Heathly on a budget?! Need Help

I only have $75 a month for groceries. I spend up to $20 extra on food while I'm out (some months).

Breakfast or light lunch: large tomato (or two to three roma tomatoes) with mozzarella.
Breakfast: oatmeal or cream of wheat (buy for super cheap in the bulk bins at Winco).
Breakfast: toast with neufchatel cheese.
Breakfast: Poached egg with onion, lettuce, tomato, on slice of toast.

Tomatoes, oatmeal, cream of wheat, sugar, cinnamon, bread, neufchatel cheese, eggs, onions, lettuce... super cheap. Mozzerella probably not so much, but it's worth it.

Lunch: lettuce wraps (you can put beans, fish, more veggies in it, or whatever cheap thing you'd like).
Lunch: salad with hardboiled egg & yummy veggies.
Lunch: brown rice balls with steamed veggies.

Beans, a large bag of Walmart frozen fish, in-season veggies, brown rice. Cheap enough.

Dinner: Chili, soup, steamed veggies with a side of fish, etc.

There is quite a bit of affordable, yummy, healthy food out there. Don't just eat what I typed. Pretty much, just eat a ton of fruits & vegetables with sides of eggs, nuts, fish, tofu, etc.

"healthy" does not have to = expensive. Dried beans, oats, grains and rices are cheap...eggs are cheap...buy frozen vegetables rather than fresh produce...there are always sales on various meats/poultry, etc. I save way more money these days prepping and cooking my own meals than I ever did buying convenient foods and eating out.

Eggs,
chicken thighs,
higher fat ground beef
tuna

Old Fashioned oats.
beans
rice
bread
tortillas

Canned veggies
heads of lettuce
regular carrots and celery (not the pre-cut ones)
Cucumbers

hello there! i do a monthly shop for 2 people (vegetarian) for around $160-$170, and then will go back to the store maybe once a week for more bread and produce. my eggs last us about 2 weeks, as i don't make them all of the time. a gallon of milk will last almost 3 weeks for just us two. i figure prolly around $15 a week for the extra fruit and veg and bread, i rarely buy meat for my other half but i will buy chicken breast, sometimes a whole chicken to make in the slow cooker and then portion it and freeze it, or chicken sausages for nights i don't feel like cooking too much. the deli cuts are for the other half who doesn't make sandwiches too often, maybe will pick that up twice a month, and yogurt

i can give you an idea by showing you current shopping list, i am picking up groceries thursday (i do shop at home from shoprite) and then mostly produce milk and eggs i get from save a lot bc they have pretty good prices. i spend some time going through different fliers to see the best sales, and i will walk around save a lot and compare to what shoprite is and buy other items like cereal or other packaged things if it is cheaper there. okay so here is my monthly main list, i will also let you know what staples i already have that will last me a few months at a time. i also use coupons from the paper and from coupons.com, i feel like i am being ripped off if i pay full price

anyhoo, items i stock up on when they are on sale, or are cheaper anyway are - dried beans (can cook them in slowcooker and then freeze them), pasta (regular or whole grain), pasta sauces, salsa, frozen produce. currently i still have 2 bags broccoli, 2 bags spinach, pepper onion mix and cauliflower but i am picking up more this week. also dried potato flakes, i use olive oil instead of butter and water instead of milk, tastes fine to me. bread crumbs, brown rice

