dieting on a budget...suggestions?

I went back to school this year ( after taking many years off) and now I am living on a very tight budget. I'm trying to diet but its hard when fruit and veggies are so pricey and ramen noodles are 14 cents...I'm also so busy that I rarely have time to cook elaborate meals or even prepare a salad to take with me. Any cheap and convenient suggestions?

Wed. Oct 12, 1:21pm

Chinese restaurants, while they have a lot of fried foods, are a great place for cheap and healthy soups. Almost every one I know has a tofu soup with veggies that is cheap and really good for you.

Outdoor veggie and food markets on the weekend are the best. I can get 5 bananas for a dollar! usually supermarkets have things on sale as well that I take advantage of. Also, filling, not the best but bagels, if you stack them with veggies and an egg, is usually a cheap option and keeps cravings at bay.

Wednesday, October 12, 2005, 1:37 PM

Try Pho its cheap and awesome and you can ask for less noodles and more meat or veggies and they are big servings

Wednesday, October 12, 2005, 1:52 PM

Just finished my degree not long ago so I totally understand where you're at both moneywi$e and timewise. The thing is though alot of veggies are pretty cheap when you use them to make a large batch of something - it's just that most people don't know what they want to make and buy too many and then waste them.

I watch the circulars and buy turkey and chicken on sale, then I make turkey meat 'n veggie burrito mix alot and a couple variations on 'chkn 'n stuff in-a-pan' - I do it on a Sunday and take my books into the kitchen with me. I make two large batches of something (I prep them simultaneously and cook one right after the other) and then package it all in those pyrex storable/stackable dishes and then I don't have to do anything but pop one in the microwave every day. I can cook some of the burrito mix with egg for a breakfast burrito, wrap it up and take it to go. I can make a week's worth and microwave one each morning - so fast!

Invest in 1 good chopping knife and 1 good utility knife - it can make the preparation go 10x faster! Keep them razor sharp and you will power through a stack of veggies in no time. 2 knives and a sharpener and a large all-purpose spoon, a wok and a med saucepan are all I need to keep myself stocked with great food.

Plan your food and snacks before you go to the store and buy only what you need, not what you think you might eat. This keeps you from wasting food, or worse, binging on a bunch of junk just because it's there and handy. Plus it makes your shopping alot more efficient. Look through the store ads for sales while you're planning and make your weekly choices accordingly. Really this should take you no more than 15-20 minutes, then you can go shopping.

But most importantly - make all your food for the week in one shot. Then your shopping is over for week (no more running to the store 'cause you are out of food and don't want to cook) and there's no more cooking for you to do (just pop one of your meals in the microwave). It may take an hour or so in one shot, but it saves you sooo much time when it counts!

Know someone with a roaster? Sometimes you can buy an entire fryer for a couple bucks and then roast it, get a couple potatoes and a bag of frozen mixed veggies and it's waay cheap! leftover roasted potatoes reheat beautifully, and you'll have cooked chicken to toss in vaggie wraps, or just reheat for a hot chicken sadwich. A whole bird can last a week easily! All you have to do is toss it in the oven for an hour or so, and you can do homework while it's cooking.

Wednesday, October 12, 2005, 2:04 PM

^^ just posted that. I should mention that I gained 40 pounds my first 3 years of school. the last year I resolved to take control of my food, my eating and my appearance and I lost 20 using the strategies above. I have 20 more to go, but am finding the working world is a new challenge.

I think I need to get back into school mode and take some more of my own advice.......

Wednesday, October 12, 2005, 2:20 PM

I just discovered frozen sliced bell peppers - so much cheaper and faster than buying fresh! And they taste the same, too. Perfect for stirfries, fajitas, etc. I also eat a lot of other frozen veggies because they are cheaper and faster.

Cheap sources of protein: beans, meat on sale (buy the family pack and freeze what you don't need), eggs.

I bought one butternut squash, and it has lasted me for 6 meals so far, and I'm not even 1/2 way through it. I made some dumplings by adding cheese, and used some to make a veggie soup with some onions and carrots...now I've frozen the rest for later.

