Healthy eating on a ramen budget

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Most of the time I find a recipe that has only things I have on hand or I sub the other ingredients I don't with something else. For instance, last night I made Turkey Meatloaf but it calls for spinach and I didn't have any but I did have a zucchini so i cut up zucchini to put in it instead and it was yummy

Check local farmers markets or fruit stands for some good deals on produce... I only buy fruits that are on sale... I only buy meat that is on sale.... I only make potatoes and rice from scratch which is alot cheaper than buying pre-packaged stuff (and healthier). Frozen veggies are pretty cheap if you get the generic.

Instead of individual yogurt cups buy the big container... its cheaper.

Spices are usually at the dollar store and will totally change a meal without adding calories. Good luck!

Just yesterday, I read an article about a man who lost 200 pounds. He was on a very tight budget, but found he could feed himself healthily by buying most of his food at the dollar store. Also, yesterday, I read on post here on MFP about Aldi being a great place for reasonably-priced fruits and veggies.

He was on GMA this morning but I missed it. I had to leave for work, but I read his article on yahoo.com I believe. His dollar store (probably) sold fresh veggies that were not selling at the regular supermarket. Veggies that more or less needed to be used immediately. I heard the Dollar Tree had fresh veggies a few years back but I don't see it.

I've been making veggie meals that last almost the whole week. Cabbage, kale, onions. - season and steam/saute. Add chickpeas or canned tuna. I'd roast/broil skinned and sliced eggplant and toss with with BBQ sauce. Wasn't bad.

I LOVE ALDI's. It's like a supermarket vacation. i go there just for the heck of it. I have enjoyed everything I have purchase from them. Just yesterday they tried to temp me with a $10 Carvel-type ice cream cake. They almost got me but had to think of my budget lol.

I'm also a firm believer of coupons. You don't have to go overboard, but I'm typically saving 30% to 50% per grocery trip using them, and there ARE a lot of healthy-purchase coupons out there, not just junk food.

This!!
I am also a firm believer of coupons! We save at least $10 each trip.

I'm from the UK, and now buy my weekly shopping from Aldi. For a weeks shopping for 2 adults and a 7 year old child, I spend £30. This includes all meals.

Hey! Send me your weekly shopping list and menu plan!!! mine cost me waaaaay more than that!! i think i could learn from you!

Meal planning is defiantly your friend. I wait until the flyers come out then base my meals on the sales.

How about this? I just created these two meals: Not sure if they're cheap enough:

1....ITALIAN RICE: 2 cups of rice, one 14.5 oz Hunts basil garlic diced tomatoes (entire can), 8 oz bella mushrooms (chopped chunkly), 4 cups of water, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon oregano, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt/salt. Mix all ingredients together in a large saucepan. Cover. Bring to slow boil. Cook 20 minutes at simmer. Makes 8 one cup servings.

2...Egg Quesadilla: 1 fried egg, 1/2 red pepper (sliced lengthwise), 1 flour tortilla (large), 1 teaspoon butter, 1/4 Mexican cheese blend, and salt, pepper and garlic powder. Fry the egg at one end of pan and sauté red pepper at the other end. Add the salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Place on a plate. Place flour tortilla into pan to heat. Then when it's heated and still in pan, put
fried egg, red pepper slices and cheese on the tortilla. Fold and press. (one serving)

3. Shrimp Quesadilla: Substitute 1 teaspoon olive oil for the butter, 6 medium shrimp for the egg, add sliced onions to the mix,
and the rest of the ingredients & cook as above. I'm going to make this after I get shrimp from the store. At Save-A-Lot, you can
buy a good sized bag for $6.99 of shrimp! (one serving)

4. Baked vegetables: Potatoes, carrots, brussel sprouts, broccoli (whatever you like)---wash and cut up your veggies (cut brussel sprouts in half). Depending on how much you make is how large the pan will be. Pour in some olive oil. place veggies on it. Sprinkle with Seasonal and garlic powder and stir to coat. Cook at 400 for about 45 minutes. Stir once while baking to ensure even cooking. You can use this as a side or main...I found through this MFP that we get protein from so many foods I have had to decrease meat portions or I go over.

