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Thread: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Rice, beans, carrots, cauliflower, cabbage, eggs. I base my meals around these cheap ingredients. and buy other things when they're on sale like bell peppers

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    My go to lately has been veggie heavy burritos.
    I get a pound of meat and make it with three potatoes chopped small. I put a can of beans in the mix so it ends up 70% veggie and only 30% meat.
    I get the salsa and cheese from the mexican market nearby . Toppings just depend if I have anything on hand.

    It makes about 8 meal sized burritos making them just about $1 each.
    Last edited by carmen_b; 04-09-2017 at 10:36 PM.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Asian food at home can be really cheap if you live in an area with open air markets & ethnic grocery stores.

    & Yes Mexican cuisine can be low-cost.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Also another one I've been trying out & love is oven baked squash & zucchini. I toss it in olive oil with salt & pepper & add garlic butter then bake it at 350 for 10 mins. So yummy Try getting a george forman grill to grill chicken & other lean meats to go with veggies. I started meal prepping this last week & made THE best oven baked pork chops with chopped onions. Just pick up a bag of the Mccromick oven roasting bag & seasoning & you can make pot roast, chops, or chicken just by adding potatos, onions, carrots,or whatever you like in the bag with the meat & it is enough for a few days.
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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    I make veggie chilli all the time with whatever veggies I have and tinned black beans and tomato so good and last a few days.
    xoxo

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    I eat a lot of canned salmon sandwhiches. Just add mayo, garlic and kale. Yumm. I buy the cans at Costco and they're big so one can is 2 meals.

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  12. #32
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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    I make a dish with canned salmon and canned tomato and bell peppers, onion and garlic and seasonings, I make the sauce first and cook it for maybe 20 mins then add the salmon cook some more. taste good with spinach too. I serve with rice or pasta.
    xoxo

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Roasted or grilled veggies can be very cheap and healthy and filling. Potatoes, zucchini, carrots...

    You can vary the seasoning to make them more interesting. Rosemary/ thyme, curry spices, cayenne..

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    ^ I love roasted potato yumm.
    xoxo

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Refried beans with spices and cheese, Greek yogurt. You can vary refried beans depending on what you have on hand. Saute onions and garlic, add beans, some water to thin them out slightly, cayenne, cumin, salt, cheese... top with yogurt. This dish is so simple, comforting, and cheap.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    i'm always trying to find ways to satisfy cravings in a healthy way because i love junk food and have a bad habit of spending way too much eating out. i make pita pizzas with store brand everything (wheat pita, high fiber marinara, low fat mozz).. always try to have frozen chicken cutlets for various stuff (purchased in bulk). my bf likes to just throw some chicken in a crock pot with a jar of salsa and it's actually really good in a wrap or with rice and beans... instead of wings i'll have the same grilled chicken cutlets with hot wing sauce from the store, sometimes over a salad or w/celery and lite ranch. for a pasta sub spaghetti squash is my fave and usually cheap. i used to like those "miracle noodles" but they're pricey and not as healthy. instead of mexican now i just make my own bean burritos since that's what always i ordered anyways.. i use store brand tortillas (high fiber kind), fat free beans from the can, cheese and i buy taco bell's sauce from the grocery store (like $2 for the whole bottle and 0 cal). the whole wheat/carb smart wraps seem to last longer than bread and can be used for everything. for breakfast i fill them with egg whites from the box.. i buy the large box of the store brand kind and they also seem to last much loner than real eggs, plus you only get the whites which is healthier. for lunch or dinner i fill them with chicken and cheese, or lettuce deli turkey and cheese w/veg. you can also make quesadillas. of course whatever veggies are on hand can be added to anything.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Beans, lentils, dry rice, couscous, and veggies are cheap. Sometimes you can get frozen veggies for cheap if you don't want to buy fresh. It seems every other week there is a sale on them. Chicken seems to be the cheapest meat to buy. I eat a lot of baked chicken, broccoli, or other green vegetable. You can make homemade bean soup for cheap, using beans, carrots, and onions. Stir fry with green and red peppers, mushrooms, onions, broccoli, or whatever kind of vegetables you want in it and you can use beef, chicken, or tofu as the meat in it. Chili. If you like spicy, spicy foods can help burn fat. Baked chicken breasts with black pepper and cayenne pepper. Chicken fajitas, you can use chicken breast or chicken thighs(cut into small strips), whole grain tortilla's, onion, and green peppers. If you want to make it spicy, you can add chipotle to it. I've never been a salad girl but you could make a salad, add a bunch of veggies to it, throw in some sunflower seeds, and add chicken breasts strips to it.

