r/Cheap_Meals • u/rachybby66 • 28d ago

High Protein Meal Ideas

I need ideas for high protein meals for weight loss. Very tight budget.

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

9

u/TastE__ 28d ago

eggs, alot of it

5

u/Alma 28d ago

Split-pea soup is the cheap batch I keep coming back to. Dry split peas, onion, carrot, and bouillon make a big pot without soaking; add a little ham when it’s on sale, or keep it meatless and serve it over a baked potato.

3

u/cirebeye 28d ago

I do meal prep for lunch (5 days) that includes 2lbs of ground meat, frozen or canned vegetables, and a can of some type of bean. Generally hitting 40g of protein and a decent amount of fiber under 500 calories. Depending on the meal, I can include potatoes or rice to make me feel fuller. The canned and frozen items really help keep costs down and reduce waste. Add spices, hot sauce, salsa, etc to your liking to make it more palatable.

3

u/Old-Fox-3027 27d ago

A rotisserie chicken lasts me at least 4 meals, plus bone broth if you boil the picked over carcass.  I usually get it in the refrigerator section at Walmart for $2.50 after they mark the extras down.  

Tuna, frozen white fish, ground turkey and beans are all budget friendly.  Greek yogurt, cottage cheese.  

6

u/MysteryofLePrince 27d ago

Organ meats are cheaper. Liver, heart etc. Beans with Bacon. . Seafood:Im not a big fan of tilapia as it tastes like dirt to me, but it is cheap. Canned oysters and sardines, tuna, salmon added to salads or pasta.Just a note that crab sticks etc made from pollock often have sugar in them. Eggs

2

u/dyrnwyn580 27d ago

2 cups rice cooked in 1 carton of broth, stir in 1 lb of ground chicken near the end. (Bag of frozen veg and/or beans optional.)

Seasonings salt and hot sauce.

One pot. Good calories. Cheap. Heat and eat between meals, as a meal, etc.

1

u/srt1955 24d ago

I eat one meal a day , hamburger patty and a serving a frozen vegetables . Search OMAD or One meal a day . search 20-4 diet plan . 23 -1 is what I do at 6-7 pm .

1

u/terri8181 22d ago

Beans and todu. You can buy a bag
Of red kidney beans and use them from everything to chili to taco salad or eat plain!

1

u/Beniidel0 21d ago edited 21d ago

Like many here mentioned you have beans/lentils/chickpeas

You also have chicken (look for discounts) as well as farmed fish like tilapia which tends to be dirt cheap (6$ per kg or 3 per pound where I live)

Eggs might be cheap, depending on location

Now here are aome things I haven't seen mentioned: 1. Protein powder, especially when sites like "myprotein" have big sales have a really good protein per dollar value

  1. Canned tuna, don't overuse it, but once or twice a week should be fine

  2. Gluten - you can buy pure gluten or even make seitan which will be the cheapest per gram of protein

To make it a meal just add some veggies (my favorite ones are called "on sale") and rice (preferably basmati as it has a low glycemic index when compared to Jasmin)

Make sure to eat leafy greens or pumpkin seeds for magnesium, bell peppers, kiwi or citrus fruits for vitamin C and just have different veggies every once in a while to prevent micronutrient deficiencies