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Thread: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

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    Default Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    So lord knows I hate spending a ton of money at the grocery store. I feel sick every morning because I eat a lot of hamburger helper (sooo cost efficient) and honestly I cant take it anymore.

    I am faced with a challenge because my husband is very picky and hates eating healthy.
    but I am working my way towards 200lbs again and if I do that again Im gonna cry

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Eating healthy requires commitment. Cost is one thing but if you gain all the health issues due to eating affordable "bad food" will put not only a toll on your body but you're wallet in the future with medical bills. You can always look online for coupons, look at prices and compare with different grocery stores. In my local market, they always have a section for fruits and veggies that are marked down because of the quality or quantity. The items are not all bad, maybe a part of it is. You can discard the bad and use the edible parts.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Dry beans. Limas are my favorite
    Dry brown rice, you can get big bags of it for cheap
    Big boxes of oatmeal (not the instant shit)
    Canned fish like salmon and tuna and even sardines
    Look for managers specials on meat products..but with fish and chicken I prefer to splurge cause of the unhealthy conditions the animals are raised in with the cheaper factory farms. Look for cheaper cuts of meat. I buy chicken feet and make incredibly nutritious bone broth that can be frozen and used as a base for soups. Loads of collagen. You'll need to learn to cook and get creative if you aren't already but it's fun!
    Greens can go bad quick so get a salad spinner to keep them fresh longer or turn your kale into kale chips with some oil in the oven
    I've done business with men who think I'm as silly as I look; by the time they figure out I'm not, I've done got the money and gone -Dolly Parton

    a motherfukin hustler kamikaze//I used to bus tables but now I sell my body

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Some supermarkets allow discounts on bruised fruit, or markdown on certain days before they have to throw out items. Just ask.

    Also if you have access to a yard grow a garden. You can do it cheaply with growing boxes & rain barrels. Google has tons of home gardening tips...

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Sandwiches are so easy! Whole - grain bread (my current bread has like 40 grams of whole grains per slice - it's loaded!), lean meats, cheese, mustard and mayo, and tons of greens/ veggies. I pile spinach on my sandwiches.

    I eat lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean meats, greens, and dairy. I'm never hungry. I exercise regularly, treat myself occasionally, and do lots of self work / self care to keep my mind healthy, too.

    I'm a huge proponent of eating a variety of foods, eating enough food, and not 'dieting'. If i want my body to change, i step up my exercise routine instead of decreasing what i eat.

    Cheap: sliced (whole- grain) bread, apples, eggs, spinach, broccoli, green tea, frozen veggies, frozen tilapia, frozen chicken breasts, rice, beans, canned veggies, cottage cheese (i buy 4%), cuties/ easy - peel oranges, bananas, peanut butter, 2% milk, butter, shredded cheese (makes any meal more fun), garlic, kale, lemons, plain yogurt, whole - grain angel hair pasta with sauce, rice cakes.. And spices!!! You can buy spices in bulk to save. My staples: salt, pepper, cayenne, cinnamon, ground ginger, cumin, garlic powder, red pepper flakes.

    So many possible combinations!

    A huge tip for cheap eating - don't buy something until you need it. I keep wanting to buy things that I'll eat in the future instead of finishing what i already have. If i don't need it in the upcoming week, i don't buy it. Otherwise you'll find yourself spending $$$ on stuff that either goes bad while you're eating other things, or just sits in storage forever.

    I eat eggs and toast/ pita for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, fruits and veggies as snacks, and a hot meal for dinner (pasta, tacos, stir fry, chicken and veggies, fried fish and a salad, bean soup, tomato soup, whatever). Some dark chocolate for dessert (I buy 85% cacao to make sure i eat enough to have a little bit of a treat, but it's bitter, so I'm in no danger of overeating).

