Cheap protien

Eve53
Eve53 Posts: 178 Member
edited October 1 in Food and Nutrition
I need suggestions on cheap protien. My food budget is really low (about $40 a week) so I can't afford the shakes and bars and all of that stuff. Even things like nuts are really too expensive. So what do you all recommend? Anything? Please help.

Replies

  • Michellerw1
    Michellerw1 Posts: 367
    Dried beans, grains like quinoa, and whatever meat may be on sale. It is much more healthy and inexpensive to do natural foods rather than bars/shakes.
  • Circa1964
    Circa1964 Posts: 225 Member
    I'm not good at this either. There are 7 grams in 2 tbsp of Peanut Butter. Beans are high in protein and very inexpensive, and eggs and milk both have 6 g. I hope this helps. I need more protein too.
  • Artemis_Acorn
    Artemis_Acorn Posts: 836 Member
    Tuna fish, cottage cheese, eggs, beans, milk, chicken.
  • skinnylove00
    skinnylove00 Posts: 662 Member
    two words: CANNED TUNA.
  • wearystar
    wearystar Posts: 72 Member
    canned tuna or salmon, eggs, peanut butter (especially on sales), canned beans (dried are cheaper but a pain to prepare).
    i have a low budget too, these things can be used different ways in a lot of meals though and are usually really cheap.
  • ak_in_ak
    ak_in_ak Posts: 657 Member
    string cheese, edamame beans, plain yogurt( get a larger container and portion out yourself)

    one of my favoirte things to make are bean burritos, low carb wraps with shredded cheese and beans
    you get protein, fiber, and good carbs all in one.
  • angelew
    angelew Posts: 133 Member
    Beans! Meals could be red beans with brown rice and chicken sausage, Cuban black bean soup, split pea soup with diced ham, etc. Most bags of dry beans have some good recipes on the back. If time is an issue, canned beans are great, too! There is nothing better on a salad than garbanzo beans. The cheapest, healthiest (fat free) protein out there!
  • kensky
    kensky Posts: 472 Member
    Eggs! I get the big pallet of them for 7 dollars--I want to say there are 30+ of medium sized store-brand eggs for that price. We hard boil most of them and eat them as snacks all the time. Egg salad is also a favorite lunch of ours too.

    If you get a big honking can of tuna rather than the small sized pouches then you get a much better value also.

    Nonfat powdered milk is way cheaper than a jug. This is the only kind of cow's milk I buy these days.
  • Leslietheriot
    Leslietheriot Posts: 303 Member
    Tuna fish and dried beans are a cheap option. Stay away from the protein bars and shakes. They are expensive and sometimes have alot of fat and/or sugar.
  • Lori_menorahlover
    Lori_menorahlover Posts: 475
    Edamame is very cheap. I buy the Seapoint Farm brand in the freezer section: http://www.seapointfarms.com/
  • brewingaz
    brewingaz Posts: 1,136 Member
    Tuna is pretty cheap.
  • MissMaryMac33
    MissMaryMac33 Posts: 1,433 Member
    You can get a whole jug of whey protein from Walmart for about $15 --- body fortress. It's not bad in a pinch -- I actually love my protein shakes and this is what I buy when funds are running low. The other place I buy from is trueprotein.com which is very cheap since you're not paying for fancing packaging and they have tons of good flavors. Quick 20-30g protein fix.

    Greek Yogurt is another one I can't live without -- I buy Fage 0% in bulk from Target and its an easy 20g protein.

    Quinioa and some of the other suggestions are great too..
  • SimplyFreckled
    SimplyFreckled Posts: 444 Member
    Egg Whites.........
  • MissMaryMac33
    MissMaryMac33 Posts: 1,433 Member
    Tuna fish and dried beans are a cheap option. Stay away from the protein bars and shakes. They are expensive and sometimes have alot of fat and/or sugar.

