eating healthy-- more like eating expensive!

I don't know where you live, but a food coop might be an option. I joined bountiful baskets, every week you contribute $15 that is used to buy fresh produce. It works out cheaper than buying from the grocery store, and forces me to try new things. Here is the website www.bountifulbaskets.org

A lot of grocery stores have a clearance section... I know at Target it's on an endcap. It's a random assortment but I've found soups and other interesting things (protein shakes, rice, etc) there for less than a dollar. When I had my meal plan I would always stock up on fruit to get up the amount of money allotted. I would also look into a store like BJ's where you can buy in bulk. This is really helpful for meats and frozen veggies, where you can just stick them in the freezer until you need them. If you have housemates it will help with other purchases too I'm sure. Good luck!

have your parents buy you a bunch of non-perishables to take back with you. Brown rice, canned black beans, salsa, whole wheat pasta, etc then you only have to supplement with fresh

make healthier choices with the food card in the cafeteria, grab fruits or veggies instead of chips and chips, yogurts and water salads and things like that.

Buy in bulk....beans, brown rice, etc., anything that you can. Cook with a crockpot and freeze leftovers so you aren't wasting anything and you don't get tired of eating the same things over and over. Only buy as much produce as you will eat in a week so it doesn't go to waste.

I have a family of 4 and we eat lots of beans, rice, chicken. Good luck! Also, there are TONS of really delicious recipes online for heatlhy, filling, and inexpensive meals.

Hey,

As a single gal, and college student/ and full time nurse,I found the same thing, until I realized I was just buying too much and letting it go to waste. while it's tedious planning a week's worth of food in advance helps. Go to the groecery store once a week, and STICK TO THE LIST. I prepare meals on the weekend that I can quickly put together. I like to crockpot soup, once it's cooked I put it in portion sized containerse and freeze em, so when I need some variety I pull it out of the fridge. I typically eat the same thing for a few days, with little variation (mostly a time constraint for me), but it's just how I like to do it.

Hopefully that helps some

I think it depends on what you like too. When I was younger I thought you should always have meat in your dinner, now that I've experimented more with cooking I probably only eat meat (chicken, pork or seafood) 5 meals a week (lunches and dinners combined). If you are a big fan of meat this doesn't help you sorry lol, but generally meat tends to be the most expensive part of the meal.

it does seem expensive at first, but even just today I was thinking about how I get all upset this time of year when cucumbers are 99 cents each. I am like, $1 for one cucumber, that's crazy...then I realize that a year ago I would absolutely have paid 99 cents for one of those (2ish serving) bags of Doritos at the gas station and plowed it all down right there. So looking at something like that really brings it into perspective for two reasons...the cost is the same and I could probably get 2 or 3 snacks out of a cucumber, but the bag of chips...well, I'd probably eat all of that!

I am also a college student who's going to school full time and working part time. Here is the way I can afford to eat healthy foods:
I have a low income card at my local food co-op. Maybe see if there is a store like this near you where you might be able to find this. Also, if they are accessible/suited to you - food stamps! Another trick - buy things in bulk and get comfy eating the same meal for maybe an entire week. For example, I will make a pot of brown rice at the beginning of the week and eat it with some salad greens and tofu for lunch for the rest of the week. Not buying too many things on impulse (a.k.a planning) is a good idea. Next - coupons! Always useful. Lastly, and this might totally gross you out, so take it with a grain of salt - dumpster diving. I have salvaged whole loaves of perfect bread, lemons, avocados, fresh bags of lettuce, fresh sealed apple slices, and more in the dumpsters at a couple of my local grocery stores. If you're up to it, you might at least consider it.

I also agree with someone else's suggestion, don't get too fixated on brand name. Sometimes I go to the discount grocery outlet and find some total scores that fit into my diet (the other day I found nonfat organic greek yogurt, 8 for $1). The point is, you can make it work if you want to! Good luck!

So, true about the Doritos and cucumbers! You really have to change your whole way of thinking about food.

it does seem expensive at first, but even just today I was thinking about how I get all upset this time of year when cucumbers are 99 cents each. I am like, $1 for one cucumber, that's crazy...then I realize that a year ago I would absolutely have paid 99 cents for one of those (2ish serving) bags of Doritos at the gas station and plowed it all down right there. So looking at something like that really brings it into perspective for two reasons...the cost is the same and I could probably get 2 or 3 snacks out of a cucumber, but the bag of chips...well, I'd probably eat all of that!

Look up Alton Brown's method for making brown rice. Comes out perfect every time!

WinCo Foods!!!:bigsmile:

I've been trying to eat more non-processed and organic food and it is definitely expensive. But, I've done some things to cut costs. I make my own bread, yogurt and soymilk now (with a breadmaker, crockpot and soymilk maker). I rarely eat at restaurants. I'm cutting out most meat from my diet and switching to beans, tofu and some seafood.

I also cut costs by not buying paper towels and cleaning supplies and switching to vinegar and baking soda. And like someone else said, not wasting so much food.

Maybe you can check craigslist for a crockpot? They are a great way to make cheap meals and very easy. I use this website a lot. http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/you-can-make-yogurt-in-your-crockpot.html

Also, buy in bulk, and buy frozen + canned if you can't afford to buy fresh. A lot of studies mention it being better for you any how with some foods because it;'s canned or frozen at it's peak nutritional value.