I am desperate to drop 20 to 25 pounds and i realize that its mostly because of my eating habits. However, being a BROKE college student, its hard to go shopping and buy all fruits and veggies and chicken when i can get 15 meals for 10 bucks at the more unhealthy sections of the store. I mean of course i can afford to buy more healthy stuff but its kinda difficult to buy enough. Anyone have any suggestions?
Anyone know how to eat healthy but CHEAP?!
- Thread starter outofthepark44
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lol so flax rice and dry grilled chicken for dinner!!! mmmmmmmmmm
I don't know about the US but in UK turkey is even cheaper than chicken. Pork is quite cheap as well but make sure you get lean. What about tinned tuna and salmon? Cheap as well.
As for carbs, lentils and beans are very cheap. There's also other grains like millet, barley, quinoa, cous cous. You can buy bags of these for next to nothing and they will last for a long time as you only cook small amounts.
As for carbs, lentils and beans are very cheap. There's also other grains like millet, barley, quinoa, cous cous. You can buy bags of these for next to nothing and they will last for a long time as you only cook small amounts.
I understand and can fully appreciate your dilemma! Being a student myself, I find it hard to get by on my meager income...however, I have developed a way to eat healthy but cheap:
For breakfast, I tend to have either 2 scrambled eggs with whole grain toast (which I buy on sale and store in the freezer to keep it fresh) and some fruit (like canned unpeeled apricot halves in water and splenda, which I can find for 89 cents and have enough for two meals) or a banana,
or
Plain fatfree yogurt (get the big tub if you can eat it all-it costs less per oz that way) with thawed frozen blueberries, strawberries or raspberries and a bit of granola (a simple, inexpensive recipe of old fashioned oats, almonds and/or walnuts, cinnamon, and honey, baked for about 25 minutes at 350, mixing occasionally).
Lunch is a toasted sandwich (with the frozen bread and some roasted low sodium turkey, plus lettuce (not preshredded, about 1.00), and tomato (you can grow your own for dirt cheap or get plum tomatoes, which are usually least expensive),
or
A salad, with either black beans simmered in taco seasoning, with salsa, tomato, corn (frozen or canned- extra cheap!) and a drizzle of lowfat salad dressing (I make my own with olive oil, red wine vinegar, spices and a bit of salt and pepper- you can make a full bottle of dressing for half as much); or with grilled chicken and tomatoes, croutons made of the same frozen bread and garlic salt, and lowfat dressing, plus a glass of milk on the side for extra protein and calcium.
Dinner is really anything that I can make for cheap. I tend to use exotic recipes (like Indian Curries using chickpeas, green beans, peas and chopped tomatoes; a Medditeranean plate with hummus, cheap tabbouleh salad (make your own, or just mix chopped tomatoes, cucumber and red onion with lemon for a nice side salad), and whole grain pita bread- sometimes also with feta cheese, if I can pay the extra dollar or so =D; a carribean jerk recipe with any meat that's on sale with some brown rice and vegetables; or a thick minestrone made with frozen vegetables, canned beans, pasta or rice, and a good broth).
Some tips to remember:
- for produce, go to the local farmer's market. It usually has more flavor, and I can get a week's worth of produce for about 10 bucks.
- eat vegetarian as much as possible. Meat is really the most expensive thing for you to buy, and beans are the least expensive (with lots of fiber and protien!).
-go for frozen fruits if you won't be eating them on their own. Frozen blueberries are a lot cheaper than fresh, same with all the other berries and peaches. same with vegetables that are going into a sauce- they stay fresh even if you don't eat it all, and they're at the peak of freshness, plus a bag of vegetables is pretty cheap.
-You pay for convenience. The more prep that has gone into the food that you buy, the more you will pay. Get meat that hasn't been skinned or boned and do it yourself. buy bulk (not instant) grains and cook enough for a week at a time.
the only exception to this are beans. I wouldn't waste the time needed to cook dried beans when I can buy a can of them, two meals per can, for 50 cents apiece.
