You can eat perfectly fine on a minimal budget
LadyLorraine Send a noteboard - 25/03/2010 03:13:59 PM
Perhaps if you have a big family it's hard, but if there's only 2-3 of you, there's no reason to eat unhealthy.
Take the Lentil Dish I mentioned above.
Bag of Lentils: ~$1
Bag of Split Peas: ~$1
Vegetable Stock: ~$3 (but totally optional, just a personal splurge)
Kale: <$1 (only used some)
Mustard Greens: <$1
Butternut Squash: $3
Max Total cost of meal: ~%10
I made it over a month ago and I'm STILL eating it. Even for a family of 5 (like I grew up in), we'd have had substantial left overs. And it's a very healthy dish that I can make multiple variations of without spending any more money than that. Furthermore, the Kale and Mustard greens I used were delicious tossed in some oil and lemon juice, or lightly sauteed.
You just have to shop around and stop and LOOK. Some more well priced vegetables:
Cucumbers (I buy these for around 79 cents)
Spinach (Sometimes)
"Old fashioned" Greens (mustard greens, Collard greens, etc...)
unpeeled carrots
Parsley (I've seriously made myself a cucumber-parsley green salad with some canned black olives. Laugh if you want, but it was DELICIOUS.)
Anyway, my point is that you do have to look more, and you might not be able to buy what you "want", but it is perfectly possible to make full and healthy meals with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Particularly if you're only shopping for yourself or one or two others.
Take the Lentil Dish I mentioned above.
Bag of Lentils: ~$1
Bag of Split Peas: ~$1
Vegetable Stock: ~$3 (but totally optional, just a personal splurge)
Kale: <$1 (only used some)
Mustard Greens: <$1
Butternut Squash: $3
Max Total cost of meal: ~%10
I made it over a month ago and I'm STILL eating it. Even for a family of 5 (like I grew up in), we'd have had substantial left overs. And it's a very healthy dish that I can make multiple variations of without spending any more money than that. Furthermore, the Kale and Mustard greens I used were delicious tossed in some oil and lemon juice, or lightly sauteed.
You just have to shop around and stop and LOOK. Some more well priced vegetables:
Cucumbers (I buy these for around 79 cents)
Spinach (Sometimes)
"Old fashioned" Greens (mustard greens, Collard greens, etc...)
unpeeled carrots
Parsley (I've seriously made myself a cucumber-parsley green salad with some canned black olives. Laugh if you want, but it was DELICIOUS.)
Anyway, my point is that you do have to look more, and you might not be able to buy what you "want", but it is perfectly possible to make full and healthy meals with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Particularly if you're only shopping for yourself or one or two others.
Still Empress of the Poofy Purple Pillow Pile Palace!!
Continued Love of my Aussie <3
Continued Love of my Aussie <3
Eating like you're poor....
24/03/2010 09:08:18 PM
- 604 Views
Student food: Pasta with lentils + canned tomatoes
24/03/2010 09:19:46 PM
- 386 Views
That sounds really good!
24/03/2010 10:33:09 PM
- 353 Views
the problem with "Eating poor"
24/03/2010 09:50:42 PM
- 508 Views
Exactly, and that's what I'm trying to avoid!
24/03/2010 10:45:19 PM
- 447 Views
Lentils are really easy
24/03/2010 11:35:47 PM
- 371 Views
Seems like it shouldn't be too tough
25/03/2010 04:16:07 AM
- 379 Views
sorry, I have no idea how squash freezes
25/03/2010 12:03:53 PM
- 321 Views

Yogurt with a spoonful of jam / preserve mixed with nuts is AMAZING. One of my favorites. *NM*
25/03/2010 04:15:16 PM
- 237 Views
I used to be poor and we didn't eat so good
25/03/2010 01:52:20 PM
- 365 Views
You can eat perfectly fine on a minimal budget
25/03/2010 03:13:59 PM
- 363 Views
I don't disagree that you can eat healthy on a budget
25/03/2010 05:37:41 PM
- 385 Views
I expect
25/03/2010 05:56:55 PM
- 397 Views