RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap

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impishlilhellcat -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 6:50:25 PM)
A bag of lentils is really cheap and you can do amazing things with them. One of my favorites is lentils, some fresh parsley, a little bit of rice wine vinegar, a dash of olive oil, tomatoes, and cucumbers and then refrigerate and eat cold. Homemade salsa is really cheap to make..... and goes great on homemade chicken tacos... I usually use any left over chicken for tacos... I usually wait for pork tenderloin to go on sale it typically every few weeks goes on a great sale and I can get a whole one for $3.99. They tend to be low in fat and calories. Edited to add.. during the summer I usually get a lot of my fruit and vegetables from those road side stands... I can seriously get 2 whole eggplants for a dollar... they are typically just gardens who have way too much produce. During the winter we have something of a farmers market and the produce is way cheaper than at the grocery stores it's typically better too.

0ldhen -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 6:57:11 PM)
Lentil cassarole 1 two pound bag dried lentils 2 cups uncooked brown rice 1 one lb bag carrots diced 1 bunch of celery diced 1 large onion diced 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 bay leaves sea salt and pepper to taste In a crockpot put the lentils and carrots and bay leaves with 6 cups water. Turn to high. In a pan saute the celery and onion in the olive oil, dump into crockpot. after about 2 hours, add the rice and 4 more cups of water. Cover, turn down to low, it will be done in a few hours. This is great by itself but you can also change it up. Add cumin, coriander and garlic to 2 cups of the cooked mixture, use as a taco or burrito filling with your favorite toppings. Make a big green salad. Mix a cup of the casserole with a bit of Italian dressing, some feta cheese, some fresh tomatoes, put on top of the salad. Add tomato paste, chili powder, garlic, kidney beans, serve with crackers as vegetarian chili.

hausboy -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 6:57:11 PM)
I'm of the cheap and easy crowd....and I enjoy healthy foods too.... My recent favorite: spaghetti squash. No, no, wait...it's good. Take the squash and cut it lengthwise, in half. Scoop out the seeds. Then I nuke it for about 15 minutes or so. Then take a fork, scoop out all of the squash--if it's done, it will fall right off the sides of the skin and it looks just like yellow spaghetti. (hence, the name) A little spaghetti sauce and I steam up some kale (very cheap, delicious) and voila! Usually one half a squash yields a whole plate so I save the other half and not cook it. I fix a fresh garden salad or spinach salad with it to help fill you up plus lotsa good stuff in the salad. Drink a glass of water with dinner instead of soda.

0ldhen -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 6:59:26 PM)
I love spaghetti squash. I do mine with a dab of butter, a dab of olive oil, some grated parmesan, it is wonderful stuff.

LillyBoPeep -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 6:59:42 PM)
oooohhh spaghetti squash is a great one! it's also pretty shelf stable and will hang around for months if stored correctly (dry, cool place, and all that).

Iamsemisweet -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 7:03:01 PM)
Good to know all this about spaghetti squash. I planted it this year, and it looks like I am going to get a lot

barelynangel -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 7:03:15 PM)
Sweet Spaghetti Squash Recipe By: Dottie Categories: Veggies 1 medium spaghetti squash 4 Tablespoons splenda 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 Tablespoons cream 2 tablespoons butter 2 packets splenda packets -- additional 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon -- additional 1 tablespoon melted butter -- additional Carefully sut squash in half lengthwise and place, cut side down on a microwave safe plate. Cover with plastic wrap, leaving a small vent for steam. Cook, rotating every 2 minutes, for 8-12 minutes or until tender. Use a fork to "string" flesh. Sprinkle splenda, cinnamon, cream and butter over squash and toss to coat. Pat top down and then mix additional splenda, cinnamon and butter and drizzle over top. If desired, bake, uncovered in a 350f oven, for 15 minutes or until top browns. 415 Calories (kcal); 43g Total Fat; (83% calories from fat); 2g Protein; 17g Carbohydrate; 119mg Cholesterol; 380mg Sodium

impishlilhellcat -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 7:06:24 PM)
Quinoa is another really good grain. Sometimes not so cheap though. I have a ton of recipes for that. It's got some good protein though.