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  24. #38
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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Hummus with veggies, if you have a food processor! Tahini is pricey, so you can skip that ingredient. Chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice, cumin, cayenne, olive oil. Process together, add salt to taste. Use carrots, celery, or any other vegetable to dip. Very filling! You can actually use any type of canned beans for this dip recipe.

    The other day, I made a different kind of cheap dip with cottage cheese and spinach. Process the cheese until it's a bit smoother. Then add thawed, frozen spinach, or quick - boiled spinach. Lightly process to mix it in. I also added garlic powder, cayenne, and salt. Good dip for yellow corn tortilla chips.

    Another simple dip.. pasta sauce and spinach. I make this in a sauce pan. Heat the pasta sauce and gradually add fresh spinach as it wilts into the sauce. Season to taste. It's not super fancy, but it's a decent little dip made with random stuff that you may have on hand.

    Another weird favorite of mine.. sardines on rice cakes. Drain sardines and press onto rice cakes. Season with lots of lemon juice, olive oil, and salt (some sardines already have plenty of salt added, but I often add a bit).

    Rice cakes are fun. Peanut butter and apples or banana on top. Peanut butter and honey.. They make for an easy, quick snack.

    Siracha is a great condiment to have on hand to quickly add some zing to simple dishes.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Quote Originally Posted by charlie61 View Post
    Hummus with veggies, if you have a food processor! Tahini is pricey, so you can skip that ingredient. Chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice, cumin, cayenne, olive oil. Process together, add salt to taste. Use carrots, celery, or any other vegetable to dip. Very filling! You can actually use any type of canned beans for this dip recipe.

    The other day, I made a different kind of cheap dip with cottage cheese and spinach. Process the cheese until it's a bit smoother. Then add thawed, frozen spinach, or quick - boiled spinach. Lightly process to mix it in. I also added garlic powder, cayenne, and salt. Good dip for yellow corn tortilla chips.

    Another simple dip.. pasta sauce and spinach. I make this in a sauce pan. Heat the pasta sauce and gradually add fresh spinach as it wilts into the sauce. Season to taste. It's not super fancy, but it's a decent little dip made with random stuff that you may have on hand.

    Another weird favorite of mine.. sardines on rice cakes. Drain sardines and press onto rice cakes. Season with lots of lemon juice, olive oil, and salt (some sardines already have plenty of salt added, but I often add a bit).

    Rice cakes are fun. Peanut butter and apples or banana on top. Peanut butter and honey.. They make for an easy, quick snack.

    Siracha is a great condiment to have on hand to quickly add some zing to simple dishes.
    Charlie, you are absolutely brilliant. You really are.

    Actually this entire thread is awesome. Thumbs up to everyone who has posted so far.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Quote Originally Posted by chanzep View Post
    I make a dish with canned salmon and canned tomato and bell peppers, onion and garlic and seasonings, I make the sauce first and cook it for maybe 20 mins then add the salmon cook some more. taste good with spinach too. I serve with rice or pasta.
    Ok trying this tonight.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Quote Originally Posted by Rispy_Girl View Post
    Charlie, you are absolutely brilliant. You really are.

    Actually this entire thread is awesome. Thumbs up to everyone who has posted so far.
    You're a doll! I'm so lazy with cooking, and I'm super frugal, too. I'm loving this thread!!