Finally, check out another thread from several months ago on this same topic - lots of great ideas there. (Do a search on "budget" from the main threads page.

Wednesday, October 12, 2005, 2:25 PM

Do you have a Henry's nearby?

Henry's is the best and cheapest place to buy fresh veggis and fruit. A head of romaine lettuce is 69 cents! I buy lots of other veggies, fruit, and some turkey or chicken and pack my salads every day. I buy some other things, eggs, breakfast food etc, and usually end up spending under $40 for meals for the whole week. I find this kind of food to be much more filling than a ramen noodle or other overly processed foods, which in turn helps me eat less!

Wednesday, October 12, 2005, 2:55 PM

eating out

if you have to eat out, which I do a good bit for lunch, I get the side salads and some chicken nuggets from Wendy's or Chick-fil-a, which usually costs me around $3 for the whole thing. I also do subway, which right now has a daily special for $2.49, after tax a 6" sub is only $3.

Wednesday, October 12, 2005, 7:21 PM

Where is Henry's??? I can't imagine a head of romaine for 69 cents.

Thursday, October 13, 2005, 12:01 PM

FARMER's market

this is how i eat cheap ( i just graduated college, and all my money goes back to that.... blech.... one day i'll actually be *making* money)
i spend between 10 and 20$/week on food for myself;
I shop a lot at the farmer's market, and at Aldi.
I make my own bread (it's 10-60 cents cheaper/loaf and tastes way better)
but...if you don't have time
make pasta with red sauce (buy tomotoes in a can, tomato paste with spices, and add a couple frozen veggies. store the extra in a saved/washed jar--it will reseal if you put the sauce in while it's still boiling)
make sauteed veggies
eat tuna with cheese (filling and not high calorie)
don't buy pre-made anything
also... rice is very cheap.
buy spices at natural foods stores, from the bin, by weight -- it's actually cheaper than at the cheap grocer!

good luck

PS if you go to the library, they probably have old co-op cook books. i use one from uc berkeley's co-op. meals are 10 cents/serving to no more than $1/serving. AWESOME!

Saturday, October 15, 2005, 8:12 AM

A hidden secret

Hey. I know EXACTLY what you're going through!! Something I found, and it's just because I work there right now is, at Walmart and probably a lot of other grocery stores, have reduced sections. Basically what it is, is we can only have produce, meats, ect. out on our shelves for a certain amount of time. After this amount of time we have to get rid of it. So what happens is a few days before we have to toss it out we reduce it like crazy!!! Ex: A 10lb Chuck roll for $2.50. Yeah you can't beat that! There's everything and there's absolutely NOTHING wrong with it and it keeps for a long time. Try something like that. That's what I've been doing. That way I get the things I want to prepare and be healthier but I'm not paying the outrageous prices for it! Anyway, I really hope that helps!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008, 11:42 PM

I rely on my crockpot quite heavily! I put things into it, turn it on, then go do other things while it's cooking. Perhaps buying from the bulk food section of the grocery store might help. You're not paying for packaging and can measure out exactly what you need based on your budget. I find that buying unprocessed foods tend to be cheaper, anyway. I hope this helps!

Wednesday, December 31, 2008, 12:21 AM

I agree with the poster who said make your food in one big batch, like Sat or Sun. Cooking food yourself will save you tons of money if you do it right. Go with frozen mixed veggies on sale, also fresh celery and carrots are cheap and good for you. When I'm feeling tight with the food budget, I make a huge vat of lentil or split pea soup - lentils and split peas are cheap and cook quickly. (cheap to buy in bulk) Serve with brwon rice which you can make in a big batch on the weekend also. Be sure to add some spices and herbs to make it interesting! Very healthy, low fat, lowcost.

I also like to make a big vat of steel-cut oatmeal on the weekend and microwave servings as I need them. Very cheap to buy in bulk, super high in fiber. Again, make it interesting with raisins and cinnamon or banana and a little milk or soymilk.