NuevaVida -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 7:08:49 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: barelynangel Many people i know still do low fat grins which means i cringe at what they eat many times and they cringe at what i eat but outside of not trying to tell each other what we need to tweak if we hit a snag, support is support. I do help them on things that are low carb like veggies and such and substitues for higher carb things. i don't know enough about low fat to advocate it (because of the sugar substituting for fat) but in the end -- if it works for you, that's the biggest step in the process -- finding what works for you. Totally agree with this, and laughing at us cringing. [:D] But absolutely true - support is support, and finding what works for you is key. I figure, if it's working for you, don't change it. If it isn't, look at other ideas. But in the end, we want to be healthy, so whatever we can do to support each other in whatever choice we make to get healthy, I'm in.

NuevaVida -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 7:10:25 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: impishlilhellcat Quinoa is another really good grain. Sometimes not so cheap though. I have a ton of recipes for that. It's got some good protein though. Trader Joes has this awesome packaged quinoa mix, just add water (or veggie broth, or fat free chicken broth), maybe some spices if you're into it, and voila.

snappykappy -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 7:12:22 PM)
here are some links i got from a site i am on called inspire.com which is an excellent site for health issues and a lot of knowledge in different areas of eating right and autoimmune diseases Does anyone out there have some good recipes that are: sugar free-sweetner free, no vinegar, no dairy, no fruit, no chicken or fish. The last two are just because I am allergic to chicken and I hate seafood. It is getting to the point I just don't even care to eat. Of course nothing process Have you thought about making some homemade vegetable soup? When I was really sick, I would not want to eat, but my husband would buy a cabbage, some other veggies (whatever is in season, your favorites, or whatever is freshest where you are) and come home to make me veggie soup. You could use a beef base (make a beef broth) or a tomato base with a can of tomato (not spagetti) sauce. If no one else in your house likes soup, then you can just share some with a friend or neighbor or make a small pot! I don't really have a recipe, but I am sure you could find a million on the Internet! The other thing I like to eat is oatmeal or grits when I don't feel good. I put honey on it. And some nutmeg or cinnamon. My last favorite would be plain egg noodles with olive oil and herbs. I like basil, but you could use whatever you like. My mother just puts salt and pepper on hers! And, I was reading the other night a magazine where Giada (that chef on TV) says when she doesn't feel like cooking she scrambles eggs and serves on a bed of arugula. Made me want to plant some, as my Wal Mart doesn't sell arugula and neither does my produce stand... she puts parmesan cheese on hers, but you could use pine nuts, or any nuts, or sesame seeds sounds good too! Actually, that makes me hungry just thinking about it! I hope that gives you some ideas, and I hope you feel better soon. It really stinks when even eating feels like a chore. I have been there. Gotta eat, don't wanna eat, gotta eat, feel like crap... I drove my husband crazy with my food jags! I ate plain peanut butter and crackers there for a while. Now, I don't even want to smell peanut butter! heather You might want to look at these recipes for a menu change: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Quick-Vegetable-Curry/Detail.aspx http://goneraw.com/recipe/pumpkin-walnut-butter http://www.fabulousfoods.com/index.php?option=com_resource&controller=artic le&category_id=224&article=19943 (using spaghetti squash in place of flour spaghetti) http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Garden-Paella/Detail.aspx http://goneraw.com/recipe/nut-butters http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Making-a-Grilled-Vegetable-Sandwich-Video/Detai l.aspx http://goneraw.com/recipe/pumpkin-mousse-pie http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Jacobs-Coat-Casserole/Detail.aspx http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Hearty-Vegan-Slow-Cooker-Chili/Detail.aspx http://www.fabulousfoods.com/recipes/article/136/18397 (no flour veggie pizza) http://www.ivu.org/recipes/main/rice.html http://www.fabulousfoods.com/vegetarian-recipes/article/456/29655 (Coconut Dahl) http://www.healthdiscovery.net/recipes/soups/vegetarian_15bean.htm (15 Bean Soup) http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com/2006/04/brown-and-wild-ricewith-pine-nuts -and.html Well, that should definitely get you started. LOL! Now I'M hungry! :o) Mixed veggies stir fried in a little olive oil seasoned with a little salt and pepper and sesame seeds. Put it over a bed of rice. If you like dried beans, peas or lentils, cook them with a very small piece of ham to flavor. Air popped popcorn for a snack. Have you tried using soy milk? Someone else mentioned spaghetti squash which is very good in place of spaghetti and easy to cook. Baked potatoes with homemade salsa is good. Do you cook with tofu? That might be something to consider. Celery dipped in salsa makes a good snack. Good luck to you. It makes cooking difficult when you are so limited to what you can eat. Hi Fmom, And I thought I had food problems. Mine are just no fish, wheat or turkey. Wow your's are soooo limited. So I eat a lot of rice crackers and quaker rice cakes. The plain ones would probably be ok for you. Is peanut butter OK? Maybe make your own so it doesn't have any additives. There are also several different kinds of rice pasta available in stores such as Whole Foods. By FMOM February 17, 2011 at 