This is probably a stupid question but i need help....?

Question

I'm not good at buying healthy groceries. I live on my own now and i have to buy some food but i have no idea what to get like i'm use to junk food!! can some1 help...? please dont be rude i just need some ideas

I'm not a picky eater i love basically all foods and yes i can cook

Answer 1

One of the hardest things about eating healthy is making a meal, and then getting burned out on having to eat that meal 2 or 3 times as leftovers, especially when you live on your own.

I recommend starting with a base protein and seeing if you can build a few days worth of meals around it. A great example would be a Rotisery Chicken from a Super Market.

For example:

Sunday Night

Chicken Breast
Roasted Asparagus
Roasted Peppers and Onion

Monday Lunch

A sandwich wrap with the Chicken, Roasted Asparagus, Roasted Peppers and Onion, Some Salad Mix, and the dressing of your choice in a Wheat Tortilla

Monday Dinner

Make some rice and beans, and toss some of your left over peppers and onions with chicken in a skillet with some Mexican food flavors, like jalepenos. Serve as a bowl (Rice, Beans, Chicken Mix, Some more fresh Salsa, Cheese and a dab of sour cream)

Tuesday Lunch

An Italian quesadilla: A what tortilla, with cheese, chicken and a sun dried tomatoes pesto with a side of beans and rice. You can just microwave this at work to get it good and warm.

Tuesday Dinner

Cook up some pasta, and after it is drained, toss with the sun dried pesto, some chicken, and some left over asparagus.

So, you have 5 meals off of one staple item (the chicken), and you can buy most of that for about 25 bucks. It lets you eat healthy (or at least, a lot more healthy then fast food) and cheap (it's very possible for 3 fast food meals to cost you 25 dollars, let alone if you go to a better place).

So I hope that helps!

Answer 2

This is a big question, really. It is a whole heck of alot easier to eat junk food because it is already ready to eat. You will need some kitchen tools to make sure you can prepare the food you buy - I know that sounds silly, but it's hard to cook without at least a good knife and a pan to cook in. Once you have those things, then start with food you like.

When I first moved out on my own, I ate lots of pasta and veggies. It was great and cheap and I could make alot and have meals for a couple of days. Keep at least a package of spaghetti and some sauce on hand - always a quick meal.

When it comes to veggies, think about getting a steamer - I have an electric steamer that I have had forever - and because it also can work as a rice cooker, it has made life easy. Even if you don't think you like veggies, you might be surprised how good they are steamed.

Fruits - whole wheat crackers and bread - cheeses - all good to have on hand.

Experiment and learn what you like - ask for recipes from family and friends - in no time you will be a pro!

Answer 3

Eating healthy is not as hard as it seems, but can be a little more expensive. Unless you are used to cooking and have a lot of storage space, you don't need to buy a lot of stuff in big bulk quantities However, if you have a regular (not dorm size) refrigerator with a freezer, you can cook healthy and save money at the same time. Broiling and baking are the best ways to cook healthy - and many things are a lot easier and faster to cook these two ways than any other. A crock pot is an excellent investment, also.

If you have the time, clipping coupons and checking the sales papers will help. Also, find out when the sales "cycles" are at tyour grocery store. If the sale runs from Monday through Sunday - shop on Sunday. The reason is, things may be marked down, but still perfectly good. Add a coupon and you can really save money.

The exception is fresh fruits and vegetables. Don't buy more than you can eat in 3 - 4 days, or you may end up throwing out food (money).

If you buy groceries that are all "individually packaged" you are going to spend a lot of money. Buying a package of pork chops that has six chop, might cost you only a little more than buying a package with one or two chops. And you can freeze the others to cook a different way, next week!

Seasonings add a lot to different foods and help you have a healthy diet. I can give you 3 - 4 different ways to cook those pork chops, just with seasonings, that make them totally different!! And all of them are broiled.

Your menus should be varied so you won't get bored. But a meat, a vegetable or two (a big salad, broccoli, green beans, or peas etc.) and a starch ie:potatos (a starch even though a vegetable), pasta, bread etc., is considered a healthy meal.