Also, remember many foods like spices, rice, and whole grain pasta can be found in bulk bins. You save money because there's little packaging and marketing. Lots of co-ops and natural food stores have great selections, even if you're not in to natural foods.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008, 6:13 AM

I spend 100$ on grocery for a month.
Here is how I do it I buy one romaine lettuce:-
For the first half of the month I use it to pack sandwiches for lunch.
Wrap it up in 2 paper towels and they remain fresh.
I buy eggs and on the weekends make them for breakfast or boil one for dinner.
I buy oscar meyer turkey ham(2 cost 4$) and turkey dog.
I add them with pasta along with a thinly sliced onion and bell peppers.
I buy 4 bell peppers to mix with pasta and that lasts me almost a month.
I buy a bag of onions (3$ or less sometimes) make stir fry with chicken and curry powder and tomatoes.
I can of crushed tomato :- use this to make soup.
1 bag of potatoes:- last whole month.
1 bread loaf, 1 french bread loaf:- make bruschetta with onions, bell peppers and I buy great value mozarella cheese to be used only on the bruschetta.
1 small bag of spinach to add on soups and pasta.
1 small frozen vegetable bag to add on soups, stir fry.
1 gallon of milk:- lasts 3 weeks.
bananas (6:- 55 cents), 1 bag of apple (3-4$) and I have a fruit for breakfast with a cup of coffee.
You can buy cereal in bulk too...

Wednesday, December 31, 2008, 10:31 AM

WOW!!!! you all have some great tips for eating on a budget!!! i too try to limit spending and time when those are in short supply. I totally make things ahead of time and freeze leftovers, buy in bulk alot, etc. I didn't know there were frozen sliced green peppers? I love to add gp to things but they are about .84 or so individually at walmart. If I have the time, I go to Aldis. I also check out the reduced meat wherever. Also, whole wheat pasta is great but not necessarily leftover though. I do use the whole wheat tortillas and fresh spinach/cilantro/leafy green for burritos on-the-go though!! As alot of diet sites say, look for what is "in season" and there are always delicious fresh things marked down. This fall, I had more fresh pumpkin than ever, including nutritious seeds, and maybe my first ever pomegranates. I've fallen in love with pomegranates!!!!! And I have more cranberries in my freezer than ever before. Sweet potatoes were .25 pound at walmart around thanksgiving too. One big sweet potato goes along way toward filling you up.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008, 3:01 PM

Also, I bought a big frozen turkey breast when they were on sale at walmart before Christmas. I am thawing it now, and I'll bake it before I go back to work. I'll have white meat for sandwiches, or lean turkey dishes:)

Wednesday, December 31, 2008, 3:03 PM

Some Suggestions

Well, some recommendations for healthy food that's not so expensive try buying frozen fruit and vegetables in the frozen section. Ramen noodles are not healthy, try Starkist tuna packages, bread and turkey/chicken meat for sandwiches and try buying fresh fruit at a farmers market. You can get a bit more for your money. Or if you are eating alot, try shopping at a Sam's club or Cosco.

Thursday, January 01, 2009, 2:13 PM

Henry’s ROCKS they are in Southern Ca. on Wed you get “double sale” items (both what was on sale the previous week and what is on sale the current week) . . .also my ultimate favorite “Trader Joe’s”.

I rarely go into a “traditional” grocery store any more. And when I do I am amazed at the amount of “junk” (highly processed with corn syrup and hydrogenated oils) foods there are and how expensive the staples are fruit, eggs milk etc. . . .

Friday, January 02, 2009, 3:09 PM

i don't know if it's been said yet but Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, those kind of microwaveable meals work for me. i'm in a college dorm with a microfridge and i stock up on those.. also, for snacks try edamame - it's cheap and way healthy for you. 100 calorie packs work.. um, oatmeal is pretty filling. there was one point in time where I ate oatmeal for two meals every day because it was easy and filling. i dropped like three pounds that week. i also agree about sam's club and cosco. it really does end up being cheaper when you buy in bulk - like the oatmeal i bought a, like, 50 pack or something. i also bought a 50 pack of fiberone bars which are awesome when you're dieting. drink wise, I like having bottled water and adding those powder packs to them. they have such a variety of flavors at low calories and it's easy to grab and go. i'll try to think of more things!

Sunday, January 04, 2009, 8:41 PM

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