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Lima beans or blackeye peas & mashed potatos are always yummy when eaten together. I made crazy amazing nachos the other night from chips I got at a taqueria & put in a pan added salsa I had leftover from the taco bar, added cheese , beans & avocado & sour cream. Baked at 350 for 10 mins & it was the best thing at 2 am I eat alot of what most ppl consider "unhealthy" but whatever. I can't be satisfied with plain super healthy shit like others can. I also tend to not overeat when I eat what I want.

    Here's an amazing yummy potato salad recipe I'm making for Easter with oven baked ham:
    1-2 potatos peeled & quartered
    chopped celery, onion & add dill relish
    1 egg (optional) I hate eggs & always omit it bc it'll make this salad stink after 1 day in fridge
    Boil potatos & egg, drain & put in fridge to cool for 10-15 mins
    add celery, onion, dill relish to bowl, then add potatos (peel & chop egg)
    mix all together with 2 huge tablespoons of mayo & add yellow mustard to taste, mash all together , add salt, pepper, tiny bit of cayenne & omg that's a meal of it's own.
    "Alot of people are afraid to say what they want, that's why they don't get what they want"~ Madonna




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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    My tuna salad is low fat mayo, lemon juice, celery (2$), one green apple (0.50cents), three cans tuna (0.80 cents each), and fresh basil (2$) and this makes enough for at least three meals for two people - you can have it on salad, pita or bread. Put low fat lactose free swiss on for a tuna melt if I'm craving it. Total cost under 10$. Food tastes better when you know how affordable and healthy it is!

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    If you can buy food in bulk; if the bulked food is perishable freeze it. Start a garden/farm--it doesn't have to be huge like the ones you see on TV. Avoid prepared foods (tv dinners, rotiserrie chicken in a bag, etc.

    An idea that a friend gave me--back breakfast and lunch for the week AT WORK; you wont have to worry about forgetting your lunch and itll be less to carry everyday
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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    My snacking foods lately have been baby carrots and bananas. So affordable and easy to eat. I get sick of bananas if I have them all of the time. But I literally forget I'm eating carrots...i can munch on them all day like they're chips. Great for keeping you full so you're less inclined to overeat during meals. At my day job, I start eating them about an hour before lunch, and then I feel less ravenous at lunch time.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Quote Originally Posted by CallistoMorgan View Post
    I'm vegan and my grocery bill is about 250-300 a month. I eat a lot of curry, soups and stir fry. Here are some great recipes links

    http://www.chooseveg.com/vegan-on-a-...able-recipes-2
    http://www.peta.org/living/food/vega...-until-payday/
    This is awesome.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Omg chicken salad.. a can of chicken mashed into mayo, lots of brown mustard, hot sauce, salt, pepper, and a shake or three of powdered ginger. Serve on whole - wheat toasted pita. Put a bed of fresh baby spinach between the chicken and the pita if you have some in the fridge! This meal has been ♡_♡ for me lately.

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  42. #48
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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    .......
    Last edited by politicsandporn; 05-25-2017 at 07:46 AM.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Lazy red beans and rice. Cook the rice, cook the beans. Saute ground turkey with Italian spices, cayenne. Dump it all into a big pot. Add whatever canned tomato products you have - paste, diced, etc. Mix together and add salt and spice to taste.

    This last time, I replaced rice with quinoa, and I was very pleased with the results. Healthier and lower calorie.

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    Default Re: Eating cheap and healthy. Ideas?

    Cheap fruit & veggie hack- save big paper bags & put unripe fruit in with one piece of ripe fruit. Bam, accelerated ripening.

    Also green bell peppers are the cheapest, after a few days of being in a paper bag in the heat the ripen to color/softness.

    Cheapest foods to use as subs for other foods- oatmeal, flax seed, potatoes, and pumpkin. Squash & zucchini are the summertime winners of cheap diet staple.

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