Cheap, Healthy Dinner Recipes/Ideas?

FITIsTheNewPINK
FITIsTheNewPINK Posts: 43
in Recipes
Anyone have any good lower-cal dinner ideas? My dinner repertoire is a bit lacking at the moment :(
Also, no fish/nuts please. I'm allergic.
Thanks so much!

Replies

  • aquarabbit
    aquarabbit Posts: 1,622 Member
    Definitely check out Melissa d'Arabian. She does the 10 Dollar Dinner show. And she cooks healthy food. Really creative.
  • FITIsTheNewPINK
    FITIsTheNewPINK Posts: 43
    Thanks! I checked it out and her recipes look super good :)
  • coppertop_4
    coppertop_4 Posts: 258 Member
    chicken (any cut you like to eat)
    potatoes (your favorite type) halve or quarter them demending on size
    frozen green beans or other veggie.

    350 for 45 minutes

    Spray bottom of pan with pam or an oil to keep from sticking

    put chicken and potatoes together
    sprinkle with Mrs Dash (or whatever you'd like to use)
    last 15 minutes top with frozen veggies and add 1/4 cup of water to steam veggies and keep chicken moist

    If you like chicken skin crispy, use broiler for a minute or two. I dont eat the skin... but it looked good! ;)

    adapt to your likings... it was easy!
  • ferocityturbine
    ferocityturbine Posts: 110 Member
    For a really cheap healthy marinade for chicken mix:

    zest and juice of half a lemon
    2 tbsp honey
    1 tbsp mustard
    3 crushed garlic cloves
    lots of black pepper

    (for 2 chicken breasts)

    I use frozen chicken breasts so it's cheaper and defrost them in the marinade. It's soooo flavoursome and you end up with a really lovely sauce the flavours everything else on the plate. I serve it with sweet potato mash and some broccoli and cabbage. It works out at about 500 calories with the veg.
  • sunlover89
    sunlover89 Posts: 436 Member
    Turkey - cheaper than chicken
    Sweet potato - much healthier than white potato and cheap carbs
    Broccoli and carrots

    Top with instant (I use bisto best) chicken gravy. This is my fail proof, cheap and very satisfying go to meal.
  • oldandhealthier
    oldandhealthier Posts: 449 Member
    A quick cheap one for me(some may disagree) Pouch of zatarains big easy rice Jambalaya with cup of canned chicken breast mixed in. Ready in 2 minutes and total of 440 cals. There may be healthier foods but it is fast, low cal and cheap.
  • Tweety1983
    Tweety1983 Posts: 100 Member
    BUMP
  • melindasuefritz
    melindasuefritz Posts: 3,509 Member
    Turkey franks
  • Vivian06703188
    Vivian06703188 Posts: 310 Member
    I post healthy low cost foods on my page all the time to give my friends different ideas. He is a link to 15 Healthy low cost foods. :)

    http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/cheap-healthy-15-nutritious-foods-about-2-dollars
  • usteward
    usteward Posts: 112 Member
    bump
  • MissyPoo2013
    MissyPoo2013 Posts: 190 Member
    Bump!
  • mkcongrove1
    mkcongrove1 Posts: 81 Member
    http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cheap+clean+eats&oq=cheap+cle&gs_l=youtube.1.0.0l10.886.2146.0.3314.9.9.0.0.0.0.124.613.8j1.9.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.u3jzr7clZrQ

    It is a series of videos by Cassey Ho of Blogilates.com she has a ton of "cheap clean eats" videos, I just tried her low carb ravioli, DELICIOUS!!
  • MissSharon2013
    MissSharon2013 Posts: 536 Member
    Fry two turkey franks you have chopped up in 1tblsp EVOO and add 1 cup sauer kraut! Can put on a bun or just eat as is!
  • Still_Standing
    Still_Standing Posts: 75
    Why do people put bump?! haha
  • CeeBee88
    CeeBee88 Posts: 33
    Eggs - Always economical and if you are watching the pennies and not wanting to resort to pasta and rice they are a great staple. I know a lot of people have issues with eating omelettes for dinner as there is some established notion that they are a "breakfast" food, but I love them. Try your favourite omlette recepies or serve it poached with you favourite meat item.

    Also, when I was a student I used to eat courgette/zuchinni noodles a lot. Try googling "courgette noodles" or "zuchinni noodles" on you tube to see how to make them. All you need it a courgette/zuchinni per person and your favourite pasta sauce.

    :)
  • abelthephotographer
    abelthephotographer Posts: 127 Member
    http://agirlcalledjack.com/category/below-the-line-budget-recipes/

    Jack's causing a bit of a stir in the UK. I've made her curry with apricots, and even with a number of tweaks it still came out at £1-25ish per -large- portion and under 500 calories.

