eating healthy when you're flat broke?

Try Aldi and get the packages of frozen Talipia Filets, they are like $3-4 for the whole bag and there are like 6 or 8 in the bag. Can you bring an insulated lunch bag? If so bring salads from home or low calorie lunch meat on low calorie bread.

I also agree with an insulated lunch bag so you can bring your lunch instead of eating out. I am also surrounded by fast food so I bring leftovers from the night before or pick up My Fit Foods if I can afford it. I always keep nuts, fat free triscuits and stuff to make peanut butter jelly sandwiches at work also.

You can bring salad and/or peanut butter sandwiches.

Bring a small cooler.


BOOM!

1. Good high fiber bread with PB and honey/jelly
2. Apples (can usually find for $1/lb) are cheaper and more filling than chips
3. Homemade soups/chili with lots of beans instead of meat - I do this a lot if I have sprung for veggie produce and they are near their date. I chop up any carrots, onions, tomatoes etc and put them in a chili
4. Tortillas with pinto beans and salsa; side of fruit or carrot sticks
5. Whole wheat spaghetti with sauce
6. Vegetable stir fry can be really cheap if you buy a big bag of rice and frozen veggies and makes a lot of meals

*Definately try to spring for the lunch box and ice pack. It is worth it!

Sorry most of my suggestions are vegetarian but I think it is cheaper.

Well.... uncooked beans are extremely cheap. Just cook a biiiig batch and freeze in portion sizes.

As for what to bring to work. Is it possible to bring prepared frozen meals that can be eaten cold and then just let them defrost slowly through the day...

Good question. Im going through the same! Though I struggle with this at home!

Look for sales -- every grocery store puts out a weekly sales flyer and there are ALWAYS healthy options included -- usually some good produce buys. I also look for when they mark down meats. I picked up organic ground beef last week for $3.50 a pound. My freezer is my friend to stock up when I find excellent deals. I try to buy one or two extra if I can.

I shop at an Asian grocery store which carries ripe produce at inexpensive prices compared to regular grocery stores.

You can also buy one of those little thermos insulated containers to bring hot food to work. For a couple of hours they will keep it pretty hot. I bring warm leftovers to work all the time and don't need to microwave it.

I make sandwiches using whole wheat bread or whole wheat sandwich rounds -- with an ice pack in the lunch box they are fine.

Sometimes I make a tuna sandwich with the packages of tuna and a lite mayo pack (usually extra from Chick Fil A) but do not require any refrigeration.

Cheese is inexpensive if you can find it on sale.

You can do it but it will take a little more planning.

I was tight last week and had to make some changes:
- I eat a lot of eggs anyway, and they aren't too expensive.
- Frozen vegetables. Green beans are very low calorie and very cheap too.
- I'd make porridge of just oats and water. Not very exciting, but keep you full.
- Soups.

I'm going to be in a similar work situation. I am starting a new job where I will be on the road most of the day. When I had this type of job previously I gained 20 lbs due to developing bad eating habits (stopping at the gas station to go to the bathroom and buying a cookie and soda; Dollar menu at McD's, etc). I am trying to come up with different options this time around and may also need to adjust my mind set as to what a meal consists of. It helps to have a thermal bag (a must, IMO) and there are Thermos containers of various styles and sizes that are great for holding warm leftovers. I also saw a lunch sized crock pot container at Target the other day. Apparently you put the food in it, take the holder to work and plug it in then it will be warm by lunch. That won't work for me since I will be in the car, but the thermos could. Some ideas for lunches and snacks that I have come up with are:

-wraps (turkey, veggie, tuna)
-leftover soup in the thermos
-salads
-yogurt
-almonds
-fruit/veggies
-any other portable snack

I know that doesn't sound like much and I need more options to avoid getting bored. I also tend to have a hard time thinking of a meal of consisting of various snacks, but that might be the way to go.

Coolers are your friend!

Also as for healthy foods on a budget - beans, brown rice, eggs, and fun a local farmer's market for seasonal fresh fruits and veggies. All wholesome, healthy and filling.

I try and keep our household on a $60 per week grocery budget (there is just my husband and I in the house). The budget includes all household stuff like toothpaste, TP etc etc, so there isn't always $60 to go toward food. My top tips would be:

1. COOK MORE! We used to go out a couple of times a week, but it gets really expensive really quickly. So we try to home cook most meals. We eat a lot of soups (chicken, lentil, vegetable etc etc). I try and switch it up, but generally most of our soups contain a lot of carrots and potatoes and some kind of protein. You can also make in huge batches and freeze extras for lunches and dinners during the week.

2. Try not to waste food: If you are buying a bunch of stuff for salad, try and make sure you plan enough salads during the week to use up the food you have bought.

3. Write a menu for the week and stick to it! Write up your dinners and lunches and assign them to specific days. Yes, it's really boring and not very spontaneous, but if you plan ahead, it makes it easier to stick to what you have outlined. It also allows you to see where you can cut ingredients or share larger ingredients between different dishes in order to cut down on waste.

4. Buy seasonal produce. Your local grocery store will likely have specials on items that are in season. $5 for 4 apples? Kinda expensive. $1 for 5 kiwis, not so bad. Being aware of seasonal stuff will help you plan menus better and drastically reduce your grocery bill.

5. Collect coupons when you see them. Don't be tricked into spending more money on something you wouldn't normally buy i.e. a sale on 3 boxes of crackers for the price of 2. Seems like a good deal, but if you don't usually buy any, this "sale" is just eating into your budget.

I have a thought about dry beans. I haven't done this before, but from what I have worked with beans I think this would work. Soak the beans overnight. Drain and rinse in the morning. Then put them back on the stove with and bring it up to boiling water. Add your seasonings. Then place it in a thermos. I'm thinking by the time you eat lunch it would be cooked. try it out on a Saturday first to see if it works.

I always buy my fruit and veggies when they are on sale. There are a number of apples out there and it seems one variety is always on sale. That is the one I buy (unless it is red delicious which I can't stand).

With the insulated lunch bag or cooler you might want to check out Salad in a jar - http://www.salad-in-a-jar.com/how-to-make-salad-in-a-jar-2

I'm unfortunately going to repeat what a lot of people have already said.

1. insulated lunch bag.
2. Dollar stores are starting to carry a lot of produce.
3. become one with your ads and start hunting down best deals.
4. Avoid high carb food because they wont keep you full as long. Pack in that protein. It'll seem more expensive but you'll be consuming less. Always cook dinner so you have lunch for the next day.

Try getting use to eating cold food. Construction men all of the world do it every day.