• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Your Favourite Cheap Meal

Page 4 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
NikolaeVarius said:
The meal is supposed to be cheap.

Protein powder in water tastes just fine.
Click to expand...

I had some expired protein powder once, it was all clumpy (and one big lump to chisel at) and sticky with no way to mix it into a liquid so I just ate it "raw". It seemed to suck the moisture out of your mouth but it wasn't to bad. Chased it with water (I always drink lots of water anyway) and occasionally swished/gargled to get the stuff out of my teeth. Pretty much like old melted whoppers, but with more "nutrition"...so I don't see why anybody would complain.
 
NikolaeVarius said:
The meal is supposed to be cheap.

Protein powder in water tastes just fine.
Click to expand...

So drop the oats. A gallon or two of milk a week is less than $10. Unless you only drink organic milk or something.

It's not so much the taste as it is the texture, I prefer it thicker. I guess the pb in yours offsets that though.
 
chubbyfatazn said:
So drop the oats. A gallon or two of milk a week is less than $10. Unless you only drink organic milk or something.

It's not so much the taste as it is the texture, I prefer it thicker. I guess the pb in yours offsets that though.
Click to expand...

Why the hell would I drop the good calories and keep the shitty ones?
 
NikolaeVarius said:
Scoop of Protein Powder, Handful of Oats, Cold Water. Possibly a scoop of peanut butter every once in a while.
Click to expand...
Dip a peeled banana into a jar of natural peanut butter. Great combo.

I have never indulged in protein powder in my life!
 
Last edited:
Once a week I indulge (after a good workout):

Heat in 425 F oven (cold start, not pre-heat) a couple of corn dogs (chicken corn dogs from Costco) and 10 oz. frozen french fries. Serve with mustard and Heinz Ketchup. I have this with a chocolate malt made with 8 oz ice cream, etc.

But this week I changed up: Home made potato salad (yum!), a parboiled Saag's Louisiana Brand Sausage and that chocolate malt!

I used to do the ramen thing many years ago, Sapporo Ichiban or the cheaper ones. These days instead I buy large packages of dry noodles in Chinatown and big containers of chicken broth powder. Similar outcome, and I add some diced veges, e.g. onion, whatever, maybe a squirt of soy and sesame oil.

There are so many good quick cheap meals I make, I could go on and on...
 
Last edited:
killster1 said:
huh.. where do you get anything for 4$ that is decent quality?
Click to expand...

The price for a whole uncooked chicken at my local grocery store is $4.23 cents today.

If you want to be lazy and buy the pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, one can be had for just over $5.
 
Sho'Nuff said:
The price for a whole uncooked chicken at my local grocery store is $4.23 cents today.

If you want to be lazy and buy the pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, one can be had for just over $5.
Click to expand...

Having raised chickens, I just don't know how they make any money at $4.25 per chicken or $5 for cooked. I think they go through $50-60 in just feed per chicken per year. I understand that there are economies of scale, but they still need to make a profit from that $4.25. It astounds me how they do it.
 
chYnzJW.jpg
 
trader joe's dumplings + nissin satay ramen

trader joe's $5 frozen supreme pizza

I also do Taco Bell and it is neither disgusting nor cheap. It used to be cheap but now a Gordita/Chalupa is over $2 and I get 3-4 more other tacos on top of that.

Cheaper is something like a McDouble, McChicken, someOnion Burger and fries, all from the $1.29 menu.
 
Last edited:
madoka said:
Having raised chickens, I just don't know how they make any money at $4.25 per chicken or $5 for cooked. I think they go through $50-60 in just feed per chicken per year. I understand that there are economies of scale, but they still need to make a profit from that $4.25. It astounds me how they do it.
Click to expand...

HUGE Economies of scale and technology. I went to school at JMU, which in Harrisonburg VA. Apart from JMU, Harrisonburg is one of the largest producers of poultry in the US. Chickens outnumber people there something like 150,000:1 (not an exaggeration). The average lifespan of a roaster chicken is about 4 months if I recall correctly. They have been bred to grow incredibly fast and to have large breasts relative to your typical farm raised chicken. You don't want to know how many chickens are processed there every day, and what the process is like. It ain't pretty. I'll leave it at that.
 