I buy two whole chickens from Sam's Club for $10.00. Each chicken lasts us for 3 meals. I change up how I fix them after baking. We eat the leg/thighs first, then he has some breast and I eat the chicken wings and then the last breast goes into yellow rice or something like that. Protein for 6 meals for $10. Not bad.

Check your local farmers markets for seconds. Veggies or fruit w/ bad spots (easily cut away) that are super cheap!

I have a store called Produce Junction near me and can can fresh veggies and fruit fairly inexpensively, along with eggs. 5 lbs of bananas are $2.00. 2 lbs of fresh green beans are $2. I also have a farmers market near me and shop there as well. Trader Joe's is another great store to get healthy food at a reasonable price. (Even their milk is cheaper!) I am lucky, I have a freezer in the basement, so we shop the sales and stock up. My mom raised 4 kids on her own as a self employed hair dresser on a shoe string budget.

I am not a "fancy" cook. We just eat plenty of steamed veggies, potatoes, rice, roasted chicken, baked pork chops, etc. I find that cooking healthy meals at home is a lot cheaper than junk food!

You can BBQ. I just did and had an amazing and really cheap dinner. I didn't put anything on the veggies and meat except for a little salt. Had grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, and steamed green beans along with a beef burger (that came frozen. You can get it at any grocery store in packages for relatively cheap).

Whatever you do, don't eat out. I believe it's a lot cheaper to eat out in the US than here in Canada, but still...You don't know what goes into it and you can make something healthier at home.

Someone mentioned frozen veggies, that is something that is quick and requires minimal effort. It tastes pretty good and you get the nutrition you need. However, in my experience, you can get tired of it quickly. There is quite a variety out there, so don't always buy the same ones.

I was thinking of going with the organic locally grown vegetables as someone mentioned above. Here it would be about $35 a week. Again, I don't know where you're from, but I'm sure they have similar programs you can choose from. The good side of this is that you eat whatever is in season and it comes to your door. You are getting better produce and supporting local farmers... it's a win win for everyone.

Good luck and stay healthy!

bump, great ideas here

WELL!!! There are lots of ways to cut corners.

Some ways I cut corners is I buy bone in split chicken breasts. When its on sale around here it is about 99cents a pound and the bone doesn't weight too much. and you can debone and take the skin and fat off chicken breasts by yourself quite easily.

Canned meats are not always unhealthy. If you go for Tuna fish in the can make sure to get the kind packed in water. Canned oysters are okay too. Not as good as fresh but hey we are on a ramen diet!

Other things to look at are coupons. Watch how they rotate. Cereals like Fiber One are GREAT and with a coupon can make it quite inexpensive. or buy store brand!

Sign up for coupons and look for online coupons. http://www.coupons.com/couponweb/Offers.aspx?pid=15046&zid=uw18&nid=10&bid=alk0611180627f0807ba2e1110&opid=15046

Freefly currently has some Skinny cow coupons, nature valley, yoplait yogurt, etc. Lots of health foods you can print coupons for. And LOTS of savings.

Some ways I cut corners is I buy bone in split chicken breasts. When its on sale around here it is about 99cents a pound and the bone doesn't weight too much. and you can debone and take the skin and fat off chicken breasts by yourself quite easily.

Definitely this, and with more meats than just chicken. Our local Sam's Club has large vacuum sealed pork tenderloins for at least half the price of the tiny, pre-butchered and marinated 1lb tenderloins. All I have to do is cut the monster down into one pound portions for freezing and I save 10-15 dollars on lean meat.

Loved the title of this thread btw!

One thing that I have found is to buy a whole chicken and cut it up yourself rather than buying "precut" meat. It's way cheapier to cut up the meat yourself and then you can cook the bones for broth to make soup or stew. Its a win win! Buy bulk when you can (oatmeal,beans, ect). More bang for your buck and healthier for you too since most everything that is "precanned" has so much added sodium.