How Can I Eat Healthy And Cheap?

This might sound like a lot of work, but write your favorite healthy brands and tell them you are a college student wanting to eat healthy but can't because of the price. Usually companies will send you coupons.

I would recommend that you can make beans your primary protein source (1 cup a day would be a good target). You can buy canned.. try to get the no salt added variety if you can... rinse well before using.

Can't get cheaper than beans.

Salad greens and soups (low sodium) would also be good staples.

I supplement and have my meats cooked for the week. I wrap in Aluminum and take out 3 per day add the veggies or salad and its a quick cheap fix.

Oatmeal
Canned veggies
soups
tuna
tea and water
chicken
yogurt
popcorn
apples

good list... I just wouldn't go overboard on tuna, though... Mercury. Once a week, max. Also, yogurt should be plain variety. Way too much sugar in any of the flavored kinds.

Do you live in an apartment or a dorm'?

I'm gong to assume apartment. Shop the sales and use coupons!!! Go online to get them, no need to buy a Sunday paper.

Plan your whole week's meals based on what is on sale. When frozen veggies are on sale --- STOCK UP!!

Here is my budget meal plan in general terms:

Breakfast: Oatmeal w/ frozen fruit (I stock up when it is on sale) or apples (((Oatmeal is cheap, cheap, cheap per serving and very good for you)

Lunch: Left overs from supper the night before

Supper: Lean Protein (whatever was on sale that week --- chicken, fish, pork loin, etc), frozen veggies, 1/2 serving of a potato (more if I have the calories)

Snacks are yogurt, whatever fresh fruit is in season (apples are always cheap it seems if all else fails), and seasonal veggies if the price is right.

Trick is to shop the outer part of the store - don't go in for the expensive cereals, don't go for the frozen meals, etc. They are just too expensive when you are on a budget.

Eating like this takes a little time, but not much. Most lean proteins are 10 - 15 minutes cook time. Frozen veggies go in the microwave and you can do the potato in the microwave too. Brown Rice is also cheap and good substitute for the potato for a grain.

Also... try just squeezing fresh lemon juice on salads instead of dressing. Salad dressings have all kinds of chemicals and preservatives, in addition to extra calories you don't really need. I find that fresh squeezed lemon works well on salads and steamed veggies, etc. Lemons are very alkalizing for your body, as well.

aw man a walmart would save you big bucks but since that's not possible here are some ideas.
frozen fruits and veggies they are just as healthy as fresh, no salt added canned veggies, pasta and marina sauce (not really high if you measure it out properly), whole wheat breads, raisins, light butter popcorn (orville is 300 calories for the entire bag) and generic yogurts.

:happy:

yeah i agree with Dohrnl. try using coupons! and also try buying generic brand stuff instead. for example, instead of buying whole wheat pasta from a popular name brand, use shaw's whole wheat pasta. Its more likely to be cheaper but theyre both whole wheat pasta, right?

Ok - because I'm bored and I LOVE a challenge, I did some work for you. This is before coupons (and one that stuck out is sign up for e-mails and get $5 off your bill). Assuming just you and going off this week's ads:

Oatmeal (not on sale) - $5 (at most)
Apples (not on sale) - $5

This will feed you ALL your breakfasts and have lots left over in the oatmeal for upcoming weeks ($10)

Dannon Greek Yogurt 10 - $10 (not sure if you can buy fewer, check your store policy, most will let you buy just what you need)
If you need to go cheaper, you can get Yoplait Light 10 for $6
Bag of baby carrots - $2.50
Watermelon - $6 (or just do two bags of baby carrots and don't buy the watermelon)

This will feed you all your snacks ($13-19)

10 ears of fresh corn (corn freezes. Boil 1/2 of it, cut off ears and freeze for later use) - $2
4 bags Steamfresh veggies - $8 (you can find these cheaper, but I'm assuming you have nothing in the freezer now)
10 cans of tuna (go ahead and buy them all they keep, unless you don't have the money) - $10
Cook's Ham Steak (will make at least 2 meals) - $3.49
Morning Star meatless burgers (4 meals) - $5
Jenny O Turkey BOGO 20 oz (you'll definitely need to freeze since you'll have 40 oz or 10 servings) - $6.00

this will feed lunches and dinners and have left overs - $25

So that is a week's worth of food with plenty of left overs to stock the freezer for under $50 for the entire week. Next week, you wouldn't need to buy anything for breakfast. I'm sure with a bit of coupon cutting and taking a look at the ad yourself (I only spent about 5 minutes if that), you could get it down even further.

Look for a local farmers market for fresh produce. Try http://www.localharvest.org/ for a community supported farmers program near you - you could pay a small amount upfront or in instalments and in return get fresh produce shipped to you. Some things on Amazon are cheaper than your neighborhood grocery - coconut water for example - esp if you buy in bulk and buy regularly. Good ole' Costco if you are a bunch of students and willing to share..... You may also want to curb eating out for example if that is applicable to you - just one meal and drink could add up to lot of cents... my 2 c...best wishes.. :-)

If you can make time to cook yourself a batch of brown rice at the beginning of the week, you can eat that with most meals and it is a good cheap carb coming in at aout 2-3$ a bag and lasts my family of five about 2-2 1/2 weeks, so I can only imagine how long it would last for you.

Do you live near a Trader Joe's?

I saved $50 a week by shopping there instead of the regular grocery store. Produce is significantly cheaper, along with many other things.

Girl if you're in Boston you need to be shopping at Trader Joe's. It's cheaper than Shaw's, and it's totally worth taking the extra time on the T one day a week.