6:38 pm · 12 replies Shared with members 0 RecommendationsYou recommend Don't recommend RecommendProcessing... PrintReport postDoes anyone out there have some good recipes that are: sugar free-sweetner free, no vinegar, no dairy, no fruit, no chicken or fish. The last two are just because I am allergic to chicken and I hate seafood. It is getting to the point I just don't even care to eat. Of course nothing processed. View 12 replies Posted in: Stop Sarcoidosis Explore topics in this journal entry and replies:ADD 12 replies Oldest firstNewest first By WithallHope Reply 413532 February 28, 2011 at 10:54 am Report post okay - Tina's TACO CASSAROLE in a 13 x 9 pan cooked at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes PREPARE: cook 2 cups (cooked - so that might be like 1 cup uncooked) of either : quinoa, cous cous or brown rice - then add a SMALL can of red sauce to the rice and stir them together ( sometimes I add a 1/3 packet of taco seasoning to spice it up a bit. Make quacamole....although I have a yummy authentic recipe for this dinner the simple works just fine. Mash up 2-3 avacados and add 1/4 cup of salsa. mix together if you like cheese...Grate 1 cup ( grated) of almond cheese. We use the jalepeno almond, but they have cheddar flavor ect... NOW LAYER IT! 1- put the rice mixture covering the bottom of the pan 2- On top of rice spread out a can of refried beans ( use taco bell or old el paso FAT FREE - as neither of these have unhealthy ingredients) 3- add a small can of chopped chili and spread on top of beans 4- spread your guacamole mixture on top of chili 5- add your favorite ( healthy) salsa on top of the guacamole 6- sprinkle your cheese of top of the salsa know you said you are "over" soup, but once in a while homemade split pea and ham soup is good. For lunch or snack how about hummus and pita bread--I'm sure a health food store has non wheat. Even a lot of kids like it and sure is healthy. Good ole spaghetti using rice or corn noodles. I got the latter at Target, but they may be discontinued by now--they were marked down. Since you said no chicken or seafood, I would suggest escalloped potatoes and ham. I never use cheese, however you would need milk, maybe you could try almond milk instead. Once you add the onions, s and p, and rice flour, it may taste good. Maybe some grated parsley on top? Can you have turkey? Enchaladas using turkey meat. Chop suey using beef chunks. I bought a cheaper chuck roast and it was quite soft after being in a slow cooker all day. This morning for breakfast I enjoyed hot cream of buckwheat cereal. Get it at Earthfare. I like a little milk, but just water works. Do you like soy milk? You could easily sub that. Corn meal mush cooked in a pot and then fried in oil is yummy. You said in another thread you can't have fruit--mind telling us why? Usually bananas are well tolerated, no matter the problem Mixed veggies stir fried in a little olive oil seasoned with a little salt and pepper and sesame seeds. Put it over a bed of rice. If you like dried beans, peas or lentils, cook them with a very small piece of ham to flavor. Air popped popcorn for a snack. Have you tried using soy milk? Someone else mentioned spaghetti squash which is very good in place of spaghetti and easy to cook. Baked potatoes with homemade salsa is good. Do you cook with tofu? That might be something to consider. Celery dipped in salsa makes a good snack. Good luck to you. It makes cooking difficult when you are so limited to what you can eat. You might want to look at these recipes for a menu change: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Quick-Vegetable-Curry/Detail.aspx http://goneraw.com/recipe/pumpkin-walnut-butter http://www.fabulousfoods.com/index.php?option=com_resource&controller=artic le&category_id=224&article=19943 (using spaghetti squash in place of flour spaghetti) http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Garden-Paella/Detail.aspx http://goneraw.com/recipe/nut-butters http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Making-a-Grilled-Vegetable-Sandwich-Video/Detai l.aspx http://goneraw.com/recipe/pumpkin-mousse-pie http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Jacobs-Coat-Casserole/Detail.aspx http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Hearty-Vegan-Slow-Cooker-Chili/Detail.aspx http://www.fabulousfoods.com/recipes/article/136/18397 (no flour veggie pizza) http://www.ivu.org/recipes/main/rice.html http://www.fabulousfoods.com/vegetarian-recipes/article/456/29655 (Coconut Dahl) http://www.healthdiscovery.net/recipes/soups/vegetarian_15bean.htm (15 Bean Soup) http://kalynskitchen.blogspot.com/2006/04/brown-and-wild-ricewith-pine-nuts -and.html Have you thought about making some homemade vegetable soup? When I was really sick, I would not want to eat, but my husband would buy a cabbage, some other veggies (whatever is in season, your favorites, or whatever is freshest where you are) and come home to make me veggie soup. You could use a beef base (make a beef broth) or a tomato base with a can of tomato (not spagetti) sauce. If no one else in your house likes soup, then you can just share some with a friend or neighbor or make a small pot! I don't really have a recipe, but I am sure you could find a million on the Internet! The other thing I like to eat is oatmeal or grits when I don't feel good. I put honey on it. And some nutmeg or cinnamon. My last favorite would be plain egg noodles with olive oil and herbs. I like basil, but you could use whatever you like. My mother just puts salt and pepper on hers! And, I was reading the other night a magazine where Giada (that chef on TV) says when she doesn't feel like cooking she scrambles eggs and serves on a bed of arugula. Made me want to plant some, as my Wal Mart doesn't sell arugula and neither does my produce stand... she puts parmesan cheese on hers, but you could use pine nuts, or any nuts, or sesame seeds sounds good too! Actually, that makes me hungry just thinking about it!

