I read an interesting article on msn fitbe. I thought I would share it with you guys.
20 Cheap and Healthy Foods
Showing posts with label affordable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label affordable. Show all posts
Monday, January 7, 2013
Friday, August 31, 2012
Southwest cheap eats
Buying dried rice and beans at the grocery store is a very cheap way to get a lot of food. These take a little bit of prep time as you have to boil them but the cost savings is worth it. One very tasty low price meal is Black Beans, Rice (I use brown), and corn. When Corn is not in season you can buy frozen corn for a dollar or two a bag. Canned corn is also affordable but has more sodium and tastes less fresh.
When your beans and rice are done boiling, strain them and add in some cooked frozen corn. This meal goes great with fresh veggies, cheese, hot sauce, and sour cream depending on your budget. It is a good way to get protein in your diet when you can't afford fresh meats.
On a budget I will do black beans, corn, rice, a chopped tomato, and some tapatio. When properly portioned this can be less than a dollar a meal. When I have a little extra I will use cilantro, lime, salsa, sour cream, cheese, salsa, and may be some lettuce.
Rice and beans are a good way to make a meal more filling and more cost effective. :)
When your beans and rice are done boiling, strain them and add in some cooked frozen corn. This meal goes great with fresh veggies, cheese, hot sauce, and sour cream depending on your budget. It is a good way to get protein in your diet when you can't afford fresh meats.
On a budget I will do black beans, corn, rice, a chopped tomato, and some tapatio. When properly portioned this can be less than a dollar a meal. When I have a little extra I will use cilantro, lime, salsa, sour cream, cheese, salsa, and may be some lettuce.
Rice and beans are a good way to make a meal more filling and more cost effective. :)
Friday, May 27, 2011
Affordable Meals?
Affordable Meals? Can eating be that cheap? Can you still eat healthy on a budget?
Yes, Yes, and Yes!
The idea behind two dollar meals is to maximize your meal value and minimize the price. There are several ways to do this.
One major way to maximize your meal value is to make a list and buy in bulk. Never buy in bulk just because it is on sale, make sure that what you are buying will be used and use everything you buy. For example buying a larger pack of spaghetti noodles will get you more noodles for a lower cost. If you plan on cooking spaghetti and other pastas a lot than this can be a very good buy. You don't have to cook the entire box at once. The noodles will have a higher shelf life if they are cooked as needed and not sitting soggy in your fridge.
Another way to maximize your meal size is portion control make sure you are reading the box labels and nutrition guides. Don't over stuff yourself on expensive things like meats. A good way to make your meal seem more filling and reduce cost is to add something like potatoes or rice to it. Sides can cost significantly less than a main course and can be healthy for you too. Frozen vegetables tend to be low cost, healthy, and quick/easy to prepare! When going back for seconds load up on the sides first.
Drinking Water rather than sodas is a much cheaper and healthier alternative also. Sodas have a lot of calories and cost a lot more than filtered tap water. Investing in a water filter if you feel you need one can be a much cheaper and actually cleaner alternative to bottled water. Did you know that you are supposed to have eight 8ounce glasses of water a day? That is a LOT of water! Drinking water will keep you hydrated and healthy and may be even feeling a tad bit more full.
Most importantly plan ahead plan ahead! Write down meal ideas for the weak. Pick a couple of low cost meals and let your family pick a few to do a couple nights a week. Doing Spaghetti, or hot dogs on the grill one night may not be the healthiest option, but at less than a dollar a meal these family meal nights can save you enough money to have a nicer meal another day. Stay away from impulse buys and know what you want and about what it will cost per person before you buy it. Remember that meats and cheeses can add a lot to the price. Portion size and adding the meat to the meal rather than having it alone as a course can help lower prices on meats. (example..think chicken pasta rather than chicken AND pasta. Cutting up one or two chicken breasts and mixing it in with your pasta can be cheaper than giving everyone their own breast)
Planning ahead allows you to buy only what you need and not waste money on things that may look good but will end up sitting in your cupboard because you have nothing that goes with it.