    HTH
  • CeeBee88
    CeeBee88 Posts: 33
    http://agirlcalledjack.com/category/below-the-line-budget-recipes/

    Jack's causing a bit of a stir in the UK. I've made her curry with apricots, and even with a number of tweaks it still came out at £1-25ish per -large- portion and under 500 calories.

    HTH

    Some of these are really great! Its impressive what you can do with a little know how and when you force yourself to really stick to your budget!
  • adlace
    adlace Posts: 375 Member
    Why do people put bump?! haha

    to put the topic back up on the top of board posting lists? more people see and answer?
  • FITIsTheNewPINK
    FITIsTheNewPINK Posts: 43
    Wow! Haven't been on in a few days and its such a pleasant surprise to see so many great ideas! Thank you all and I'll give em a try :)
  • leeannewgeorge
    leeannewgeorge Posts: 92 Member
    Why do people put bump?! haha

    to put the topic back up on the top of board posting lists? more people see and answer?

    To save the post under their topics so as not to have to search for it when they want to read it in the future. :smile:
  • elainecroft
    elainecroft Posts: 595 Member
    Eggs and sweet potato hash. It's a super cheap base that has vitamins and protein, and you can add a ton of different veggies/meats/spices.
  • JenCatwalk
    JenCatwalk Posts: 285 Member
    Bumpity
  • larsensue
    larsensue Posts: 461 Member
    bump for later...
  • Cheeky_0102
    Cheeky_0102 Posts: 408 Member
    i have vergetaian tendencies, and i find it helps me afford the better meat if i eat less of it...

    my standby meals are:

    Chickpeas in butter chicken sauce (a jar or homemade - get the "healthier" stuff with brown rice and loads of cooked spinach. (i could eat this every day)

    rice and beans of any kind... i grab cajun seasoning, whatever veggies i want, rice, black beans, sausages or smiked sausages if i feel like it... i like this with a tomato base, so you could open a can, or cut up a tomato. call it jamabolaya, dirty rice, whatever, it's nom. add cooked chicken for extra meaty goodness

    Peanut sauce on anything, the other day i made it super simple. saute some kale add a blob of smoothe peanut butter, sweet thai sauce, garlic (powder, fresh whatever) and soy sauce... i could have served this on rice or noodles, but i jsut ate it like that.

    fried rice; frozen mixed veggies, last night's rice, and egg and soy sauce, add whatever asian sauce you wnt (hoison, black bean, oyster, thai, etc) in a frying pan heat rice and veggies, then pour over the sauces mixed with raw egg, stir until egg cooks on rice. (you can add other protein to this meal - cooked chicken is a backup for me)

    i cook a chicken once a week and we use it through the week for cheap meals... so any of my veggie based dinners because meat based with lefotver chicken.

    good luck!
  • Steph_in_Mississippi
    Steph_in_Mississippi Posts: 70 Member
    Flatbread pizza.... Toast flatbread lightly in oven (I prefer wheat). Top with favorite veggies (I like tomatoes thin sliced, garlic, basil, mushrooms and cheese). Add some grilled chicken for protein if you would like.

    Vegetarian chili (beans, tomatoes, peppers, onions, chili seasoning and small block of dark chocolate)... Full of protein and fiber.

    Any roasted veggies. Toss veggies with little olive oil (good fat), season with salt and pepper. Roast on cookie sheet at 400 degrees til lightly golden. Great trick is to line sheet with parchment paper. The veggies won't stick.

    Pasta salads. I use smart taste white pastas because they have fiber and protein. Add fresh vegetables or marinara, lean meat like ground round or sirloin... Add sprinkle of cheese.

    Egg white omelet topped with salsa...

    I found a great trick is to grill several lean meats like chicken, sirloin steak, tenderloin, etc, let cool and pre-portion them into zip loc bags. Toss in freezer. Then you have lean proteins for sandwiches, salads, wrap, or pizza. Less preservatives, controlled sodium and convenient.

    If I think of anymore, I will add some later.

    Hope you find some great things to try... ;)
  • JenCatwalk
    JenCatwalk Posts: 285 Member
    Oh yeah.. my cheap healthy dish of all time is bean based.

    Soak 1lb of beans of any kind in 7 cups of water for 5-24 hours (The longer they soak the faster they cook, and the less vitamins get burned out)
    Put beans in a crockpot, and add 1 whole chopped onion of any kind, 1-2 bell peppers, and as much celery as you want.
    Mix all the ingrediants together. Afterwards, add 1 package of ham hocks/turkey necks (I personally only put half the package in.), leave on top of beans.
    Cook on high for 5-7 hours
    After cooking is complete, fork out the hocks/necks, let them cool off, then debone them. Add meat back into pot and mix.

    Enjoy this fiber packed meal! :flowerforyou:

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