Question by bryan s: how to eat healthy on a low budget?
all of the foods that are bad for you are cheap, and the foods that are good for you are expensive and dont have as much quantity as the cheap foods.
Best answer:
Answer by podie1117
Become a vegetarian and shop at a produce market where vegies are cheaper. Thats what I do.
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8 comments
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tHe CH@mPi0n says:
May 9, 2014 at 10:17 pm (UTC 0)
5 dollar footlong lol
jenniferlynncoker says:
May 9, 2014 at 11:06 pm (UTC 0)
beans are a healthy cheap food. so are fresh veggies and nuts. the thing is that like frozen “healthy” foods and prepackaged “healthy” foods are more expensive because manufacturers know that americans as a whole basically want to thinner and are dieting constantly so they are able to make money off of it
PJ says:
May 10, 2014 at 12:01 am (UTC 0)
Most people don’t need as much food as they eat. You can buy plenty of healthy food and stay within your budget. Dried beans are really cheap, and nutritious, low in calories and high in protein. Always buy produce that is on sale. Some things are always cheap – like baby carrots. Buy frozen veggies when they are on sale. You can cut your meat consumption in half – meat isn’t necessary or that good for you. When making spaghetti or tacos, use half the meat that is called for and add a whole pile of onions and green peppers.
everythingspeachy2000 says:
May 10, 2014 at 12:29 am (UTC 0)
I know isnt’ that sad? Eating healthy is HARD….it can be expensive.
* A cup of rice and a vegetarian stir-fry
* Replace soda with water
* Pasta primavera
* Fruitshakes/smoothies
* Cheese and crackers
* Nuts
* Beans (flavored with a little meat)
* Fruits and vegetables
Learning to eat (and prepare) more meals at home is an excellent way to reduce your food budget and eat healthfully. Find a source of recipes that you trust and learn to prepare them. (Here’s a good online recipe page that features many cheap and healthy meals.)
You can save money and still have quality. If you’ve been using cost as an excuse to eat junk, you can kiss that excuse goodbye! With a little organization and creativity, you can have the proverbial champagne when cooking on a beer budget. To start, here’s a quick review of basic tips of healthy eating:
* Limit your intake of junk food and alcohol
* Drink lots of water (at least 8 cups a day)
* Limit salty and sugary foods
* Avoid eating many foods that are high in saturated fats
* Make “variety” the watchword of your eating
Next, set aside regular blocks of time for planning meals, making your grocery list, and shopping—tasks that are most often shortchanged in food prep. Include healthy snack ideas, as well as main menu items. Think about the time of day, day of week, and even week in the month that you shop. Generally, the grocery is the least busy early in the morning, in the middle of the week, and on any day but the first day or two of the month (when many people receive pension or paychecks).
Try getting a rotisserie chicken and skin it..and half it. YOu can use that for two meals…use the other half in a casserole or stir fry or salad for the next day.
Go to a fresh market for your veggies. I live near amish country and go there for my veggies. I can get four squash for 3 dollars and that is good for several meals….cabbage one dollar a head…celery 50 cents for a whole thing….peppers…a basket for 1 dollar…etc. Maybe you have something like that near you!
You can make soups and stir frys and you don’t have to add meat or add a LOT of meat…just a little is good.
I make my own broth and stock out of chicken bones and beef bones….and it is much cheaper and better than store bought. You can freeze it too and freeze it in ice cube trays and take one cube and use that for oil when stir frying etc…..less fat and more flavor.
To eat healthy it means preparation and cooking from scratch too….and that is time consuming. But if you love to cook like I do..it is more therapy than work.
here aer some sites with great recipes..
http://www.menus4moms.com/articles/eating_healthy_budget.php
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17113255/
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/healthy_hurry/cheap_eats.html
http://www.netmums.com/h/n/FOOD/HOME/ALL/266//
http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/healthinfo//pdfs/Recipes2.pdf
http://www.stepfamily.asn.au/cooking/index.php/General-Cooking/Eating-Healthy/Eating-Healthy-On-A-Budget.html
http://www.wellsphere.com/healthy-eating-article/budget-eating-recipes/22223
You can google more..there are tons of sites out there with healthy eating on low budgets.
lush says:
May 10, 2014 at 1:19 am (UTC 0)
In what respect you might mean ‘healthy’ can vary, so if you opt for products that are packaged specifically as ‘low fat’ or ‘calorie free’ there status as healthy is questionable due to other additives put in to make the product taste better. They can often cost more. If you want to eat organic, it will cost more due to higher food production costs.
My personal advice to you would be to read up a little bit about nutrition, so that you are clear in your own head that you understand what foodstuffs are good for us and why. The GI diet is a particularly healthy way of eating (it is not necessary to follow it as a diet to lose weight), and gives you an understanding of why these foods work well.
I don’t believe eating healthily has to cost more. here is an example of changes you might make, and they needn’t cost more…
Breakfasts – drop the sugary cereals and buy porridge oats instead
Lunch – canned tuna and sweetcorn on wholemeal bread
Dinner – a portion of protein (be it fish, rabbit, beef, lamb, bean casserole etc) with some veg or salad.
Meats like lamb are about as ‘free-range’ as you can buy.
Avoid pre-packaged muck which is expensive and full of additives. Go to a proper butcher and get quality but less expensive cuts of meat (they are qualified to advise you on this), buy veg and fruit at source or at Farmer’s Markets to get the best quality without paying the prices of going through an unscrupulous middle-man (i.e. the supermarkets). Make big pots of veggie soups, casseroles, etc and in large batches and freeze as potions for convenience.
You can do it, but it will take a bit of thinking about in the early stages. Note that frozen fish (not the breadcrumbed/sauced varieties) and veg is still really good and packed with vitamins too.
good luck in your effort.
Jess F says:
May 10, 2014 at 2:06 am (UTC 0)
You are right it is more expensive to eat healthy but I think taking care of your body should be #1 so do the best you can to buy the good stuff. Just look for the produce that is on sale for the week. Alot of times grapes, berries, oranges etc. will be on sale. Also, banana’s and veggies are cheap. Buying organic is important but if you can’t right now at least buy the ones that may be on sale. Also, you can get frozen organic mixed veggies very cheap.
mojjooon says:
May 10, 2014 at 3:05 am (UTC 0)
Thats the whole point rich stays and poor be gone! Statistics show that rich people are healthier than poor well duhhhhhh… thats how the society wants it …wanna be healthy give me all you got!
Sorry got a little carried away!
Dont eat out! Grow some of your own vegetables or herbs!
tinahdez@sbcglobal.net says:
May 10, 2014 at 3:14 am (UTC 0)
Here are a few things you can make or buy:
Peanut butter/Sarabeth’s Jam on 7 grain/honey bread
Subway roast chicken on Honey oat bread $ 5 footlong for two meals.
Wendy’s mandarin chicken salad with sesame dressing.
McDonald’s skillet burrito for two meals. $ 3
Dairy Queen chicken salad under $ 5.
Texas Roadhouse one-third slab BBQ ribs and two sides (beans and baked potato) $ 12 for 3 light meals.
I Hop three chicken crepes (breast made with spinach and hollandaise sauce) $ 7 for 2 light meals.
Luby’s Cafeteria: buy 3 sides you like to accompany your light meals.