impishlilhellcat -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 7:12:27 PM)
I unfortunately live in a crappy little town with neither a trader joe's nor a whole foods near by. [:(] I usually just buy a box and get creative.. Although I love the texture of it.

NuevaVida -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 7:17:01 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: impishlilhellcat I unfortunately live in a crappy little town with neither a trader joe's nor a whole foods near by. [:(] I usually just buy a box and get creative.. Although I love the texture of it. Oh that sucks about the stores. I think you mentioned that before, and I forgot. Some of those grains you can really get creative with, as they absorb all the herbs and other flavors you cook them in. Couscous is another one that's worth playing with.

LillyBoPeep -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 7:19:40 PM)
when i've bought it, it wasn't too badly priced. hy-vee stores around here have it sometimes in their health food section, for cheaper than i've seen it at usual "health food" stores. i think the red and black quinoa are sometimes sold for more than the "plain" white variety. but for me, it lasts for a LONG time, so a little bit goes a long way; plus since it has all of the amino acids you need, it can take the place of other ingredients. you can use it anywhere you use rice, and if you're a vegetarian who uses meat replacer foods, you can save on buying them because quinoa removes the need for them. and if you're not a vegetarian, you can save in your budget by buying less meat, because, again, you don't NEED them as much. so even when it's high (which it seems to be right now -- it's getting popular and that's what happens sometimes haha), it's still worth the cost because you can save on your groceries elsewhere.

0ldhen -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 7:20:38 PM)
Homemade vegetable soup, Head cabbage, one each, rutabega, onion, several turnips, 2 large cans diced tomatoes, two of the large 2lb bags mixed vegetables, five or six good size potatoes, large can of vegetable juice cocktail(V8). Chop all the fresh veggies into cubes, dump everything into a large stockpot, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, add water as needed until all the veggies are tender then reduce until you have a nice broth. Turn this into vegetable beef by adding cubed beef and 4 beef boullin cubes. This is cheap, freezes well, and just plain good.

Aynne88 -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 7:21:10 PM)
look around your neighborhood and see if they have a co-op, I belong to ours and if I volunteer there 4 hours a month I also get 20 percent off. I also buy a half a cow every year and that is so cheap and they butcher it for me. I buy in bulk like a lot of people said here and that helps hugely. I also try and spend one day a week cooking and freezing things like meatballs, lasagna, soups and stews. I am a huge fan of buying large chickens to roast whole and then using the leftovers for other meals, and I also have a very large vegetable garden which is a total money saver on produce for months. I pack my man's lunch daily so that is another saver and I make my own specialty coffees at home. Make my own pizzas which are healthier and cheaper and also make my own "chinese take out" from recipes at home which is a lot less expensive on the nights we want take out. Cooking skills make this way easier, and don't be afraid to experiment with recipes. I buy wonton wrappers and stuff them with shredded chicken and veggies for a much healthier springroll. If you don't want to fry them use the vermicelli rice wrappers.