    I'm rambling on Riesling. Sorry. Haha.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    I just started my wonderful weight lost journey and I have discover a beautiful gem called Aldis! Aldis has cheap meat and produce. About 80% of the products are below $5 each. Unlike other grocery stores, Aldis does not pride itself on name brand products making it easy to shop without the hassle of choosing between 5 options of the same product. I literally spend about $40 and come out with bags of healthy options that last me about 2weeks!

    My boyfriend is also a picky eater so I came up with the solution of his and her meal prepping. Every Sunday, it is my mission to come up with meals. Since he works just about everyday, I just focus on his dinner options usually a protein and a vegetable and he is all set. He makes his on breakfast and a sandwich for lunch before he leaves every morning.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Tell him to do his own cooking. Nicely, of course. My partner and I eat very differently and we do our own food and it saves money, time, and frustration. Find a good farmers market and try to eat what's in season because it's cheaper and fresher. Eat less meat if you can, or stretch it out. Dry beans in the crockpot are cheap and super easy.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Sandwiches. But you have to make sure you get a nice hearty bread with lots of fiber to fill you up. My fav is Arnolds Oat Nut

    Soup: Get packs of ramen then throw away the sodium packets. You can get fresh ramen and veggies at asian markets. Sometimes they're cheaper than chain stores. Get veggies like broccoli, bok choy, kale, carrots, onions,mushrooms. Add low sodium broth and you can have a meal for a few days. Add some protein whatever is on sale to the soup.

    Most grocery stores have a section near the lunch meat for pre cooked meats: potroast, grilled chicken, turkey etc. In every city Ive ever lived there are always items on sale here.

    Rotisserie chickens and bags of salad.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    BROCCOLI is my favorite healthy, filling food. Lots of fiber and folate. It's soooo good for you and low in calories. Pretty cheap.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    I thought junk food was more expensive then real food?? Is veg really so expensive where you guys live? Maybe look into growing your own veg and get a single freezer then you can buy like a half cow or pig and chicken in bulk right from a farmer. I personally cant stand junk food unless im right before Im about to start my period and even then I only allow myself 85 or 90% dark chocolate and that is 2.55 euros a bar.

    Dont they always say that the poor eat better then the rich and that is why Americans are so huge is cause they have all this money and so they just eat junk?

    When I want to save money I make a huge batch of ragu. Ground beef and pork with all the veg and wine cooked slowly and its usually enough for my husband and I for 4 or 5 days. We dont even freeze it. The most expensive part is the parmaigiano cheese but we buy it in huge chunks from Italy so its always on hand. I worked the cost out once and it was like 4 dollars a day to eat that and he only eats once a day I eat twice so we save big when we make the ragu. I think PGD is right. You need to learn to cook if you want this to be successful.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    I usually buy healthy groceries and I don't spend a crazy amount. Fruit, veggies, eggs, potatoes, bread, & meat. The only expensive thing can be the meat depending on what you buy. But I think ground turkey or ground beef is pretty cheap and you can freeze them so they last longer. Same with chicken breast. & Tuna cans are like less than a dollar. Also, if you want milk I recommend buying organic or almond/soy because they last longer than regular milk. Anytime I've purchased regular gallon milk I end up wasting it because it goes bad in like a week. The other stuff seems to last a month or more.

    I think people may assume healthy = expensive but that's not always true. The only time it could be expensive is if you're buying all organic and shopping at Whole Foods maybe. Find a little grocery store like Sprouts or something because they seem to have cheaper produce and healthier options.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Quote Originally Posted by 22lligm View Post
    I usually buy healthy groceries and I don't spend a crazy amount. Fruit, veggies, eggs, potatoes, bread, & meat. The only expensive thing can be the meat depending on what you buy. But I think ground turkey or ground beef is pretty cheap and you can freeze them so they last longer. Same with chicken breast. & Tuna cans are like less than a dollar. Also, if you want milk I recommend buying organic or almond/soy because they last longer than regular milk. Anytime I've purchased regular gallon milk I end up wasting it because it goes bad in like a week. The other stuff seems to last a month or more.

