Diets on a budget?

Question

I keep reading and watching programs on healthy eating but when you actually add up all the food needed it works out expensive, does anyone know what basic and cheap items you can buy that are healthy and you can make good, healthy meals with for a family???

Answer 1

lentils - cheap, filling, nutritious, quick to cook

jacket potatoes with baked beans

cabbage - try cooking it very quickly so it's crisp, then drain water and toss in a little olive oil and salt - its nothing like the disgusting veg of skool dinners. oh and some freshly ground black pepper - food of the gods,

lamb stew - the cheapest cuts of lamb (neck, etc) chop an onion, a few carrots, celery if you have, cover with water, maybe a stock cube, slow cook for at least 5 hours (start it in the morning, ready when you get home) to save fuel, do a really big stew, and make it last a few days by adding a few kidney beans the next day, turn it into a curry the next & serve with rice.

porridge - cheap, filling, low fat

salad of grated carrot, lemon juice, sunflower seeds

herring roe - incredibly cheap - no waste - grill for 10 mins - salt and freshly ground black pepper

roasted veg. the following veg can be roasted in the oven in a little olive oil: peppers, parsnips, squash, sweet potatoes, onions, aubergines, courgettes, tomatoes.

mackerel - get them to clean it for you if you can't - wrap in foil with a bayleaf in its tum - half an hour in a hot oven

avoid food which has been in a factory - buy it in as near to its natural state as possible, so eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, fresh meat fish and veg all good but - no pizzas unless home made - no supermarket prepared meals - nothing with pastry.

Answer 2

I've done things like weight watchers before where you have to pay, but what helped me more was learning to eat real food (not chemically altered sweeteners or nonfat versions) in small amounts. This is much more satisfying and teaches you to eat well and manage your weight for a lifetime. Some things I like for an everyday dinner are grilled chicken or salmon with veggies and potatoes or brown rice with a little olive oil on all of them, along with some herbs and lemon on the fish and chicken. Also a little square of dark chocolate at the end. The Fat Fallacy by Dr. Will Clower is a great book with inexpensive, real food recipes, I'm sure you can buy it used at half.com or get it at the library to save money. It's really changed the way I eat and look at food, I spend less now too. Good luck :-)

Answer 3

Its all the dried pulses that you want to look out for- beans (many different kinds), chickpeas, lentils etc. All of these are a good source of protein yet very low in fat, matched with different fresh vegetables and you will have balanced, nutritious meals.

The problem is that pulses are often seen as being hard work. They mostly require soaking in water overnight (sometimes longer) and then boiling for a few hours, sometimes the water needs to be drained off too. It can be quite complicated especially if you dont like cooking!

These foods also require a certain degree of skill to make them delicious. Herbs and spices are required.

I cook this way alot for my sister and myself, and enjoy it now. I can easily make us both a big healthy supper for under £5 including pudding.

Give it a try, its well worth it.

Answer 4

You will always find great recipes for fruits and vegetables, but you need to buy the ones in season to keep costs down or buy them frozen... they are just as healthy because they are frozen within hours of being picked and they will not go rotten. No name brands and value packs are a great way to save. There are so few items you can freeze and keep for later use. I also ask my butcher to cut the exact amount of meat I need. By the ounce and pound so there is no wasting.

Answer 5

Try the link below. Recipes based on Weight Watchers recommendations. WW is a low sugar, low fat, high fiber sensible eating program. The number of points per day depends on your weight. I point = 50 calories modified up or down depending on fat content and fiber. Joining WW is not all that expensive - cheap compared to the health problems that may come from being over weight.

Answer 6

Drink green tea! It is the healthiest thing you can do as far as dieting besides eating healthy. It boosts your metabo and detoxs the body as well as strengthens the immune system. Been drinking it for 14 years. Wonderful stuff! Its inexpensive to and can be found at the grocery store.

http://sirjasonwinters.com/green.htm

Answer 7

Do you have an Aldi's nearby? Also, if you can get your hands on a Taste of Home book (the full book, not the magazine) many times they have a section on making food for $1.50 a plate, another section for food for $3.00 a plate, etc. It's great for larger families.

Answer 8

The best way to save money is visit your local market. Buy fruits and vegetables (to be honest they are usually pretty close to their sell by date) but some are freezable.

Bulk buy, cook a stew, soup spag bol etc and freeze it so you have meals ready to hand when you need them.

Red peppers can be deseeded and frozen very successfully or par boil carrots and potatoes and freeze them too.

Answer 9

Fruit and veg. Go to your local market or Greengrocers, and buy lots of carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, peas etc, as well as apples, pears, bananas, oranges. You can make wonderful casseroles with quite cheap cuts of meat and lots of veg. Try mixing fruit to make a fresh fruit salad for pudding. Rice is also quite cheap, healthy and filling, as an alternative to potatoes.

Answer 10

On a budget, just eat less. Salad, chicken, fish, lots of water, fruit, and get some exercise. Stay off the booze too.