from shoprite:
club rolls (6) - $1.69
nature harvest 100% wheat bread - 1.99
14 oz herb stuffing package - 2.50
6 pack english muffins - 1.39
4 bottles 64 oz gatorade for my other half - 2.00 each
3 bottles 64oz langers juice - 1.79 each
3 bottles 33oz flavored seltzer water - 1.20 total
4 boxes chex cereal - 1.99 each and 2 coupons
2 boxes nature valley granola bars - 2.99 each
enchilada sauce - 1.79
4 cans progresso soup - 1.25 each and 2 coupons
banana peppers - 1.69
2 cans 28oz diced tomatoes - .79 each
3 jars bertolli sauce - 1.99 each
1 package knorr pesto mix - 1.25
1 can olives - .99
cottage cheese - 1.99
white american slices - 1.99
2 packages hummus - 2.50 each
grated parm - 2.49
32 oz plain yogurt - 2.49
2 sorrento 16oz part skim mozzarella block - 1.88 each
32 oz sorrento ricotta cheese - 2.99
1/2 lb deli sliced provolone - 2.50
breyers reeses ice cream for the other half - 3.50
2 packages morning star (turky burger and crumbles) - 3.49 each and a coupon
2 bags 12oz frozen spinach - .99 each
16oz mixed veg - .99
2 bags 12 oz stir fry veg - 1.33 each
non foods
st ives face wash - 3.79
sauve moistureizer 18oz - 3.49
32 oz tresseme conditioner - 4.49
vaseline - 2.39
(i included non foods bc they are part of a deal, purchase $20 of participating unilever items and get $10 off your order)
nestle 8oz unsweetened cocoa powder - 3.29
16oz firm tofu - 1.99
1/4lb deli turkey - 1.25
1/4lb deli ham - 1.25
2 packs johnsonville chicken sausages - 3.50 each
3 knorr pasta/rice sides (part of the spend $20 deal, not the healthiest but add lots of veg to them) - .99 each
2 packages 12oz quinoa - 1.99 each
4 pears - .40 each
1 cabbage - 2.42
3 lb cortland apples - 1.99
10 oz fresh mushrooms - 1.99
2 red bell peppers - 1.00 each
spaghetti squash - 2.24
3 boxes triscuit - 2.50 each and a coupon
2 boxes popcorn - 1.50 each
total with the $10 off discount and coupons is $164.

the rest of what i need from save a lot
2 boxes general mills cereal - 1.99 each and a coupon
eggs - 1.45
2 gallon milk - 2.99
cucumber - .49
2 lb grapes - 1.99 lb
4 red potatoes - .69 each
8 bananas - .49/lb
eggplant - 1.49 lb
4pack yogurt for my other half - 1.76
pb - 2.99
lettuce 1.21
zucchini - 1.29 for two

total is 180ish after coupons are in place.
as stated i already have dried beans (1.19 a bag), brown rice (1.99), pasta (.88 a box), bread crumbs (.99). a whole chicken is about 5 or $6, and can be portioned for quite a few meals, and 2 bags tortillas (corn and flour, 1.79 each) - you can freeze the bread as well when it goes on sale to stock up, and vital wheat gluten to make seitan (5.99 and lasts a while), vegetablle broth (5 cans for $4), 2 large cans sweet potatoes (1.59 each), syrup (2.00), flour and sugar last a long time, i can't even remember the last time i bought flour. i also stock up on frozen raviolli and tortellini when it is on sale, and only have to buy those every couple of months (1.77 a bag)

after counting in items i already have, it is about $255 at the most for 2 people, but things like the wheat gluten, the dried beans, rice, pasta and veg broth, i don't buy those every month, maybe every 2 to 2 1/2 months, average prolly about $235 a month.

with all those things listed these are meals i make -
breakfasts: oatmeal with these varieties: unsweetened applesauce and cinnamon; oatmeal with syrup and pb, oatmeal with blueberries and cinnamon
cereal, pancakes, omeletts/fritatas, egg sandwiches, banana oat breakfast cookies

lunches - salads, homemade soups, wraps/sandwiches, smoothies, leftovers

dinners - sweet potato burritos, spinach artichoke pasta (canned artichoke is fairly cheap), black bean burritos, veggie (and chicken) quesadillas, enchilada casserole, stroganoff (meatless grounds or chicken even works, i use yogurt in place of sour cream), tortellini tossed over a salad, seitan cheese steaks, slow cooker soups, chicken or a meatless protein with mashed potatoes and stuffing, sauteed spinach and mushrooms with ricotta, garlic and marinara sauce with other veggies as a side, spaghetti squash bake, shepherds pie, veggie pot "pies", meatball/meatless ball or sausage subs, currys, eggplant parm, eggplant and mushroom sauteed with a sauce over pasta, quinoa risotto, spinach quinoa patties with veg on side, pizzadillas, bbq tofu sandwiches, stir frys with chicken or tofu over rice or quinoa, vegetarian (or use meat) chili over quinoa, sauteed mushrooms in olive oil and garlic over pasta with veg/salad, baked ziti, baked raviolli casserole with brocolli and spinach, green tofu curry with broccoli, peppers, onions, mushrooms over couscous or quinoa or rice, chili over rice, breakfast for dinner, grilled cheese and tomato soup, make a base/crust with zucchini/cauliflower and make a pizza, stuffed zucchini, taco salads

there is also a nifty site myfridgefood.com that gives recipes based on what is in your fridge, so you can also pick cheap staples to use and then find recipes around that.