    I think people may assume healthy = expensive but that's not always true. The only time it could be expensive is if you're buying all organic and shopping at Whole Foods maybe. Find a little grocery store like Sprouts or something because they seem to have cheaper produce and healthier options.
    Agree. Whole Foods is not the only place to buy organic. Most of their food isn't even organic anyway. Most local grocery stories are now jumping on the organic wagon. Most at affordable prices.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Have plenty of recipes for preserving fruits and veggies on hang. That way if say a cucumber has just started to get slimy you can pickle it, so it doesn't go to waste. If there is a local feed store get eggs from them. They might also sell fresh produce that is on par with organic/pasture raised, but they sell it cheaper because they don't have the certification. If you don't care as much about those certifications in general you can get meat from Asian grocers. Look up halal meat for example. Growing your own veggies and/or having your own chickens is another great way to get stuff cheaper. The stuff you throw in the compost bin can supplement your chicken's diet (not the moldy stuff, but peels, egg shells, and wilted stuff). Setting up indoor plants is also really easy. You can check online for cheap aquarium lights and use them to give your plants the light they need (most windows block out too much UV light, hence the vitamin D deficiency epidemic). Either suspend from the ceiling or a shelf type thing and that little area can all be for plants. You can grow tomatoes, herbs, eggplant, peppers, etc. Skip the root veggies like carrots even if you have a garden. They don't give you much return and probably won't produce enough prevent you from needing to buy some. Cucumbers and other vine plants are great and tend to produce well. Squash and gourds keep very well and are also worthwhile. If you live where it's hot Okra is a great one to grow, but the red ones are best because you can let them get bigger and they will still be tender. Replace plants that don't produce or flower (flowers are good because they attract bugs that help your garden) with ones that do. There are so many producing plant options that all you have to do is look around. Marigolds are good to keep bugs off of tomatoes and their flowers can be used in teas and salads. I just got a variety of Satsuma that is on a whole new level for winter hardiness. There are several types of Kumquats and Blackberries that you can get, so instead of having them produce over a short period of time, you will have production on one plant or other for a long time.

    Whoops. I got excited and didn't realize how much I wrote. This is definitely something that I'm interested in and working on improving in. I look forward to seeing other people's posts.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Quote Originally Posted by 22lligm View Post
    I usually buy healthy groceries and I don't spend a crazy amount. Fruit, veggies, eggs, potatoes, bread, & meat. The only expensive thing can be the meat depending on what you buy. But I think ground turkey or ground beef is pretty cheap and you can freeze them so they last longer. Same with chicken breast. & Tuna cans are like less than a dollar.
    This 100%. I think the confusion about healthy vs. cheap relates directly to cooking skills. People who have limited cooking skills do end up spending more on healthy foods because they need to buy it prepared by someone else. But for those who have multiple ways to cook different types and cuts of meat (grill, bread and bake, roast, braise, stew, etc.), the world is their oyster. Then you can buy whatever meat is on sale or is otherwise cheap and make yummy food with it. Potatoes and rice are almost always cheep and often on sale. Basic veggies like onions, celery and carrots are also usually cheap and are the base for a lot of soups and slow cooker recipes. For other veggies, you can rotate among sale veggies or even buy them frozen when they are on sale.

    As far as cooking healthy for yourself while giving him comfort foods, there are ways to do this as well. For example, if you buy chicken pieces, you can bread his and just oven bake your own - same cooking time and same pan either way. With baked potatoes, you can let him slather his with butter and sour cream while leaving yours more plain. Soups and stews, which can be made from leftover whole chickens or hams, are usually both great comfort food AND packed with good nutrition. Griled meats have the benefit of being awesome comfort foods AND healthier than most other cooking methods. And so forth and so on...

    In any event, good luck!

