CHALLENGE! Eating Cheap and Healthy ~ is it an oxymoron?
 

We have a high percentage of overweight people in this country (and other countries as well)

Is it really that expensive to eat healthily?

It's summer time now, so this is the perfect time to put fresh, whole foods on the table, inexpensively.

I, personally find that I am able to eat healthy food on the cheap year round (not just because I'm in Florida) But food to me has to taste good or forget it :rolleyes:

Here are my top 6 cheap SUPER FOODS(that I can also make taste good :teethysmi )!!


WANNA PLAY ALONG???


Please copy the persons posted list above you and add your own "Secret Sexy Six" to the list. We should have a healthy master list soon!(try not to duplicate but feel free to post additional 6 lists when you think of them!) :thumbup:

1) Quinoa (packed with protein and inexpensive in bulk)
2) Frozen Spinach (a great bang for your buck!!)
3) Chickpeas (again, protein and inexpensive!)
4) Frozen shrimp (bought on sale and used judiciously adds a PUNCH to less expensive dishes)
5) CHIA seeds (higher Omega 3 than salmon and pretty inexpensive in bulk)
6) Dried beans (peas, black beans, pintos, chickpeas, cranberry beans, etc)

:sidesplt: 58 views and NO replies. I think we have our answer.

1) Quinoa (packed with protein and inexpensive in bulk)
2) Frozen Spinach (a great bang for your buck!!)
3) Chickpeas (again, protein and inexpensive!)
4) Frozen shrimp (bought on sale and used judiciously adds a PUNCH to less expensive dishes)
5) CHIA seeds (higher Omega 3 than salmon and pretty inexpensive in bulk)
6) Dried beans (peas, black beans, pintos, chickpeas, cranberry beans, etc)

7) Ground flax seed very inexpensive and I add it to smoothies and other foods..it is very filling and has lots of fiber and health benefits
8) I use minimal amounts of oil and add spices and water to stir fry veggies..if you let it cook down you have a tasty thick sauce.
9) I buy boneless chicken breasts and cut into strips for using in a variety of dishes..the whole breasts are usually lots cheaper than buying them already cut into filets.
10) cook your own dried beans vs buying canned (sorry for the repeat):p
11) take advantage of fruits and veggies in season they are always cheaper and lots better
12) at a loss for anything else to add:D

1) Quinoa (packed with protein and inexpensive in bulk)
2) Frozen Spinach (a great bang for your buck!!)
3) Chickpeas (again, protein and inexpensive!)
4) Frozen shrimp (bought on sale and used judiciously adds a PUNCH to less expensive dishes)
5) CHIA seeds (higher Omega 3 than salmon and pretty inexpensive in bulk)
6) Dried beans (peas, black beans, pintos, chickpeas, cranberry beans, etc)

7) Ground flax seed very inexpensive and I add it to smoothies and other foods..it is very filling and has lots of fiber and health benefits
8) I use minimal amounts of oil and add spices and water to stir fry veggies..if you let it cook down you have a tasty thick sauce.
9) I buy boneless chicken breasts and cut into strips for using in a variety of dishes..the whole breasts are usually lots cheaper than buying them already cut into filets.
10) cook your own dried beans vs buying canned (sorry for the repeat):p
11) take advantage of fruits and veggies in season they are always cheaper and lots better
12) at a loss for anything else to add:D

I only have 4 off the top of my head. Eating healthy has saved us a lot of money. 1 we quit eating out all the time, and 2 fresh fruits, veggies etc aren't that expensive. And 1/2 our portions should be fruits and veggies. 1/4 meat and 1/4 grains (although we are gluten free, so we aren't as grain friendly as some)

13. Fresh fruits and veggies. We grow our own in pots on our patio. Seed packets are .99 and produce tons of plants.
14. Everything fresh. We do not buy any prepackaged meals, or boxed items. Not only are they costly, they are chock full of sodium and preservatives. Bad bad stuff!!
15. Lemons. I use them to flavor everything from salads (delicious) to making my own fresh lemonade, on rice, to fish and even as marinades on other meats.
16. Not an option for everyone but we only eat meat that we have hunted and processed ourselves. IE deer, duck, chicken, fish, turkey, hog, etc. We do not buy store bought meat. Once again, chock full of preservatives and hormones we don't need. Not to mention fresh meat tastes so much better!

I go to the store 3 times a week to buy any fresh veggies I need. I only buy what I will cook in the next 2-3 days. I have found there less waste this way. I only cook portions for 3. We have no leftovers, so again, less waste. Any peels from onions, bananas, bad spots on potatoes, egg shells, anything compostable, etc goes into a compost pile, therefore I have nutrient rich soil to plant my vegetables in.

1) Quinoa (packed with protein and inexpensive in bulk)
2) Frozen Spinach (a great bang for your buck!!)
3) Chickpeas (again, protein and inexpensive!)
4) Frozen shrimp (bought on sale and used judiciously adds a PUNCH to less expensive dishes)
5) CHIA seeds (higher Omega 3 than salmon and pretty inexpensive in bulk)
6) Dried beans (peas, black beans, pintos, chickpeas, cranberry beans, etc)

7) Ground flax seed very inexpensive and I add it to smoothies and other foods..it is very filling and has lots of fiber and health benefits
8) I use minimal amounts of oil and add spices and water to stir fry veggies..if you let it cook down you have a tasty thick sauce.
9) I buy boneless chicken breasts and cut into strips for using in a variety of dishes..the whole breasts are usually lots cheaper than buying them already cut into filets.
10) cook your own dried beans vs buying canned (sorry for the repeat)
11) take advantage of fruits and veggies in season they are always cheaper and lots better
12) at a loss for anything else to add

13. Fresh fruits and veggies. We grow our own in pots on our patio. Seed packets are .99 and produce tons of plants.
14. Everything fresh. We do not buy any prepackaged meals, or boxed items. Not only are they costly, they are chock full of sodium and preservatives. Bad bad stuff!!
15. Lemons. I use them to flavor everything from salads (delicious) to making my own fresh lemonade, on rice, to fish and even as marinades on other meats.
16. Not an option for everyone but we only eat meat that we have hunted and processed ourselves. IE deer, duck, chicken, fish, turkey, hog, etc. We do not buy store bought meat. Once again, chock full of preservatives and hormones we don't need. Not to mention fresh meat tastes so much better!