Avoid heavy snacking. Avoid sitting on the couch with a bag full of chips. Avoid purchasing expensive snacks. Invest in some plastic ziplock bags and divide up portion sizes for your snacks. Don't over eat and fill up on snacks. If you don't think one snack will fill you, then eat a small/cheap meal instead. Eating your three meals a day is more cost effective than mindlessly munching. Sometimes four small meals can be cheaper than multiple snacks. Make sure that you budget in snacks to your food costs but don't go overboard!
Generics? Some generics are worth buying and some are not. The best advice I can give is don't be afraid to try a generic once. If it doesn't compare than you will have learned your lesson and if it does than it can save you a lot of money in the future! A lot of generics are made of the same materials and even by the same companies. Just because you saw the name brand on TV does not mean that it is always worth the extra price. Remember they have to pay for advertising and design which gives them a higher overhead which they pass on to you. Buying generic can sometimes get you the same type of food for a much better price!
There are many other methods to cutting food costs. Subscribe and keep reading for more.
What are some ways you reduce food cost?
Yes, Yes, and Yes!
The idea behind two dollar meals is to maximize your meal value and minimize the price. There are several ways to do this.
One major way to maximize your meal value is to make a list and buy in bulk. Never buy in bulk just because it is on sale, make sure that what you are buying will be used and use everything you buy. For example buying a larger pack of spaghetti noodles will get you more noodles for a lower cost. If you plan on cooking spaghetti and other pastas a lot than this can be a very good buy. You don't have to cook the entire box at once. The noodles will have a higher shelf life if they are cooked as needed and not sitting soggy in your fridge.
Another way to maximize your meal size is portion control make sure you are reading the box labels and nutrition guides. Don't over stuff yourself on expensive things like meats. A good way to make your meal seem more filling and reduce cost is to add something like potatoes or rice to it. Sides can cost significantly less than a main course and can be healthy for you too. Frozen vegetables tend to be low cost, healthy, and quick/easy to prepare! When going back for seconds load up on the sides first.
Drinking Water rather than sodas is a much cheaper and healthier alternative also. Sodas have a lot of calories and cost a lot more than filtered tap water. Investing in a water filter if you feel you need one can be a much cheaper and actually cleaner alternative to bottled water. Did you know that you are supposed to have eight 8ounce glasses of water a day? That is a LOT of water! Drinking water will keep you hydrated and healthy and may be even feeling a tad bit more full.
Most importantly plan ahead plan ahead! Write down meal ideas for the weak. Pick a couple of low cost meals and let your family pick a few to do a couple nights a week. Doing Spaghetti, or hot dogs on the grill one night may not be the healthiest option, but at less than a dollar a meal these family meal nights can save you enough money to have a nicer meal another day. Stay away from impulse buys and know what you want and about what it will cost per person before you buy it. Remember that meats and cheeses can add a lot to the price. Portion size and adding the meat to the meal rather than having it alone as a course can help lower prices on meats. (example..think chicken pasta rather than chicken AND pasta. Cutting up one or two chicken breasts and mixing it in with your pasta can be cheaper than giving everyone their own breast)
Planning ahead allows you to buy only what you need and not waste money on things that may look good but will end up sitting in your cupboard because you have nothing that goes with it.
Avoid heavy snacking. Avoid sitting on the couch with a bag full of chips. Avoid purchasing expensive snacks. Invest in some plastic ziplock bags and divide up portion sizes for your snacks. Don't over eat and fill up on snacks. If you don't think one snack will fill you, then eat a small/cheap meal instead. Eating your three meals a day is more cost effective than mindlessly munching. Sometimes four small meals can be cheaper than multiple snacks. Make sure that you budget in snacks to your food costs but don't go overboard!
Generics? Some generics are worth buying and some are not. The best advice I can give is don't be afraid to try a generic once. If it doesn't compare than you will have learned your lesson and if it does than it can save you a lot of money in the future! A lot of generics are made of the same materials and even by the same companies. Just because you saw the name brand on TV does not mean that it is always worth the extra price. Remember they have to pay for advertising and design which gives them a higher overhead which they pass on to you. Buying generic can sometimes get you the same type of food for a much better price!
There are many other methods to cutting food costs. Subscribe and keep reading for more.
What are some ways you reduce food cost?
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