NuevaVida -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 7:28:40 PM)
Oldhen you reminded me of cabbage. I make a cabbage soup, too, but a bit different than yours. I do it the quick & easy way, though, with fat free chicken broth. But in a skillet I saute' whatever veggies I have on-hand: Carrots, celery or baby bok choy, onion, green beans, garlic (a must)....anything, and I add some red pepper flakes for a slight bite. Once cooked I add it to the broth, then I wilt tons of cabbage in the same skillet, add to the broth, if I have leftover rice (which I always seem to have), I toss that in, too, let it all simmer for about an hour or so. A gal at work was always crinkling her nose at me bringing cabbage soup in, until I brought her a bowl. Now she can't get enough of it. And it's definitely freezable. The Mister's daughter makes a cauliflower casserole type thing - cut up a cauliflower into bite sized pieces, toss in olive oil, salt and pepper, and sage, thyme and oregano, bake at 350 for....40 min? (Can't remember). Pour over fresh spinach - it will wilt the spinach. Serve hot or cold.

Aynne88 -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 7:32:17 PM)
Oh the cabbage soup recipe reminded me of another thing Nueva, I shop a lot at the Asian market, they have huge bottles of sesame oil which I love to add to my cabbage soup, it gives it a depth of flavor that is kind of roasty tasting and so delicious. I love cabbage soup too, it is so good! So anyway if there is an Asian market nearby go there and check it out. Good stuff.

NiceGuyNihilist -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 7:33:05 PM)
I saw this thread and had to pounce. The best thing you can do to eat an optimal diet cheaply, in my experience, is to buy your main sources of healthy carbs in bulk when they go on sale. Buy a 50-pound bag of oats, a 25-pound bag of brown rice, and 20 or 30 boxes of whole wheat (or other whole grain) pasta. Put all of that in storage buckets with easy-open lids that provide a good seal, like Gamma Seal lids. Now you've got your main sources of carbs for at least four months (probably longer in your case; I'm a big eater) and all you need to worry about when you go on your routine shopping trips is protein, healthy fat, and fruits and vegetables. Any way you go about it, protein and produce are expensive (compared to living on Ramen noodles and macaroni and cheese, anyway), but buying your carbs in bulk when they go on sale, and completely abstaining from junk, will go a long way toward offsetting the cost. Let me know if you want more; I'm well aware I can quickly become overzealous with this stuff, at least in the minds of some. I'm no certified trainer, but I absolutely do walk the walk when it comes to maintaining an uncompromisingly disciplined diet and exercise regimen. Cultivate the mindset that 85% of what's in a typical grocery store simply does not exist in your world. The store exists to serve YOUR discipline, YOUR will. Ha ha, there I go again. This urge is getting too strong. I really need to convince my local woman to let me rule her diet and exercise regimen with an iron fist.

hausboy -> RE: OK tell me how to eat well for cheap (8/15/2011 7:35:35 PM)
I bought a big wok from IKEA (another serious addiction!) and since I have a gas stove, it cooks fast and easy. I pretty much now cook almost EVERYTHING in that wok. Another quick, easy and cheap: Whole wheat pasta (instead of enriched) If you can't tolerate wheat, they now have gluten free pasta that you can substitute. Cook it up just like you normally would (I do not add salt or butter). In the wok--some olive oil, vegetable oil or fat-free cooking spray.... and toss in whatever you like! I cut up yellow squash, zucchini and cherry tomato halves. A sprinkler of black pepper. (again, I use no salt) If you need a little more to it, I'll put a dollop of chunky vegetable spaghetti sauce into the wok, then I'll stir in the pasta when it's done. It takes 15 minutes tops, you only have to wash out the wok and chances are you have enough for lunch/dinner the next day. Costs less than $5 a dinner. To change things up, I'll use fresh spinach and garden sauce.... carrots/broccoli/baby corn with a small dash of soy sauce.....or diced cooked chicken with broccoli and lowfat cheese sprinkled on top. Pretty much any fresh veggies, pasta and sauce in the wok will yield good result. If you don't want pasta, just the veggies and serve it over spaghetti squash, orzo, brown rice or bean-thread.

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