Low calorie and low cost? [low calorie food] [five bucks]
I am a student, and I find it difficult to provide food that is good for me to buy. For example, you can enjoy five U.S. dollars on the pasta and food for one week, but $ 5 will get just enough fruit for a salad. Its frustrating because I really like a lot of low-calorie foods, like salads and fish, but I just can not afford it.
What buy when money is tight, but you do not want to be your pants?
Reply:I did my first two years of college but now I'm buying my own food. It's cheaper that way, because the meal plan cost $900 a semester and I only spend $200-$300 a semester on food when I feed myself.
I miss the salad bar SO MUCH.
I guess that's why the meal plan was more expensive – maybe you could cut the spending by not quite as much. In stead of spending $900, spend $500 – you would still be spending less than before, but able to buy more healthy foods. My food seems to average about $30 per week… That would be about $450 a term… Some weeks more, some less, depending on what I need.
I also like frozen veggies and fruit – you can get a whole bag pretty cheap, and keep them practically forever. I just thaw the fruit in the microwave every morning, and I boil the veggies every night for dinner. I eat whole wheat pasta. I'm lucky because my family hunts, so I bring venison or moose (both VERY lean meats), or sometimes fresh trout, from home. That saves HUGE on the costs – meat is so expensive.
You can also watch for which vegetables and fruits are 'in season'… I just bought a whole pineapple for $2.50! That's my fruit for the week.
Reply:I did my first two years of college but now I'm buying my own food. It's cheaper that way, because the meal plan cost $900 a semester and I only spend $200-$300 a semester on food when I feed myself.
I miss the salad bar SO MUCH.
Reply:I'm a college student too…but I just eat what my meal plan allows me to. So, for dinner, for example, I'll have grilled chicken and make myself a salad from the salad bar.
do you have a meal plan??
Reply:I've already cut most of my other costs – not in order to buy healthy foods, but because I'm on a budget anyway. Most of the money I earn goes to help my parents pay my tuition.
What are some of the less expensive foods you buy?
Reply:What do you buy when money's tight but you don't want your pants to be?
I find I have the same problem – I too am a college student… To over come this, I made a decision – I cut out the unimportant things (like going to bars, movies, etc), in favour of buying healthy food. I encourage my friends to hang out at my place, or rent a movie in stead of going out to see one, or something like that. It saves a TON of money which can then be put to good use buying healthier foods.