    Only if you buy the expensive pre-made one. If you make them yourself, they are one of the best protein boosts.
    My typical daily shakes have no fat, sugar or carbs and 27g protein. I make them myself.
  • peachNpunkin
    peachNpunkin Posts: 1,010 Member
    if you have a crock pot, or you can probably get one at good will. Just soak you some beans overnight, rinse them well the next morning, and throw them in your crockpot on high for a couple hours and then on low for about 5 or 6 hours. They will be ready by the time you get home in the evening. Its easy to do, and you can eat them with meats, or with brown rice. I do it all the time, and you can get good size bag of beans for a buck or so. 1 bag can last you a couple of weeks.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    Chickpeas, pulses, textured veg protein.
  • Hodar
    Hodar Posts: 338 Member
    Tough to beat eggs and cheese.

    Omlettes, boiled - or my all time easy to-go habit. I affectionally call them hockey-pucks.

    Whip eggs in a blender. Either pre-cooked sausage or cook your favorite sausage. Cut up an onion, and grab a bag of shredded cheese.

    Get a muffin pan (I prefer the jumbo muffins). fill about half-full with the omlete ingredients, then fill to the 3/4 mark with the blended eggs.
    Bake at 350 for ~20 minutes.

    Get a small container of Salsa you carry to work. Microwave the hockey-pucks for 1 minute - dunk or top with Salsa and you have a high protein breakfast that is ready to go; and lasts about a week in the fridge.
  • wifeygettingfit
    wifeygettingfit Posts: 17
    Hi. I use protein powder, Biochem 100% Whey Protein. One container should last well into the next month. You can mix with water, juice, milk........ I also figured a flat of eggs in the long-run is less expensive than a dozen. One whole egg + 3-4 egg whites is a good part of breakfast or even dinner.
  • jlrae
    jlrae Posts: 35
    Have you tried Aldi? You can get small packages of dried fruits and nuts there for quite cheap- they also have dried beans, some produce, wheat bread, large bags of chicken breast for $6, hummus, light string cheese, etc.

    The farmer's markets are GREAT for healthy budget cooking- for example, I just picked up seven giant zucchini for $5!

    Eat lots of beans, whole grains, fruits and veggies, stay away from the convenience stuff. You can make a BIG pot of brown rice, veggies or beans, and (one) chicken breast that will last for several meals! Or a pot of lentil soup that will feed you for nearly a week!

    I can feed my family of six quite well for under $50 a week- it just takes research, planning and effort!
  • momburntdinner
    momburntdinner Posts: 44 Member
    I need to know on what planet tuna is cheap. Tuna here is ridiculously expensive and I shop and Aldi's and Grocery outlets...!!
  • a_stronger_steph
    a_stronger_steph Posts: 434 Member
    Even cheaper than tinned tuna is tinned sardines and tinned herring. They can be about half the price of tuna in my grocery store. They're also much smaller fish, which means less mercury. And, if you're into sustainability at all (which is probably a good thing to be aiming for, though I do know it's super hard when you're on a budget), herring and sardines are WAY more sustainable than tuna!

    I know they sound scary, but if you like canned tuna you will probably like (or grow to like) sardines and herring. I am a giant wuss and I buy the kind without bones and skin... haha. But if you can stomach that, I hear the bones are good for you! I like to eat them on a 100-cal bun or some whole grain bread, toasted, with some mustard. A very easy and filling lunch! Of course you can do it with tuna, too. :)

    (And I also second the 'eggs' camp - they pack a great nutritional punch!)
  • Kate6868
    Kate6868 Posts: 159 Member
    I agree with the bean people. They are cheap, especially if you buy them dried and cook your own. They go with almost anything!
  • knittnponder
    knittnponder Posts: 1,953 Member
    Tuna and sardines are both pretty cheap and full of protein.
  • avenathus
    avenathus Posts: 113 Member
    Canned tuna and cottage cheese!

    I also buy the generic version of protein powder from my grocery store (Stop & Shop), it's about $12 for a big jug that lasts me awhile.
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