sorry this post is so long! i didn't want to forget anything i know i have forgotten a slew of recipes.

also i will do something like make a bunch of rice at once, pasta at onces, beans at once and have a few portions of meat out. then from there add different seasonings to them for different flavors (italian, mexican dishes, currys), and then veg i cook the frozen veg up real quick, add different sauces as well for different style cuisines, and if it requires a casserole throw it all together, wrap it in a tortilla, add it to a pizza crust, etc.

i forgot to add avocado! they are on sale this week so i am getting a bunch, they are a dollar each, i keep all produce in the fridge bc that helps keep longer, even bananas!

a cheap (and easy) thing to do is to get crockpot (you can find a decent one for <$30...a bit of an investment up front but it pays off quickly), frozen chicken breasts, and bottled sauces (bbq sauce, buffalo wing sauce, the target brand has "grilling" sauces that are yummy).

then you just put a few frozen chicken breasts in the crockpot, pour the sauce of choice over (save some to stir in at the end since some of the flavor gets cooked out by the crockpot), and cook on low all day (mine usually goes 8-10 hours but 6 may be enough for some crockpots).

after the chicken is finished cooking, take it out of the crockpot and shred with a fork. mix it back in with the sauce and any extra you have, and you have your protein for your meal! you can eat the chicken over rice, or in a wrap, or on a salad. i've done this a few times and 4 large chicken breasts makes enough for about 8 meals. if i don't eat it in one of the ways listed above by the end of the week, i'll try to figure out a way to make a casserole with the last of it (usually involving tortillas or pasta).

i've got mango curry (sauce from target) chicken in the crockpot now and i'm serving it over coconut rice (which you apparently make just by cooking rice in coconut milk. yum yum!

I agree too. Healthy does not mean expensive but forward planning of meals does save money.
It also allows the options of using food on specials when available. Or buy specials and freeze - works well.

I like to have fresh veges and fruit and buy these when in plentiful supply at harvest time.

Look around your area you may find someone with fruit trees on their properties who don't use all the produce available.
Lots of options to eat inexpensively. Hope this helps.

Please post Recipes that wont break the bank
Being healthy is expensive and I feel like I'm buying an eating the same things over and over.. and getting bored with them
and that's not good!

http://www.budgetbytes.com/

Best site for budget friendly eating and recipes.

Bump!

This is for when you are craving something sweet, it's made mostly of oatmeal and peanutbutter

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1136380-for-those-who-are-craving-something-sweet-156-calories

Check out www.BountifulBaskets.com. They are a co-op and i know there are several pick up areas in Kentucky. For $15 you get about $50 of produce (fruit and veggies). It's an awesome way to get your fresh veggies without breaking the bank. And if you have a small family you could always split with a neighbor or co-worker. Plus you get what's being harvested in your area at the time. It's a great way for you to try new things that you would not think of trying otherwise. They have these all over the US so check it out.

Love this basic recipe as you can add/subtract most anything you have.


Another lower item cost can be the fattier ground beef or turkey. Cook it,then pour very hot water over,drain & save in zip locks or any container with lid & freeze.All ready for any recipe calling for ground beef.You can cut down on amount of meat.
All meatless meals can save $$ unless you sub too much cheese.Eggs can be used for dinner.Add toast,a side dish & there you go.

http://disgustinglygood.com/2011/02/20/no-crust-quiche/

also myfridgefood.com finds recipes based on ingredients you have. you can go through and pick cheap ingredients like beans, eggs, veggies, a whole chicken etc and then from there it will find you recipes.
slow cookers are awesome too you can make random pasta and veg dishes in it, make soups which cost way less than canned soup servings, a whole chicken and then use that to mix in other meals throughout the week, a whole chicken at the grocery here in ny runs like 5 or 6 bucks for a weeks worth of meals. good luck!

"healthy" does not have to = expensive. Dried beans, oats, grains and rices are cheap...eggs are cheap...buy frozen vegetables rather than fresh produce...there are always sales on various meats/poultry, etc. I save way more money these days prepping and cooking my own meals than I ever did buying convenient foods and eating out.

This. Lentils as well will add protein and can be bough in bigger bags for lower price.

I eat fish a lot and salad