Eating healthy on a budget.

[Kaido]

I read that link and it does seem to be a good way to work around a small kitchen. I can't blame for you not wanting to spend on just improving the looks. Myself, I barely have enough room for my slow cooker when I'm using it.

Yeah, I have a half-galley kitchen, which is about double what my last apartment had, which sounds about the same as yours (room for like a crockpot & that's it). I've fleshed it out with some storage racks & an IKEA square wooden countertop, but it's a somewhat compact space to work in & is annoying at times. Fortunately, I have a basement, which has enough room for an upright deep freezer, so at least I can work in small batches & fill up the freezer, which makes things a lot easier. Plus the appliances do all the work, so I don't have to spread out too much in the kitchen, which is really nice!

 

[whm1974]

Yeah, I have a half-galley kitchen, which is about double what my last apartment had, which sounds about the same as yours (room for like a crockpot & that's it). I've fleshed it out with some storage racks & an IKEA square wooden countertop, but it's a somewhat compact space to work in & is annoying at times. Fortunately, I have a basement, which has enough room for an upright deep freezer, so at least I can work in small batches & fill up the freezer, which makes things a lot easier. Plus the appliances do all the work, so I don't have to spread out too much in the kitchen, which is really nice!

Well the last time I rented a house, I had a large kitchen. But I can't complain about the size of my apartment due to the rent with everything included being only less then ~$300.

Now only if I could stop drinking soda I'll be set.

 

[balloonshark]

Walmart sells 32oz bags of walnuts for $10 and they last me a long time. I like to take a bite of a walnut or avocado and then a bite of my rice/bean/veggie dish. It really makes the dish taste better. Plus healthy fats help your body absorb the nutrients. I usually eat 5 to 8 pieces of walnuts or half an avocado when my meal is mostly veggie and carbs.

Walmart also sells their brand of unsalted peanuts. I would like to eat other nuts but I find these two more affordable for me.

Also, Walmart sells large bags 40oz. of mixed frozen berries for $10. They are very healthy and tasty. They are great for adding to any meal. I use them in my overnight oats and smoothies. I use about 1/2 cup a day so a bag lasts 20 or more days.

 

[whm1974]

I will still eat meat, eggs, cheese, butter, etc.

 

[whm1974]

OK I decide I'm going to try to spend no more then ~$100 per month on food. I already have a cupboard full of can goods. So I should be able to do this, right? My fellow geeks, those of you that are doing this, how long does it take to bring down your food bill?

 

[Chaotic42]

OK I decide I'm going to try to spend no more then ~$100 per month on food. I already have a cupboard full of can goods. So I should be able to do this, right? My fellow geeks, those of you that are doing this, how long does it take to bring down your food bill?

It's entirely possible if you buy dry goods in bulk and eat a lot of sweet potatoes, white potatoes, and cabbage. Getting your staples in bulk will allow you to spend a little more on frills to keep you from getting bored. A good repository of spices is a must.

 

[whm1974]

It's entirely possible if you buy dry goods in bulk and eat a lot of sweet potatoes, white potatoes, and cabbage. Getting your staples in bulk will allow you to spend a little more on frills to keep you from getting bored. A good repository of spices is a must.

Well some stuff I could get in bulk given the limitations of my SRO apartment. Although not 50 lb containers however.

 

[Chaotic42]

Well some stuff I could get in bulk given the limitations of my SRO apartment. Although not 50 lb containers however.

I'd definitely stick to 5-10lb bags of things until you find a rotation you like. I never quite mastered eating the same few dishes over and over without getting bored. Having to scrimp so much on food when I was younger is probably why I spend money like crazy on food now. I completely abhor leftovers.

 

[whm1974]

I'd definitely stick to 5-10lb bags of things until you find a rotation you like. I never quite mastered eating the same few dishes over and over without getting bored. Having to scrimp so much on food when I was younger is probably why I spend money like crazy on food now. I completely abhor leftovers.

Well I really don't mind leftovers depending what they are.

 

[Kaido]

OK I decide I'm going to try to spend no more then ~$100 per month on food. I already have a cupboard full of can goods. So I should be able to do this, right? My fellow geeks, those of you that are doing this, how long does it take to bring down your food bill?

Longest month is 31 days. $100 divided by max month = $3.22 per day. Next step is to figure out food that fits the budget. You mentioned you wanted to eat healthy; what are your current macros?

 

[whm1974]

Longest month is 31 days. $100 divided by max month = $3.22 per day. Next step is to figure out food that fits the budget. You mentioned you wanted to eat healthy; what are your current macros?

I have no idea. I'm sure even eating cheaply, I can still be eating nutritionally if I take care.

 

[Kaido]

I have no idea. I'm sure even eating cheaply, I can still be eating nutritionally if I take care.

Use this calculator & report back with the numbers for your daily calorie, protein, fat, and carb requirements: (recommend using a burner email since they send a lot of spam)

https://www.iifym.com/iifym-calculator/

We can create a menu with different food options based on your macro numbers & budget.

 

[whm1974]

Use this calculator & report back with the numbers for your daily calorie, protein, fat, and carb requirements: (recommend using a burner email since they send a lot of spam)

https://www.iifym.com/iifym-calculator/

We can create a menu with different food options based on your macro numbers & budget.

