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Author: Liz
Date: 04-28-03 22:50
Hi all,
I'm new to this discussion; but, I was wondering if any of you have suggestions for a poor college student.
I'm a non-traditional student (returning to college @ 34 for retraining after my health turned on me).
I am extremely tight for money; but I want to start eating better.
Can any of you send me recipies or site links where I can find good nutrition on a non-exsistant budget??
Thank you ever so much.
Liz ~ Cheyenne, WY
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Author: NancyB 160-149-140
Date: 04-29-03 04:22
Hi, Liz, and welcome. You can go to allrecipes.com for thousands of recipes, but the advice I would give to anyone on a budget is to buy food in its rawest form, which is always the cheapest. Raw vegetables, rice in bulk, canned tomatoes, anything in the bean family like black beans, chick peas, etc. are usually very inexpensive, low-calorie, and high in nutrients. The instant you buy prepared foods, like frozen french fries, Swanson dinners, etc. you not only pay so much more, you also sacrifice nutrition for convenience.
I have heard the argument that only the rich can eat well...I don't agree. When I was a student and had very little money to spend, I ate as well as I do now, if not better. It just takes more work and planning, like anything worthwhile in life. The fast food restaurants that plague modern society exist because they are fast and convenient, not because they offer good low-calorie food.
Hope I didn't bore you, but this is an area I have a little knowledge about and feel very strongly about, too. Hope it helps. : )
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Author: Anne 185/161/125
Date: 04-29-03 04:29
hey, Liz! It's been a long time since I've heard of anyone being from Wyoming! I grew up in Rock Springs!
Anyhow, about your post...I found out when I switched from junk food to healthy, I actually was spending less. I would encourage you to take a notepad to the stores near you and start pricing fresh produce vs. junk food. It sure was a wake up call to me! This only works if you are serious about completely cutting out the junk food and going with healthy fare. I find that there are alot of people who think eating healthy is expensive because they try to add the healthy onto the remnants of the unhealthy. does this make sense? I hope to see you around here often...!
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Author: Araksi
Date: 04-29-03 06:47
Hi Liz,
I've been saving money and time by making a big pot of my cauliflower-greenbean-sauteed onion/garlic-fake meat-salsa-tomato paste creation. It's really low in fat, high in protein and I can divide it up into 4 big portions. I think the whole thing can be made for under $10. Or if those veggies don't appeal to you, you can use others-be creative and make a big pot.
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Author: glunky...266.243.165
Date: 04-29-03 08:00
As Nancy mentioned, raw forms are often cheaper... but you have to be smart about this too...
I was forced to eat better due to health reasons in college. I discovered I was lactose intolerant and I also developed anemia from the poorly run cafeteria/meal plan system we were forced into (on our meal plan, we could afford either a sandwich and salad a day or three short-order prepared meals, meaning fried). It took me a while to learn how to eat better on a budget and here are some tips:
Buy things like rice, beans, canned veggies and meats like shrimp, fish and chicken breasts, of you eat them, in bulk at warehouse/wholesale stores (Price Costco, etc). Spread out these purchases if that will help you so you don't end up shelling out a couple hundred at one time. Do NOT buy fresh items here as odds are you will never finish it in time and will have wasted a lot of money.
Find a small storefront grocer and visit there a couple times a week to get your veggies and perishables. Never buy more than 4 days worth of fruits and veggies (this helps if you have a basic meal schedule sketched out). Try to avoid the big grocery stores as they have too many temptations and most of the small grocers have a very small stock of junk food that is easily avoided.
I am guessing you are on your own and don't havea family to feed? If so, buy thing small. Small tubs of margarine, small milk, etc. This will help you make them last a little longer. Buy a good loaf of bread. It will cost a little more for whole grain than white, but it will fill you up better and thus last longer. Keep it in the freezer and thaw what you need in a microwave or toaster (never keep bread in the fridge).
It is possible to eat well, as long as you make yourself put the time and effort into it. It might seem cheaper to stock up on KD or ichiban noodles, but they are never satisfying and have a lot more calories than we all think (one box of KD is apparently 4-6 servings!)
Good luck with your studies and eating :-)
-Niki
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Author: Kel 226/210/140
Date: 04-29-03 10:41
You can buy veggies to make a salad for the same price that you can go buy one of those calorie-ladened Super-Sized Meals from McD's. The kicker is you can make a big salad to last a few days, as opposed to spending that $5+ a day at McDs and eat much healthier.
Healthier food is cheaper, IMHO than unhealtful foods. I buy a lot of my produce at the Famer's Market, so I can buy variety, and not spend more than $10-$15 dollars in one week, and sometimes the produce lasts longer than a week. Also scan grocery store advertisements. I always by things like chicken, seafood, turkey and lean beef on sale, and freeze it in single servings to be cooked at a later date.
Junk food tends to add up the pennies and the pounds a lot quicker in my eyes than healthful foods. While some things which are healthier may be a little more expensive, the money you save not purchasing the stuff that is on the other side of the coin can be put to use. :O)
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Author: Liz
Date: 04-29-03 16:05
NancyB,
Thank you for your reply.
You seem thinks a very motivated and excited person. It's nice to see.
Liz
Cheyenne, WY
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Author: Liz
Date: 04-29-03 16:14
Ann,
Yes, Wyoming's still here & people too. The air base here in Cheyenne has grown.
In regards to "junk" food; what do you mean? I don't do fast foods very often. I can't afford things like chips & cookies.
Thank you for your relpy.
Liz
Cheyenne, WY
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Author: Liz
Date: 04-29-03 16:21
Hi Niki,
I was wonder why you're not suppose to keep bread in the fridge. I keep mine there because here in Cheyenne the bread seems to mold so quickly. I can eat on a loaf for a couple of days & then it starts to mold.
Thanks,
Liz
Cheyenne, WY
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Author: Liz
Date: 04-29-03 16:27
Araksi,
That cassarole you mentioned sounds *wonderful*!! Can you send me the recipe?
Thanks,
Liz
Cheyenne, WY
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