Cheap please!

catysthename
catysthename Posts: 278 Member
edited September 24 in Food and Nutrition
Okay, so I'm pretty broke right now and all i have is hot pockets and pizza rolls.
What are some good things to buy under ten dollars that are filling and healthy?
«1

Replies

  • teachparents
    teachparents Posts: 225 Member
    oatmeal!
  • jamielr84
    jamielr84 Posts: 545
    Tuna!
  • doramouse
    doramouse Posts: 160
    Dried beans
    Easy to cook and you can do tons with them.
  • catysthename
    catysthename Posts: 278 Member
    oatmeal!

    I tried that once and didn't like it...i don't know what was in it, if anything...tasted kinda bland/sweet..
    I heard someone putting cinnamon on top. Is there a certain kind i can get thats flavored...in a good way?
  • jab_mn
    jab_mn Posts: 4 Member
    my go-to's when I am feeling poor are beans, tuna, and frozen veggies. One of my favorites meals is a burrito bowl with black beans, frozen veggies and salsa (I also sprinkle some cumin and chili powder over it). If you want to you could add rice as well which is also cheap.
  • hannahmayr30
    hannahmayr30 Posts: 93 Member
    Rice!
  • felice03
    felice03 Posts: 2,644 Member
    tuna, bananas, oatmeal, see what veggies are on special....
  • Buy some Thomas' Bagel thins (aprox. $2-3 depending on the store, in my area), a package of 2% cheese slices (aprox. $3-4), & a dozen eggs (aprox. 2-3).

    One bagel thin, one egg, & one slice of cheese = a very filling 185 cals! :smile:
  • Lula16
    Lula16 Posts: 628 Member
    fruit, microwave steam in a bag broccoli, bag of salad for a few days, boiled eggs,
  • RENAEJAE
    RENAEJAE Posts: 1,135 Member
    cabbage
    carrots
    bean sprouts
    onion
    V8

    Voila! - you have soup for a week with under 50 cal per serving!
  • nana_of_8
    nana_of_8 Posts: 23 Member
    Bread, rice, pasta, tuna, low fat lunch meat, eggs, peanut butter (has the good fat but still go easy on it), lettus, tomatoes, bananas, soup, beans, yogurt, oatmeal, apples, Hunts no sugar added tomato sauce, chicken breast (cheaper to buy w/ skin & bone in- just take the skin off b4 cooking) Take your pick and eat up!
  • rachelleahsmom
    rachelleahsmom Posts: 442 Member
    oatmeal!

    I tried that once and didn't like it...i don't know what was in it, if anything...tasted kinda bland/sweet..
    I heard someone putting cinnamon on top. Is there a certain kind i can get thats flavored...in a good way?

    Add a sliced granny smith apple and some splenda - yummy!
  • brown rice, simple fruits and veggies (tomatoes,bananas, apples, oranges, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumbers, lettuce) bulk food items (if you have access to that kind of store) eggs, milk, plain yogurt, some frozen fruits and veggies (without added ingredients), canned tuna, canned beans (rinse them first) cornmeal, there are tons of things that are cheap...speaking from experience...
  • ciaobella47
    ciaobella47 Posts: 95 Member
    Those steam fresh bags of veggies. Pretty cheap and I'm always seeing coupons for them.
  • drog2323
    drog2323 Posts: 1,343 Member
    oatmeal!

    I tried that once and didn't like it...i don't know what was in it, if anything...tasted kinda bland/sweet..
    I heard someone putting cinnamon on top. Is there a certain kind i can get thats flavored...in a good way?

    yes, sprinkle with cinnamon. it's good! you can also buy chicken in family packs - the breasts are the most lean, but the thighs (skinless) are much cheaper and prob not all that bad.

    tuna is also great choice. canned green beans, brown rice, potatoes/yams, fruit, green leafy veggies. lots of choices.
  • amyrc12
    amyrc12 Posts: 183 Member
    Buy some Thomas' Bagel thins (aprox. $2-3 depending on the store, in my area), a package of 2% cheese slices (aprox. $3-4), & a dozen eggs (aprox. 2-3).