For a great friday-night dinner, I occasionally make grilled pizza:
1 packet active dry yeast
3/4 cup warm water
1-2 tsps sugar
2 cups flour- half whole wheat and half white
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 tbsp olive oil
Mix the yeast, water and sugar, and let proof for 5 min. In a large bowl, stir together dry ingredients, make a well in center, and pour the yeasted water and oil in. mix and knead until dough feels elastic. Cover with a cloth, and let rest for 1 1/2 hours. Roll out into two rounds before using. Grill on one side on medium-low for 2 min, then flip over, top and close grill. Grill for about five minutes, or until pizza feels dry to the touch and has puffed up.
Great toppings for this start with 1 small can tomato paste mixed with a minced garlic clove, some olive oil, dry herbs and thinned with a bit of water. Add sliced tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, plus any other toppings you want- less is more though! Don't load it up or it'll get a little soggy.
This tastes better than restaurant pizza, and only costs about 5 bucks total.
Oh- and if you're stuck on ramen, try putting frozen stir fry vegetables into the simmering noodles, and use only half the flavoring packet. It's not GREAT for you, but it's better than eating the ramen alone with the whole flavoring pack or not eating at all.
Hope this helps!
For breakfast, I tend to have either 2 scrambled eggs with whole grain toast (which I buy on sale and store in the freezer to keep it fresh) and some fruit (like canned unpeeled apricot halves in water and splenda, which I can find for 89 cents and have enough for two meals) or a banana,
or
Plain fatfree yogurt (get the big tub if you can eat it all-it costs less per oz that way) with thawed frozen blueberries, strawberries or raspberries and a bit of granola (a simple, inexpensive recipe of old fashioned oats, almonds and/or walnuts, cinnamon, and honey, baked for about 25 minutes at 350, mixing occasionally).
Lunch is a toasted sandwich (with the frozen bread and some roasted low sodium turkey, plus lettuce (not preshredded, about 1.00), and tomato (you can grow your own for dirt cheap or get plum tomatoes, which are usually least expensive),
or
A salad, with either black beans simmered in taco seasoning, with salsa, tomato, corn (frozen or canned- extra cheap!) and a drizzle of lowfat salad dressing (I make my own with olive oil, red wine vinegar, spices and a bit of salt and pepper- you can make a full bottle of dressing for half as much); or with grilled chicken and tomatoes, croutons made of the same frozen bread and garlic salt, and lowfat dressing, plus a glass of milk on the side for extra protein and calcium.
Dinner is really anything that I can make for cheap. I tend to use exotic recipes (like Indian Curries using chickpeas, green beans, peas and chopped tomatoes; a Medditeranean plate with hummus, cheap tabbouleh salad (make your own, or just mix chopped tomatoes, cucumber and red onion with lemon for a nice side salad), and whole grain pita bread- sometimes also with feta cheese, if I can pay the extra dollar or so =D; a carribean jerk recipe with any meat that's on sale with some brown rice and vegetables; or a thick minestrone made with frozen vegetables, canned beans, pasta or rice, and a good broth).
Some tips to remember:
- for produce, go to the local farmer's market. It usually has more flavor, and I can get a week's worth of produce for about 10 bucks.
- eat vegetarian as much as possible. Meat is really the most expensive thing for you to buy, and beans are the least expensive (with lots of fiber and protien!).
-go for frozen fruits if you won't be eating them on their own. Frozen blueberries are a lot cheaper than fresh, same with all the other berries and peaches. same with vegetables that are going into a sauce- they stay fresh even if you don't eat it all, and they're at the peak of freshness, plus a bag of vegetables is pretty cheap.
-You pay for convenience. The more prep that has gone into the food that you buy, the more you will pay. Get meat that hasn't been skinned or boned and do it yourself. buy bulk (not instant) grains and cook enough for a week at a time.
the only exception to this are beans. I wouldn't waste the time needed to cook dried beans when I can buy a can of them, two meals per can, for 50 cents apiece.