Last edited:
EliteRetard said:
Milk is bad for you anyway...especially homogenized ("organic" or not).
Click to expand...

Since when? Source?

'Over the years, nearly all the fears about milk have proven to be unfounded. Many studies have linked dairy products—possibly even whole milk, despite its saturated fat—to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers continue to examine the effects of various milk components on the risk of heart disease and on health in general. So far, there’s no convincing evidence that homogenization is an issue. The only reason to drink non-homogenized milk is if you like the way it tastes and are willing to pay a premium price. - See more at: http://www.berkeleywellness.com/hea...enized-milk-myths-busted#sthash.ORgBMhQ3.dpuf

http://www.berkeleywellness.com/healthy-eating/food/article/homogenized-milk-myths-busted
 
For $5 the chickens at Sams Club (and I guess Costco) are 3 pounds and already cooked. Enough to feed a family of three easy. It's also not ultra unhealthy like taco bell or mcdonalds. For the money and the quality, you can't get much cheaper.

JYFeCcM.jpg
 
Sho'Nuff said:
HUGE Economies of scale and technology. I went to school at JMU, which in Harissonburg VA. Apart from JMu, Harrisonburg is one of the largest producers of poultry in the entire US. Chickens outnumber people something like 150,000:1 there (not an exaggeration). The average lifespan of a roaster chicken is about 4 months if I recall correctly. They have been bred to grow incredibly fast and to have large breasts relative to your typical farm raised chicken. You don't want to know how many chickens are processed there every day, and what the process is like. It ain't pretty. I'll leave it at that.
Click to expand...
I was talking with the wife just the other day wondering what the per capita of chicken deaths each American had on its hands annually.

I also second the fully cooked whole chicken from Costco for $5. Mmm.
 
Sonikku said:
For $5 the chickens at Sams Club (and I guess Costco) are 3 pounds and already cooked. Enough to feed a family of three easy. It's also not ultra unhealthy like taco bell or mcdonalds. For the money and the quality, you can't get much cheaper.

JYFeCcM.jpg
Click to expand...
This. They are an excellent value due to all the things that you can make with a whole chicken, including broth.

I get one every time I go to Sam's. :thumbsup:
 
qliveur said:
This. They are an excellent value due to all the things that you can make with a whole chicken, including broth.

I get one every time I go to Sam's. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Thirded. We take it home, break it apart, and use as needed throughout the week.

GREEK YOGURT CHICKEN SALAD, BITCH.
 
Chicken cutlet.

Just throw a chicken breast in a ziploc bag & pound it down to about 1/4" or 3/8" by whacking it with a wooden rolling pin. Cook for 6 minutes per side over medium in a cast-iron frying pan in a bit of olive oil. I cooked chicken wrong my whole life ("struggle chicken") before discovering this trick (keeps it moist but with a bit of a nice crust). From there, it's easy to flavor it for whatever you're in the mood for. Just off the top of my head:

1. Garlic salt
2. Homefry spice mix
3. Cajun spice mix
4. Teriyaki sauce with a pineapple slice
5. Thousand Island dressing with caramelized onions on top
6. Honey mustard
7. Sweet BBQ sauce
8. Smokey BBQ sauce (more savory than sweet)
9. Prego sauce (red marinara in the glass jar, lots of flavors available)
10. Alfredo sauce (I'm dairy-free, so I make it out of either cashew cream, coconut cream, or cauliflower puree)

Sides are easy too:

1. Microwave a potato
2. Microwave a sweet potato
3. Cut a spaghetti squash in half & throw in the oven
4. Microwave frozen veggies in a bowl of water for 3 minutes to steam-boil (broccoli is easy)

That's like a two-dollar meal right there. Flavored chicken & starchy side, with enough variety to keep you from getting bored (Prego chicken & spaghetti squash, honey mustard chicken & a potato, Cajun chicken & a sweet potato, BBQ chicken & broccoli, Garlic chicken & mixed veggies, etc.). The trick is just to buy a truckload of chicken for your fridge (or freezer) & to have all of the other stuff on-hand in your pantry so you can easily cook whatever you're in the mood for in terms of chicken flavoring & sides.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top