yogurt, and it's just like a healthy bean soup. My four year old (pick eater) loves it!
  • No fat Greek yogurt; brown rice; lean beef, salad; apples; broccoli; whole grain pasta. These are some of the things we buy.


    How does low fat greek yogurt taste?

    I've only tried the Fage so far, but they're really good. The strawberry reminds me of cheesecake!
  • Jenny_Taylia
    Jenny_Taylia Posts: 540 Member
    These are all great choices! Going to have to grab a pen and paper lol
    However...Im a really picky eater..I dont eat any kind of fish or seafood and the ONLY meat I eat is chicken! Turkey sometimes but it has to be the whitest, dryest part of the turkey...I cant eat meat off bones yuck! and I dont touch anything with pork in it!
  • Car0lynnM
    Car0lynnM Posts: 332 Member
    Do you have an Aldi near you? They have very good healthy options, with a line of Fit & Active foods that are low cal and somewhat low sodium. I get most of my staples there. They even have great produce.
  • Debbe2
    Debbe2 Posts: 2,071 Member
    Greek yogurt, strawberries, retried beans, eggs, spinach, salsa, frozen veggies, string cheese, apples, hummus- in addition to the wonderful choices on your list already
  • SaraBrown12
    SaraBrown12 Posts: 277 Member
    Yoghurts, frozen veggies, porridge oats.
  • Jenny_Taylia
    Jenny_Taylia Posts: 540 Member
    Do you have an Aldi near you? They have very good healthy options, with a line of Fit & Active foods that are low cal and somewhat low sodium. I get most of my staples there. They even have great produce.


    I dont even know what Aldi is! Im from Toronto, Ontario
  • irishrose22
    irishrose22 Posts: 161 Member
    Do you have an Aldi near you? They have very good healthy options, with a line of Fit & Active foods that are low cal and somewhat low sodium. I get most of my staples there. They even have great produce.
    So True! Loive Aldi's Fit & Active stuff. Especially their turkey bacon and yogurt. We try to eat almost everything clean though. Not processed at all, which can add up. We are financially tight with 4 kids and hubby going to school. Little changes at a time.
  • Scarlett_S
    Scarlett_S Posts: 467 Member
    I stop every Monday morning on the way to work and buy my breakfast and lunch food for the week. Its pretty much been the same for 18 months and I am not bored of it: salad greens/spinach, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, fat free dressing, parmesan cheese (to top salad), almond slivers, single serve microwave veggies, roast beef, turkey, sara lee 45 calorie bread, brown mustard, oatmeal, greek yogurt, 100 calorie popcorn, a whole rotisserie chicken, jugs of water (water tastes awful at work), peanut butter, apples, strawberries, pears.
  • Bentley2718
    Bentley2718 Posts: 1,689 Member
    Beans of all sorts. Chickpeas are my favorite, you can eat them on salad, you can eat them plain, you can roast them (just google for a recipe) so you have a crunchy/spicy/sweet/salty/whatever snack whenever you want.
  • Scarlett_S
    Scarlett_S Posts: 467 Member
    Oh, forgot packets of tuna and salmon. I alternate topping the salads with chicken, tuna, or salmon. When I am tired of salad I toast the bread and have a turkey or chicken sandwich with veggies and brown mustard.
  • thebigcb
    thebigcb Posts: 2,210 Member
    Ok, its the weekend so

    One bottle Vodka
    Coke
    OJ
    Whiskey
    60 Marlboro
    18feet of nylon rope
    two pairs of yellow rubber gloves
    Nutella
    Heavy duty black plastic bags
    Four pairs of tights
    and a MacDonalds gift voucher

    That should cover all events I recokn
  • Kaiukas
    Kaiukas Posts: 111 Member
    Beans are your friend when you have tight budget. I make a whole lot of delicious spicy black bean stew for the whole week and bring it with me to work in my cute little bento box. OMG!!! It is so good and smells fantastic, my colleagues are seriously salivating :wink:
  • JanaCanada
    JanaCanada Posts: 917 Member
    Hi Jenny! I'm from Toronto, too! Sadly, our in-store choices are much more limited than our USA friends. :( The good news is that Toronto has sooo many farmer's markets that are open year 'round, so stock up on fresh fruits and veggies there at a lower price than the grocery stores.

    Since your only enjoyable source of protein is chicken, have you considered other viable choices? Do you like peanut butter? It's a great protein boost and the light PB is actually pretty tasty. Nutella is a good protein source, too. (I find the stufff nasty, but a lot of dieters swear by it.) How about chicken or turley bacon? Butterball turkey bacon is a staple around here...I eat it daily.

    Anyway, I will try to post more later but I have to go to work now....Add me if you like!
  • These are all great choices! Going to have to grab a pen and paper lol
    However...Im a really picky eater..I dont eat any kind of fish or seafood and the ONLY meat I eat is chicken! Turkey sometimes but it has to be the whitest, dryest part of the turkey...I cant eat meat off bones yuck! and I dont touch anything with pork in it!

    tryground chicken for burgers, or browned and add pasta sauce over pasta ( i think whole grain pasta is gross)
    with a big salad, or for tacos
  • Jenny_Taylia
    Jenny_Taylia Posts: 540 Member
    Ok, its the weekend so

    One bottle Vodka
    Coke
    OJ
    Whiskey
    60 Marlboro
    18feet of nylon rope
    two pairs of yellow rubber gloves
    Nutella
    Heavy duty black plastic bags
    Four pairs of tights
    and a MacDonalds gift voucher

    That should cover all events I recokn

    Sounds like a interesting weekend!


    Or a very awkward porno...
  • thebigcb
    thebigcb Posts: 2,210 Member
    I think it covers either, depends on which way tongiht goes lol
  • Car0lynnM
    Car0lynnM Posts: 332 Member
    Do you have an Aldi near you? They have very good healthy options, with a line of Fit & Active foods that are low cal and somewhat low sodium. I get most of my staples there. They even have great produce.


    I dont even know what Aldi is! Im from Toronto, Ontario

    Aldi is a grocery store that sells only private label products very cheaply. They're German, but they're all over the US. Not sure about Canada.
  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,324 Member
    Shop at Aldi if you have on in your area. amazing the savings on the fresh vegetables and eggs.
    Being on a very tight budget due to some financial difficulties...Getting healthy food is tough...Specially with a family of 6...2 in school and a husband who thinks all healthy food must taste awful.

    Id like to go out and get food specifically for me. But ll I can think to get is
    Cottage cheese
    Baby carrots
    Whole wheat bread
    Chicken
    Eggs
    Asparagus
    GrapeFruit
    and some low fat low cal snacks to much on for those times I want to binge out on junk.

    Thats pretty much all I can think of to get!!!

    That all can be gone in a week. So Im think what are some things YOU get for yourself thats healthy? If it sounds good..Ill throw it on my shopping list!
  • WinnerVictorious
    WinnerVictorious Posts: 4,733 Member
    bananas = good for your heart
    oranges = much better than drinking bottled orange juice

    i can get from breakfast to dinner just by eating 2 or 3 pieces of fruit like these

    canned chili beans. a bit high in sodium like everything in a can, but 1 can of chili beans and 1 "sleeve" of Premium crackers is a filling dinner for me at 875 calories. i don't use a spoon. just dip the crackers and eat. :)

    400 cals = breakfast
    240-315 cals = bananas/oranges as snacks
    875 cals = dinner

    1600 cals for the day.