For a great friday-night dinner, I occasionally make grilled pizza:
1 packet active dry yeast
3/4 cup warm water
1-2 tsps sugar
2 cups flour- half whole wheat and half white
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 tbsp olive oil
Mix the yeast, water and sugar, and let proof for 5 min. In a large bowl, stir together dry ingredients, make a well in center, and pour the yeasted water and oil in. mix and knead until dough feels elastic. Cover with a cloth, and let rest for 1 1/2 hours. Roll out into two rounds before using. Grill on one side on medium-low for 2 min, then flip over, top and close grill. Grill for about five minutes, or until pizza feels dry to the touch and has puffed up.
Great toppings for this start with 1 small can tomato paste mixed with a minced garlic clove, some olive oil, dry herbs and thinned with a bit of water. Add sliced tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, plus any other toppings you want- less is more though! Don't load it up or it'll get a little soggy.
This tastes better than restaurant pizza, and only costs about 5 bucks total.
Oh- and if you're stuck on ramen, try putting frozen stir fry vegetables into the simmering noodles, and use only half the flavoring packet. It's not GREAT for you, but it's better than eating the ramen alone with the whole flavoring pack or not eating at all.
Hope this helps!
outofthepark44 said:
15 candy bars doesnt count as meals. Try buying chicken, you get around 6 breasts for 5 bucks. Frozen bagged veggies arent that expensive either, they are usually on sale for 4-5 bags for 5 bucks. So that is 10 bucks also and gives you around 6 healthy meals. Of course you dont need 6 breasts a day (not chicken anyways), but get some turkey from deli and some wheat bread, thats good for a while.
It doesnt need to be expensive.
Dropping weight is not about just eating healthy, you need to have an effective workout, regular small meals and eating the right things.
Do not buy ready/microwaveable meals, pre-made dishes, anything with high fat content. You can always read the labels.
I suggest you eat fresh products and cook meals yourself with a lack of salt etc. Create a good cardio workout (running or power walking every day) combined with some body building (doesn't need to be heavy, just to tone your body as you lose weight).
Remember to take things slow and change gradually. You may do more damage if you shock your body.
Hope this helps.
Dropping weight is not about just eating healthy, you need to have an effective workout, regular small meals and eating the right things.
Do not buy ready/microwaveable meals, pre-made dishes, anything with high fat content. You can always read the labels.
I suggest you eat fresh products and cook meals yourself with a lack of salt etc. Create a good cardio workout (running or power walking every day) combined with some body building (doesn't need to be heavy, just to tone your body as you lose weight).
Remember to take things slow and change gradually. You may do more damage if you shock your body.
Hope this helps.
Caribbean Jerk Marinade
6 green onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced or crushed
1 onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, minced (seeded if you don't like it hot)
1/2 cup light soy sauce
1/2 cup pineapple juice
2 tbsps olive oil
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
DIRECTIONS:
In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients. Blend for about 15 seconds.
Use to marinade boneless, skinless chicken breast and pork tenderloin. Marinade for 2-6 hours, and baste with reserved marinade (discard any that you used with the raw meat) while grilling or broiling.
Try using kabobs for the vegetables. Use a mix of red and green bell peppers, red onion, pineapple pieces and cherry tomatoes. Don't marinate chopped vegetables for very long, they pick up a lot of salt and flavor in a very short time. Or, skip the marinating and just baste them with a mixture of marinade and olive oil while grilling.
Serve with brown rice and lots of water!
6 green onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced or crushed
1 onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, minced (seeded if you don't like it hot)
1/2 cup light soy sauce
1/2 cup pineapple juice
2 tbsps olive oil
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
DIRECTIONS:
In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients. Blend for about 15 seconds.
Use to marinade boneless, skinless chicken breast and pork tenderloin. Marinade for 2-6 hours, and baste with reserved marinade (discard any that you used with the raw meat) while grilling or broiling.
Try using kabobs for the vegetables. Use a mix of red and green bell peppers, red onion, pineapple pieces and cherry tomatoes. Don't marinate chopped vegetables for very long, they pick up a lot of salt and flavor in a very short time. Or, skip the marinating and just baste them with a mixture of marinade and olive oil while grilling.