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Quote Originally Posted by DeepThoughts View Post
    I thought junk food was more expensive then real food?? Is veg really so expensive where you guys live? Maybe look into growing your own veg and get a single freezer then you can buy like a half cow or pig and chicken in bulk right from a farmer. I personally cant stand junk food unless im right before Im about to start my period and even then I only allow myself 85 or 90% dark chocolate and that is 2.55 euros a bar.

    Dont they always say that the poor eat better then the rich and that is why Americans are so huge is cause they have all this money and so they just eat junk?

    When I want to save money I make a huge batch of ragu. Ground beef and pork with all the veg and wine cooked slowly and its usually enough for my husband and I for 4 or 5 days. We dont even freeze it. The most expensive part is the parmaigiano cheese but we buy it in huge chunks from Italy so its always on hand. I worked the cost out once and it was like 4 dollars a day to eat that and he only eats once a day I eat twice so we save big when we make the ragu. I think PGD is right. You need to learn to cook if you want this to be successful.
    It's definitely way cheaper and easier to eat junk food than anything healthy... a 5$ pizza can feed a family of 3 a meal but trying to get something healthier is either going to be way more work or way more money... after I had my kid and didn't work for years all we ended up eating was pizza, box Mac an cheese and instant potatoes, ugh

    Oh and stupid mcdonalds and soda since it's a fraction of the price of juice (actual juice not the fake juice)

    Really hoping to make some good changes this year. <3

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Quote Originally Posted by DeepThoughts View Post
    I thought junk food was more expensive then real food?? Is veg really so expensive where you guys live? Maybe look into growing your own veg and get a single freezer then you can buy like a half cow or pig and chicken in bulk right from a farmer. I personally cant stand junk food unless im right before Im about to start my period and even then I only allow myself 85 or 90% dark chocolate and that is 2.55 euros a bar.

    Dont they always say that the poor eat better then the rich and that is why Americans are so huge is cause they have all this money and so they just eat junk?

    When I want to save money I make a huge batch of ragu. Ground beef and pork with all the veg and wine cooked slowly and its usually enough for my husband and I for 4 or 5 days. We dont even freeze it. The most expensive part is the parmaigiano cheese but we buy it in huge chunks from Italy so its always on hand. I worked the cost out once and it was like 4 dollars a day to eat that and he only eats once a day I eat twice so we save big when we make the ragu. I think PGD is right. You need to learn to cook if you want this to be successful.
    No this is false. Poor people are not eating better than everyone else. I think you may have heard that from someone who was trying to dismiss social issues? The problem is that the more affordable meals are high in fat,sodium and chemicals. Fresh fruit and veggies can be very expensive here in America. Lots of people are on strict budgets and lack the understanding of whats healthy and what isn't, then they end up with lots processed food. Totinos pizzas, Hot dogs, Fish sticks that have very little fish in them, little debbies pastries, sugar cereals, sodas, canned veggies loaded with sodium etc etc. This is all cheap and extremely unhealthy food. I have an older sibling with 6 kids and this is crap they keep at their house in order to feed all of those mouths. We grew up in a similar situation but now as adults trying to undo the damage. Its difficult having to retrain your thinking.

    I made groceries yesterday and one pound of grapes was $7! Thats not gonna go very far in a family of 3. Red Pears $2.79 a pound. And I wasn't at Whole Foods. A loaf of whole grain bread with 3g of fiber was $3.99, where as regular store brand white bread was $1.50 and you get twice as many slices. But the whole grain is more filling. I do have better luck finding affordable veggies vs. fruit though. Fruit in America has become a luxury item.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Quote Originally Posted by PhatGirlDynomite!!! View Post
    I made groceries yesterday and one pound of grapes was $7! Thats not gonna go very far in a family of 3. Red Pears $2.79 a pound. And I wasn't at Whole Foods. A loaf of whole grain bread with 3g of fiber was $3.99, where as regular store brand white bread was $1.50 and you get twice as many slices. But the whole grain is more filling. I do have better luck finding affordable veggies vs. fruit though. Fruit in America has become a luxury item.
    Do you have an Aldi near you? We won't buy meats at Aldi, but they do a fantastic job on fruits and veggies. For example, this past week they've been selling fresh green beans for $.99 per pound and 3 pound bags of apples for $2, but even their regular prices are far better than many and they often discount things in the store when they need to move it.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Still trying to get rid of my last round of hamburger helper and shit before I go back to the grocery store.
    Ive been trying to find recipes, and I think im gonna buy a lot of tuna this month
    I have been writing down all the suggestions and trying to create recipes I just have no creativity