    One bagel thin, one egg, & one slice of cheese = a very filling 185 cals! :smile:

    I LOVE the bagel thins. My favorite lunch right now is a bagel thin with a tbsp of reduced fat peanut butter and a cut up banana on top!
  • SeasideOasis
    SeasideOasis Posts: 1,057 Member
    Tuna
    Veggies (Some places have things like a pound of green beans for just a couple dollars)
    Frozen Veggies if fresh is too expensive
    Whole Wheat Pasta (They usually have at least one of them on sale making it just a dollar or two. Just watch moderation.)
    Brown Rice is good with everything
    Chicken (Up by me, its 6.99 for a several pound bag of frozen skinless, boneless chicken breasts)
    Lettuce
    Wheat Toast (Great with a tbsp of peanut butter as a breakfast or snack choice)
  • SeasideOasis
    SeasideOasis Posts: 1,057 Member
    Bananas!! I almost forgot the bananas!! A weeks worth is usually a few cents more than a dollar.
  • MSDRIZZ
    MSDRIZZ Posts: 246
    I love them also. I make this sandwich with the everything ones toasted, then I melt the cheese in the microwave YUMMO!
    Buy some Thomas' Bagel thins (aprox. $2-3 depending on the store, in my area), a package of 2% cheese slices (aprox. $3-4), & a dozen eggs (aprox. 2-3).

    One bagel thin, one egg, & one slice of cheese = a very filling 185 cals! :smile:

    I LOVE the bagel thins. My favorite lunch right now is a bagel thin with a tbsp of reduced fat peanut butter and a cut up banana on top!
  • MSDRIZZ
    MSDRIZZ Posts: 246
    I love them also. I make this sandwich with the everything ones toasted, then I melt the cheese in the microwave YUMMO!
    Buy some Thomas' Bagel thins (aprox. $2-3 depending on the store, in my area), a package of 2% cheese slices (aprox. $3-4), & a dozen eggs (aprox. 2-3).

    One bagel thin, one egg, & one slice of cheese = a very filling 185 cals! :smile:

    I LOVE the bagel thins. My favorite lunch right now is a bagel thin with a tbsp of reduced fat peanut butter and a cut up banana on top!
  • CaptainGordo
    CaptainGordo Posts: 4,437 Member
    1. FROZEN VEGETABLES
    Frozen veggies are typically a great value, and very nutritious.

    2. GROCERY STORE PRICE MATCHING (WALMART)
    We have been able to buy a lot more fruit and veggies (along with meats and other items) thanks to Walmart's price-matching policy on groceries. We check all of the special that come in the junk mail for local grocery stores, jot them down and head to Walmart.

    The best fruit and veggie prices here are found in the Latin markets -- it's not uncommon for us to pick-up 6 lbs of oranges for $0.99, for example. Sometimes, though, the quality can be poor at the store offering the sale, so we just take that price to Walmart. It will also save you time and gasoline/bus fare. Walmart's price match policy is that you don't have to bring the ad -- just be able to tell them where you found the offer. They keep the local ads there, supposedly. We've never gotten any hassle though.
  • asltiffm
    asltiffm Posts: 521 Member
    Bean and lentil dishes are cheap and healthy. Make a pot of bean soup by putting a ham bone (or some other meaty bone from another animal) and beans in a pot. Cover with water and cook over low heat for a few hours. I usually cook mine in the crockpot for 10 hours. Cook up some greens and a pan of cornbread and you've got a good and very cheap meal. Bean burritos/tacos, lentil sloppy joes, I like a pot of lentils and rice cooked with onion. You can get a pound of chicken livers for about $1. Devein them, slice them up, coat them in salt and peppered flour. Carmamelize a sliced onion. In the same pan, sautee the livers. That's a cheap and yummy main dish (to me at least). I'm actually having that for dinner tonight. I make a really yummy soup out of cucumbers, potatoes called Gurken Und Kartoffelsuppe from food.com. Sauerkraut and bean soup. Soups of almost any kind are usually frugal and filling. Spaghetti with meat sauce and salad. Breakfast for dinner. Egg dishes like quiche or frittats with veggies mixed in. Tuna casserole.

    Ok, I've gone on long enough. I hope you got at least one idea. Good luck!
  • zeman11
    zeman11 Posts: 7 Member
    one of my favorite meals when broke is spaghetti...I buy Hunt's tomato paste and then add a big bag of frozen veggies that are pureed to the sauce to make it super thick and tasty. It makes enough sauce to last for a few meals.
  • SeasideOasis
    SeasideOasis Posts: 1,057 Member
    1. FROZEN VEGETABLES
    Frozen veggies are typically a great value, and very nutritious.

    2. GROCERY STORE PRICE MATCHING (WALMART)
    We have been able to buy a lot more fruit and veggies (along with meats and other items) thanks to Walmart's price-matching policy on groceries. We check all of the special that come in the junk mail for local grocery stores, jot them down and head to Walmart.

