Broke college student...help with food

http://www.seventeen.com/college/freshman/recipes-for-college-students#slide-1

Peanut butter, rice and beans are cheap and filling. I hear canned goods at dollar stores are pretty decent.

If you have a set up in which to cook (hot plate, mini-stove, kitchen, etc.) beans and rice are your friends. You can buy a whole bunch of that for not a lot of money. Peanut butter or other nut butters will help add calories to your weekly loaf of bread. Some places sell big bags of frozen chicken breasts, thighs, etc, and you can get a good amount for not too much money.

My partner, roommate, and I usually spend around 250-300 a month on our groceries, which works out to about $75 a week for 3 people. We hunt coupons and specials like nobody's business. We eat a lot of rice, beans, chicken, frozen or canned vegetables, frozen pizzas, frozen shrimp, salmon, kale, spinach, onions, apples, bananas, peanut butter, big flats of 60 eggs, carrots, hummus, lunch meat, cheese, bread, and pasta. Granted, we tend to get basically the same stuff every time we go to the grocery, but if you can find good recipes, you can mix it up and keep the menu from getting boring. And we don't struggle to hit 1200 calories, either!

I forgot about this site also.. lots of cheap food ideas.
http://www.budgetbytes.com/

Have you thought about pre-planning and doing freezer meals? My daughter is doing that with her roomie next year, and their budget is about the same as yours (right now I do it). It takes a little time to get organized - an hour or so to plan and set up a shopping list, and a couple of hours of cook/prep one day a week. Since there are two of you, you can stretch the recipes/reduce costs more by portioning them into two container each instead of one (most recipes serve four).

You can either Google " Healthy Freezer Meals" or go on Pinterest for ideas, or this blog has sites listed at the bottom. http://hearthandholm.blogspot.com/search?q=40+freezer+meals. After a while you'll get the idea and be able to do it on your own. It is a GREAT way to take advantage of sales on meat and veggies, and you have the advantage of controlling salt and content.

Buy some dry beans and cook up with available spices. It takes a while but it's just simmering, it doesn't need attention. If you'll be home studying one night (or watching TV, whatever) cook up some. Then portion out into baggies or ziploc containers and freeze for a quick meal later. Same for rice.

Buy frozen veggies. Nutrition-wise, it's basically the same as fresh. Eat the fruit that's on sale, which is usually what's in season.

Dig around on the internet for budget-friendly recipes. Hillbilly Housewife has some good stuff.

Hi guys,

So, I've lost 6 pounds in a fairly short amount of time (about a week and a half). I'm not entirely sure this is normal? I am 5'8 and my current weight is 193. I don't exercise a ton, however I walk about two miles a day to and from classes.

It's not that I'm not happy about it losing that weight, I am! It's just that I have not been eating much, around 600-700 a day. I AM WELL AWARE that this is not good for you. Please please please do not tell me I need to get help, I don't. I'm just at a loss as to what to eat.

See, I am in college and have barely any money. Today, I have had two eggs and a grilled cheese sandwich and the thing is, I feel full. I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to cheaper and healthier food items that can help me get to my calorie goal. I have about a $30-$40/week grocery budget.

Thanks.

30 - 40 a week for food, if you're in new zealand you're going to have a hard time, in America with twice as much food for your dollar that's going to be much better.

Firstly, find a cheap supermarket. You may need to travel to do this.
Secondly: buy seconds of whatever you buy. the sunburned capsicums. The funny shaped apples.
thirdly: go shopping less frequently so that you have more $ for each shop.

Staples for poverty:

Western: cheese, bacon, eggs, potatoes, flour. Fry the bacon and chop into tiny bits, then free-flow freeze. You can add half a rasher or less to a potato bake, to scrambled eggs, to an egg sandwich.
eastern: rice, spices, daal, chickpeas, soy sauce, oil, rice.

You must buy to the specials, which means you have to see what meat is cheapest and buy that. Budget your food to 1/3 meat, 1/3 vege and 1/3 dry goods (including TP and soap). If chicken is on sale this week buy all your budget in chicken and freeze some. If pork is on sale next week, buy all your budget in pork, freeze some, and now you have pork and chicken to choose from.

Every meal you cook, if it cooks for 4 portions: squeeze out five and freeze one. Build up a supply of meals in the freezer. Freeze as a whole meal if you can eg including the rice.

don't fear carbs: rice is cheap. Potatoes are cheap. Potatoes are better for you than rice if you have a choice. Especially if you leave their skins on.

don't fear having a dinner that is just frozen vegetables with grated cheese on top. or an omelette filled with a sprinkle of bacon, a sprinkle of cheese, and preheated frozen vege - fills you right up.

Bake your own bread if you can: i can pm you a recipe if you like. Otherwise buy the heaviest you can afford, because cheap bread is all puffs of air and won't satisfy for more than 10 mins. 2 slices vogels toast does more for a person than 6 slices white and so although the loaf is more expensive, the net outcome is cheaper. if you can get vogels or similar it's great for packed lunches as it will withstand half a day with a coleslaw, cheese, egg, salami and tomato filling without going soggy.

Otherwise, think about what you like to eat. Ask us all and we can give recipes for the things you like. you may find you need to broaden your tastes or that you already have broad tastes, which will serve you well. There are many ways to eat cheaply.