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jupiter77 View Post
    Still trying to get rid of my last round of hamburger helper and shit before I go back to the grocery store.
    Ive been trying to find recipes, and I think im gonna buy a lot of tuna this month
    I have been writing down all the suggestions and trying to create recipes I just have no creativity
    The best thing I ever did to learn how to cook was buy "The Joy of Cooking." At the time I was 30, recently divorced and fairly helpless, but I swore that I would change that. Now I am a pretty decent cook and will never be helpless again. If I had kept cooking regularly after I met my wife I'd probably be a great cook by now, but she is so much better than me, and I work so much, that it made sense for her to take over.

    For efficiency, you can also cook in batches and freeze meals. Anything with liquid, like soups, sauces and stews, freeze and reheat really well.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Quote Originally Posted by charlie61 View Post
    Sandwiches are so easy! Whole - grain bread (my current bread has like 40 grams of whole grains per slice - it's loaded!), lean meats, cheese, mustard and mayo, and tons of greens/ veggies. I pile spinach on my sandwiches.

    I eat lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean meats, greens, and dairy. I'm never hungry. I exercise regularly, treat myself occasionally, and do lots of self work / self care to keep my mind healthy, too.

    I'm a huge proponent of eating a variety of foods, eating enough food, and not 'dieting'. If i want my body to change, i step up my exercise routine instead of decreasing what i eat.

    Cheap: sliced (whole- grain) bread, apples, eggs, spinach, broccoli, green tea, frozen veggies, frozen tilapia, frozen chicken breasts, rice, beans, canned veggies, cottage cheese (i buy 4%), cuties/ easy - peel oranges, bananas, peanut butter, 2% milk, butter, shredded cheese (makes any meal more fun), garlic, kale, lemons, plain yogurt, whole - grain angel hair pasta with sauce, rice cakes.. And spices!!! You can buy spices in bulk to save. My staples: salt, pepper, cayenne, cinnamon, ground ginger, cumin, garlic powder, red pepper flakes.

    So many possible combinations!

    A huge tip for cheap eating - don't buy something until you need it. I keep wanting to buy things that I'll eat in the future instead of finishing what i already have. If i don't need it in the upcoming week, i don't buy it. Otherwise you'll find yourself spending $$$ on stuff that either goes bad while you're eating other things, or just sits in storage forever.

    I eat eggs and toast/ pita for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, fruits and veggies as snacks, and a hot meal for dinner (pasta, tacos, stir fry, chicken and veggies, fried fish and a salad, bean soup, tomato soup, whatever). Some dark chocolate for dessert (I buy 85% cacao to make sure i eat enough to have a little bit of a treat, but it's bitter, so I'm in no danger of overeating).

    I'm rambling on Riesling. Sorry. Haha.
    I just recently realized that cayenne pepper is an appetite suppressant. I started buying it 6 months ago and sprinkle it on everything: popcorn,sandwiches,eggs EVERYTHING! And it works except I hadn't realized why I had less cravings, then a month ago I saw an article about it.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Quote Originally Posted by rickdugan View Post
    Do you have an Aldi near you? We won't buy meats at Aldi, but they do a fantastic job on fruits and veggies. For example, this past week they've been selling fresh green beans for $.99 per pound and 3 pound bags of apples for $2, but even their regular prices are far better than many and they often discount things in the store when they need to move it.
    No we don't have Aldi's here. We did in Florida and yes I stayed away from the meat. But I loved everything else.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Protip- having a food processor can help with blending veggies into paste for sauces & soups. Thrift stores often get good quality blenders & processors that just need a good rinsing. Or you can shop online for a discounted new food processor.