Try to avoid the junk food and the sodas. If you don't buy them in big packages and bring them home, you won't eat them. I'm not saying never buy them, but when you do, buy an individual package, instead of a big one--less temptation.

An investment in a cookbook would be wise. It doesn' need to be big, fancy or expensive. You can pick one up in a thrift store, or ask an older female friend/relative for one. I'll bet she would be delighted to give you pointers, too!

If you need more help, I will be happy to help you, but I am not online at home, and I only get to the library 1 - 2 times a week.

I love to cook and cooking is my hobby.

I hope I have helped you, and am willing to help you more with your cooking questions.

Answer 4

Try to stay away from frozen meals, those are usually packed with lots of fat and sugar!!! (If you do, limit yourself) When you do get fruits and veggies, don't get too many, they go bad quick. But when you buy drinks, buy in bulk, its cheaper. Water can deffinatly get old. To spice it up, add crystal light (or generic brand) and Fruit-2-0 is actually pretty good. Oh! I just got into arizona green tea! So good. i'm not a big tea fan, but Arizsona is really good. Especially the green tea, it helps your metabolism. Hum...what else.? Oh the bread... try not to get white, it has more sugar. Wheat is much better for you. Start with that and if you need more ideas, pick up a recipe book at the grocery store. Hope I've helped! Good luck!

Answer 5

Try stocking up for a couple days at a time in the produce section and at the meat counter. Buy a bag of brown rice (lasts a loooong time) and a box of Barilla Plus pasta (lots of protein, fiber and Omega 3) and you've got meals for a couple days. As for breakfast, oatmeal and raisin bran are a favorite here. Eggs and whole wheat toast with peanut butter, too. Lunchtime can be tricky, make extra dinner the night before to have leftovers to reheat easily. Or make canned soup (broth opposed to cream based) with a sandwich and salad. Hope these ideas help, good luck!

Answer 6

Bread, Crackers, Rice, Pasta, Potatoes.
Tomatoes, Eggs, Lettuce, Carrots, Celery.
Frozen: Peas, Beans, Corn, Mixed Vegetables.
Chicken, Fish, Sausages, Steak, Chops.

Answer 7

Bagged salad, croutons, reduced fat salad dressing (Newman's Own rocks and isn't full of artificial garbage). Whole grain breads, peanut butter without hydrogenated oils. Fruit preserves made with fruit only (no sugar, no corn syrup, just fruit, fruit juice and pectin)
Dried fruit and nuts (trail mix without chocolate!). Cereal that is geared toward adults that has low sugar content (unless the sugar is coming from dried fruit that's in the cereal itself). Prepared hummus with whole grain pita bread. Some apples (green granny smith are sour but they don't taste strange like red delicious and they don't get soft and mealy like other apple varieties).
Go to the bookstore or library and get yourself a good cookbook, some have pantry stocking tips/grocery lists. Subscribe to Cooking Light magazine. It's the best.

Answer 8

Doesn't that all depend on what you like to eat? If you want quick there is always pasta and a jar of sauce, canned soups and TV dinners.

If you want to start going healthy, fruits and vegetables are definately the best route! But if you do have some time at the end of your day to cook, get some recipes and start there. I have been using the link below ever since I discovered the internet!

http://www.recipesource.com/

ENJOY!!

Answer 9

That question is pretty broad based, try to ammend the question by answering theese

Can you cook?

Do you like Vegetables? Meat? Seafood?

Quick recpie that will last a few days while you're thinking of what to buy.

2 thawed chicken brests- 1 package birds eye stir fry veg.
2 to 3 shakes of a bottle of soy sauce 1/4 cup orange juice.

Heat pan for 2min add 1 tablespoon if oil chop chicken into pices 20 pices per brest. add to pan and cook for 2 min. add bag of stir fry veg. cook five min add soy sauce and orange juice cook until chicken in done ( take a piece out and cut it in half if it looks pink keep cooking)

Eat as is or over rice.


Good luck

Answer 10

anything that is raw is generally "healthy"- fruits veggies, etc. buy wheat or whole grain products, try all natural things that arent made with tons of preservatives or salt