Serve with brown rice and lots of water!
My mate is a uni student and he uses this cheap little trick.
has a bacon sandwich for breakfast but removes the fat afetr cooking and cooks it till its chrispy, then chops it up and has it over a salad.
gives the salad a nice flavour and a bit of texture. Yeah its bad to eat the fat, but its better to eat it spread out rather than all in one go.
By the way this will only work with back bacon, not that streaky rubbish you amaricans eat. How can you stand the stuff?
has a bacon sandwich for breakfast but removes the fat afetr cooking and cooks it till its chrispy, then chops it up and has it over a salad.
gives the salad a nice flavour and a bit of texture. Yeah its bad to eat the fat, but its better to eat it spread out rather than all in one go.
By the way this will only work with back bacon, not that streaky rubbish you amaricans eat. How can you stand the stuff?
Niceone - Your missing the point.
The salad is not the 1st meal of the day, The bacon sandwich is.
Also im not saying that it is enough protien, im saying its a nice way to make a salad more interesting. you still gotta have your protien and carbs with it. I know its not healthy to have cooked fat on your salad, but if you were going to eat it anyway... you may as well eat it like this.
!!!!!NOTE TO ALL BACON COOKERS!!!!!!
Never ever fry your bacon, grill it on a rack, not foil so that the fat funs away.
The salad is not the 1st meal of the day, The bacon sandwich is.
Also im not saying that it is enough protien, im saying its a nice way to make a salad more interesting. you still gotta have your protien and carbs with it. I know its not healthy to have cooked fat on your salad, but if you were going to eat it anyway... you may as well eat it like this.
!!!!!NOTE TO ALL BACON COOKERS!!!!!!
Never ever fry your bacon, grill it on a rack, not foil so that the fat funs away.
I buy 'whole' chicken...neck and all LOL. Throw out the gizzards, unless you want to eat them, boil it in water and take it apart. It is MUCH cheaper to buy it whole and you can refrigirate after deboning.
It takes a little bit of time to debone but it costs me ($2.50) for the entire chicken and I have meat for almost the entire week. I put it in salads and sandwiches.
Also as mentioned, oats are very cheap and so are veggies
, (except tomatos I don't know what the deal is with tomatos LOL)
It takes a little bit of time to debone but it costs me ($2.50) for the entire chicken and I have meat for almost the entire week. I put it in salads and sandwiches.
Also as mentioned, oats are very cheap and so are veggies
, (except tomatos I don't know what the deal is with tomatos LOL)If i ever see someone boiling a chicken I will kick your bland, no-tasting ass all over the place.
If you boil a chicken it tastes foul (joke), it has no flavor and no goodness.
you gotta roast your chicken on a grill, so that the fat drips out the bottom.
and if 1 chicken lasts a week then your not eatting enough.
a large chicken from the uk costs about £4, and will supply protienfor a regular guy trying to gain weight for 2days max.
im not having a go at you moonbeam, just want to put a ban on boiling anything apart from eggs.
If you boil a chicken it tastes foul (joke), it has no flavor and no goodness.
you gotta roast your chicken on a grill, so that the fat drips out the bottom.
and if 1 chicken lasts a week then your not eatting enough.
a large chicken from the uk costs about £4, and will supply protienfor a regular guy trying to gain weight for 2days max.
im not having a go at you moonbeam, just want to put a ban on boiling anything apart from eggs.
No problem, no offense taken. Like I said I use as a filler and a topper...I'm so used to it being 'bland' that it's not a real issue for me lol
I get most of my protein from egg whites and tuna, and not being a 'regular guy trying to gain weight' but a small girl tryring to stay toned having a whole chicken lasting me almost a week works for me...
no worries
I get most of my protein from egg whites and tuna, and not being a 'regular guy trying to gain weight' but a small girl tryring to stay toned having a whole chicken lasting me almost a week works for me...
no worries
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