    The best fruit and veggie prices here are found in the Latin markets -- it's not uncommon for us to pick-up 6 lbs of oranges for $0.99, for example. Sometimes, though, the quality can be poor at the store offering the sale, so we just take that price to Walmart. It will also save you time and gasoline/bus fare. Walmart's price match policy is that you don't have to bring the ad -- just be able to tell them where you found the offer. They keep the local ads there, supposedly. We've never gotten any hassle though.

    Really? Thats very interesting and I did not know that. We dont have any 'super' Wal-marts up here with grocery stores in them, but Ill know next time I travel long period of time in the south where I have seen them everywhere!!

    Also, my big sister usually shops at Wal-Mart (South Carolina) and I will pass on this tip to her. My hungry growing twin nephews eat A LOT haha
  • healthyjen342
    healthyjen342 Posts: 1,435 Member
    Let's see.....

    Tuna
    Mustard
    Canned stewed tomatoes
    Rice
    Canned Veggies (just rinse em)
    did I mention Tuna?
    dried beans
    chicken legs/thighs...These are usually cheaper than breasts but be careful because they are higher in fat and remove the bone and skin!

    Check sale papers...sometimes really healthy choices are BOGO...oh, and dont forget..you can price match at Wally World :)

    oh yeah...Bananas! and if you have access to a Farmer's Market, you can get soo much more for less!
    Did I mention Tuna already?
  • catysthename
    catysthename Posts: 278 Member
    Bananas!! I almost forgot the bananas!! A weeks worth is usually a few cents more than a dollar.

    I heard that slightly unripened bananas are somewhere around 75% more filling than ripe ones. They contain some chemical that makes you full.
  • catysthename
    catysthename Posts: 278 Member
    Let's see.....

    Tuna
    Mustard
    Canned stewed tomatoes
    Rice
    Canned Veggies (just rinse em)
    did I mention Tuna?
    dried beans
    chicken legs/thighs...These are usually cheaper than breasts but be careful because they are higher in fat and remove the bone and skin!

    Check sale papers...sometimes really healthy choices are BOGO...oh, and dont forget..you can price match at Wally World :)

    How do you price match?? I've never heard of that...I've always gone to target.
  • healthyjen342
    healthyjen342 Posts: 1,435 Member
    Let's see.....

    Tuna
    Mustard
    Canned stewed tomatoes
    Rice
    Canned Veggies (just rinse em)
    did I mention Tuna?
    dried beans
    chicken legs/thighs...These are usually cheaper than breasts but be careful because they are higher in fat and remove the bone and skin!

    Check sale papers...sometimes really healthy choices are BOGO...oh, and dont forget..you can price match at Wally World :)

    How do you price match?? I've never heard of that...I've always gone to target.

    Some places might be different (I'm in South Carolina), but you can take a sale paper with you to Wal-Mart, get the same item for the price in the paper. But be careful...Sometimes it's a deal, and sometimes, there's no difference...
  • catysthename
    catysthename Posts: 278 Member
    Let's see.....

    Tuna
    Mustard
    Canned stewed tomatoes
    Rice
    Canned Veggies (just rinse em)
    did I mention Tuna?
    dried beans
    chicken legs/thighs...These are usually cheaper than breasts but be careful because they are higher in fat and remove the bone and skin!

    Check sale papers...sometimes really healthy choices are BOGO...oh, and dont forget..you can price match at Wally World :)

    How do you price match?? I've never heard of that...I've always gone to target.

    Some places might be different (I'm in South Carolina), but you can take a sale paper with you to Wal-Mart, get the same item for the price in the paper. But be careful...Sometimes it's a deal, and sometimes, there's no difference...


    Ohh okay!!! Do they do that on everything or just groceries?
  • ShrinkinMel
    ShrinkinMel Posts: 982 Member
    oatmeal!

    I tried that once and didn't like it...i don't know what was in it, if anything...tasted kinda bland/sweet..
    I heard someone putting cinnamon on top. Is there a certain kind i can get thats flavored...in a good way?

    I get quick oats and flavor it with brown sugar or honey and add in fruit(I shop by what is on sale).

    I agree beans lentils, rice are good options. And price match. Walmart here usually won't unless you have the ads. And they don't match BOGOs(dumb I know since its the same at 50%off) at mine or offer any extra free items that come with certain purchases. I avoid Walmart anyway just because I hate it there and the long wait. Plus I don't like their produce selection too much.
This discussion has been closed.