Some of mine are similar to all of the above. I do think it is more expensive in my area to eat healthy. :rolleyes: Or is that my excuse???

17. We raise our own cow to take to the processor. I think the meat is healthier than what you purchase at Walmart. No filler and garbage added. And the expense is up front but cheaper in the long run. (And mentioned in #16)
18. I buy chicken in bulk directly from one of the processing plants. It is a lot cheaper. (I have a friend who is a manager there)
19. DH hunts turkey. It is free (except for the ammo :eek:) and tastes so much better than store bought turkey. One of the few wild game I will actually eat. (And mentioned in #16)
20. This time of year we get fresh fruit and veggies from a little old guy down the road. LOTS cheaper than the store and they taste LOTS better!!!
21. If you don't have a little old guy down the road, look for a farmers market.
22. Buy in bulk and separate it. On most things, bulk is cheaper. Even if it is veggies you can freeze or can them. And the advantage is you get the good veggies all year round. Buy one of the vacuum type things that suck out the air in all the bags. I don't know what it is called. Anyway, it will make the veggies last longer in the freezer.

Lol. Or grow your own!! But I like those little old guys on the side of the roads.

ha ha! Yes!! But we can't keep the deer and rabbit out of it!!! :eek::eek::eek:

LOL..Lisa and I were just talking about this last night. I used to put out a huge garden and the last two years I did...the critters got all the rewards and that is with fencing around it. My last garden I was able to harvest one ear of corn and enough beans for one meal..and that was out of four long rows of corn and two rows of beans:(:mad: It is easier to buy from the roadside guys:D

Same problem here!! DH says "Well at least we are feeding something!" :p:p

I'm going to the farmer every week - joined the CSA program for RI's only certified organic farm. This week I got a big bag of groceries and 1.75 lbs of pastured pork. Weekly share nets at $34 a week for two people and I found that I got more than market value had I shopped at whole foods. So far, I really like the farmer share, and everything is fresh and it forces me to use things I would maybe not select myself (e.g. rainbow swiss chard was in my bag this week)

As for the list -
I'll add the following:

1. Buckwheat groats - delicious with chicken breast or flank steak sauteed in a little olive oil, grated carrots and onions
2. Frozen sweet peas - add 1/2 can of tomato sauce and toss over small pasta and a little chicken breast
3. Ground turkey breast - cook it up and store in a tupperware - add it to scrambled eggs and some fresh veggies with a little fresh potatoes
4. Any Whey protein powder - add to anything for extra protein - in muffins, oatmeal, yogurts, whatever!
5. Cans of pink salmon - make fresh salmon salad with red onions, celery, and baby dill with a little mayo and lemon juice and eat on a bed of mixed greens
6. almond milk - add to smoothies for lower carbs without the yeast of dairy

How much sodium is in your canned salmon? I've been looking for a low sodium variety and can't seem to find one.
I thought about trying to use fresh. We love salmon croquettes.

Michelle I buy trader joes no salt added salmon - 60mg sodium per 2 oz

Thank you!! I will look for a trader joes near me
:)

:wink::ladywinks:eek: So do I!!! :eek::sidesplt:

I daren't join in with this thread....whole chickens here at the moment are under £2....x

Lemons and Limes are both indispensable for adding more flavor with less sodium and fat!!! I add them to almost every dish I make (not kidding) fresh only tho, no bottled crap for me :eek: ;) :thumbdown

I like all of these ideas. especially the ground turkey (which I even keep some cooked and crumbled int he freezer) and almond milk. I can't stomach salmon ~ but I wish I could :eek: I sub out the chia seeds so I still get all of my OMEGA's!

I literally buy them in bulk. I squeeze fresh lemon on my salads and carry one in my purse in case we do eat out, I'll know I have one.


And once again, I thoughT of you at the store the other day. I had to buy Curry lol.

I get my curry at the Indian or Asian markets generally. Too darn expensive in the grocery store:eek:

BTW....what did u make with it?? :teethysmi

it is hard to think of a "list"

I don't buy processed food...

I go to a farmers' market once a week.. mid week I can buy veggies and fruit from bj or publix

I cook most food from scratch.

I eat greek yogurt ... yum!!!!

foods of my childhood that are fried are "special" treats not something I would eat on a weekly basics. Like sausage and gravy over baking soda biscuits.. once a year !!

drink tea.. hot or cold. I don't add sugar anymore. ahhh sweet tea:(

use only good oils.. like olive oil when needed!

I have been using more and more lemons.. yum!

Lisa has started me using special salts.. the larger grains of salt give more punch and thus you use less. Less is GOOD Lisa!!!!

trying to limit white stuff.. like bread, pasta, rice. I like dreamfields pasta.. check it out

Nothing yet, just saw a recipe that called for it and Tom thumb had buy 2 get 1 free spices so curry went on the list.