    & Crockpots are the bomb. Makes eating better easier, the pot does most of the work all day.

    & Super protip- if you have Costco in your area, you can bring a friend & use cash to pay for all the purchases (as long as one person has a membership card.) One aisle at Costco allows for EBT cards.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jupiter77 View Post
    Still trying to get rid of my last round of hamburger helper and shit before I go back to the grocery store.
    Ive been trying to find recipes, and I think im gonna buy a lot of tuna this month
    I have been writing down all the suggestions and trying to create recipes I just have no creativity
    I've found a lot of good recipes just by googling simple + the ingredients I had. Like "simple ground beef recipe" and then a bunch of quick easy recipes will pop up. Or even if you google 'simple healthy recipes' alot of good stuff comes up. I love Allrecipes.com though I've found the best ones on there.

    But honestly you could go to the store and spend a small amount on stuff like potatoes, cans of tuna, eggs, spinach/broccoli, apples, lean ground beef or turkey and be good with a bunch of different healthy meals for a week. I say apples because they seem to be the only fruit I buy that last a while and eating them with peanut butter is my fave. Spinach & broccoli last too and they're my favorite veggies with any meal.

    Spices can make a huge difference too. I bought this chipotle chili pepper and it made my ground beef so good. But I also have onion powder, garlic powder, Mrs. Dash, sea salt, smoked paprika, and a couple others that make any meal really good.

    An all Hamburger Helper diet can't be good after a while lol. I guess I made my own version of hamburger helper with beef, tomato sauce, spinach, kidney beans, corn & lots of seasoning and it was SO good! Plus way more nutritious than anything out of a box. You should definitely try making it!

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  45. #24
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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Omg I needed this thread! So many great ideas

    The "poor eat better than the rich" comment is true if you compare our rich country with other less wealthy countries. In other places, food goes from farm to table at a more affordable price. In places like Europe, the government regulates the food more carefully, so preservatives, artificial food colors, etc. aren't a thing. The food is healthier and cheaper. Also, people cook more because unlike America, you don't have endless options of cheap fast food places to drive through.

    I've been buying rotisserie chicken lately, and making lots of Mexican food. Rice, beans, tortillas, chiles, spices... you can get a lot of variety out of a few main ingredients. Plus you can buy everything cheap at the Mexican grocery store... same is true if you have a local Asian grocery store.

    And sandwiches. Thank god for sandwiches.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Quote Originally Posted by seashell View Post
    Omg I needed this thread! So many great ideas

    The "poor eat better than the rich" comment is true if you compare our rich country with other less wealthy countries. In other places, food goes from farm to table at a more affordable price. In places like Europe, the government regulates the food more carefully, so preservatives, artificial food colors, etc. aren't a thing. The food is healthier and cheaper. Also, people cook more because unlike America, you don't have endless options of cheap fast food places to drive through.

    I've been buying rotisserie chicken lately, and making lots of Mexican food. Rice, beans, tortillas, chiles, spices... you can get a lot of variety out of a few main ingredients. Plus you can buy everything cheap at the Mexican grocery store... same is true if you have a local Asian grocery store.

    And sandwiches. Thank god for sandwiches.
    Oh you reminded me of a recipe I've been meaning to try. My hubby's ex used to make something she called a Fried Curry Treat. She would debone leftover rotisserie chicken, put curry in the bowl with it and mix it, so the chicken is coated, then she'd heat oil in a skillet and cook it on their. Not exactly fried and it could also be baked. I've been meaning to try it out.

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