Thanks, but I prefer not to give my email address to everyone. However it did say 1629 calories to maintain my current weight(136 lbs). However I'm sure I am already eating more then that.

 

[Kaido]

Thanks, but I prefer not to give my email address to everyone. However it did say 1629 calories to maintain my current weight(136 lbs). However I'm sure I am already eating more then that.

Rice & beans are cheap, especially in bulk. There's some caloric interesting numbers in this thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/budgetfood/comments/4bere4/rice_and_beans_plan_yes_its_monotonous_but_its/

Current pricing at my local Sam's Club: (rounding up)

$15 for 25 pounds of Jasmine rice
$9 for 12 pounds of pinto beans
$33 for 25 pounds of steel-cut oats
$6 for 36 eggs
$10 for 30 ounces of peanut butter powder

Get some garlic salt, some Adobo seasoning, some seasoning salt, etc. It really depends on how basic you want to get, and if you can handle monotony. Another good place to look is the day-old bin at the supermarket, where they throw the old bread on & other stuff like ripened bananas & stuff. Good place to save money & have stuff to throw in your freezer!

 

[whm1974]

Thanks. I will be buying eggs, cheese, and peanut butter more often since they are cheap. And of course potatoes along with a bag of garlic and onions.

 

[Kaido]

Thanks. I will be buying eggs, cheese, and peanut butter more often since they are cheap. And of course potatoes along with a bag of garlic and onions.

If you're able to invest in a few tools, you can really maximize those ingredients. An Instant Pot, Anova, vacuum-sealer, and immersion blender can do a ridiculous amount of stuff together (and also let you store food in the freezer for extended periods of time without going bad). There's a ton of things you can do with eggs, for example - hardboiled, softboiled, scrambled, egg burritos, egg bites, omelets, quiches, frittatas, poached, deviled, etc. Same with oatmeal...hot or cold (overnight oats) - cinnamon-apple, carrot-cake, banana-bread, you can get really creative with flavors. Energy bites (aka bliss balls) can be made in a zillion flavors (and freeze well!).

 

[Carson Dyle]

I completely abhor leftovers.

I love leftovers. They're meals with almost zero work. I purposely make too much (and try like hell not to eat it all) just so I can have leftovers for a lunch or dinner later on.

 

[whm1974]

I love leftovers. They're meals with almost zero work. I purposely make too much (and try like hell not to eat it all) just so I can have leftovers for a lunch or dinner later on.

I wouldn't mind eating leftovers two or three days a week.

 

[whm1974]

Well as far as I can tell, my project of only $100 per month food budget will take some effort and planning on my part. So looks like I will need to start making a list of items before I go to the store.

So who makes a grocery list before shopping?

 

[Carson Dyle]

So who makes a grocery list before shopping?

I do. Not necessarily because I can't remember what I need, but I use digital coupons and sales pretty extensively. Sales flyers for the three grocery stores that I frequent come out on Wednesday, as do the newest crop of digital coupons. So I take about 15-20 minutes every week to go through both the online sales flyers and the digital coupons, and I keep a list of where I have coupons and where the sales are. Then from that I make a list of what to buy and where.

In fact, I'm headed out right now to shop. I have a digital coupon for 18 eggs at Safeway. They also have Kleenex on sale, and I have a digital coupon for 75 cents off 3 boxes, so I'll use those together. Then I'll go over to the natural grocer where they have bell peppers, chicken and some other things on sale. I also need a few other things, but it should be a quick trip. Having a list lets me hit the stores and get out bang bang. I don't wander up and down the aisles asking myself if I need paper towels or tuna fish or cheese.

 

[whm1974]

Well I got back from grocery shopping at two stores a few hours ago and spent $71.51 for two weeks. I got my main stuff at Ruler Foods, and 2 bags each of Pearled Barley and Split Peas over at Shop N Save. Normally I spend ~$100 every two weeks.

 

[whm1974]

Well I made some barley, split peas, and brown rice pottage. It came out OK, but a little bland. Need to work on some seasonings. Also needs a little salt as well...

 

[Kaido]

Well I made some barley, split peas, and brown rice pottage. It came out OK, but a little bland. Need to work on some seasonings. Also needs a little salt as well...

Check out:

1. Adobo:

https://www.goya.com/en/products/seasonings/adobo

2. Seasoning stix: (Sriracha + other flavors)

https://www.srirachastix.com/collections/shop

3. Flavorgod:

https://flavorgod.com

Garlic salt is also my go-to, although you have to find the right brand (Stop & Shop store brand is the best I've found so far).

 

[whm1974]

Check out:

1. Adobo:

https://www.goya.com/en/products/seasonings/adobo

2. Seasoning stix: (Sriracha + other flavors)

https://www.srirachastix.com/collections/shop

3. Flavorgod:

https://flavorgod.com

Garlic salt is also my go-to, although you have to find the right brand (Stop & Shop store brand is the best I've found so far).

Thanks. I should have added some Spam or sausage to the pot.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Always wondered ... just what the **** is Adobo?

That's the thing I've always found with dried legumes... I never really learned how to prepare them without ending up bland, no matter how many spices I dumped into the pot. Big part of the reason why I always use canned beans these day.