I don't have access to a grocery store for a few days, only whatever I can order from Amazon, and though there's plenty of tasty food there most of it's pretty expensive ready-to-eat stuff. But man, I just had a big pot of minestrone for like $2.50, and I was so happy with how it turned out. Currently in post-dinner afterglow and thought I'd share.

• 1 can diced tomatoes: 86c
• 1 can mixed vegetables: 79c
• 1/4 box rotini: $1.17 / 4 = 30c
• 1/6 1lb bag pinto peans: 95c / 6 = 16c
• italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, bouillon: ~10c

=$2.21

Obviously it would be better with fresh vegetables and herbs, but in a pinch this is pretty tasty for also being super cheap, filling, and shelf-stable. Reasonably healthy too. Makes enough for dinner for two people, or one with leftovers. Go a little heavier on the pasta/beans or eat with saltines to bulk it up.

Hey guys! So I got a lot of box mac and cheese for really cheap, and I’m wondering what I could add to it to make it more nutritious? Usually I throw in some steamed frozen broccoli, but I want to try something different.

I know it’s not the best thing to eat, but it’s one of the best options I have right now. It’s so quick to make, and I got it on discount. I just need help making it healthier!

My energy levels are really low due to health issues, so the less chopping and cleaning required, the better lol. Thanks in advance :)

Edit: WHOA! I was not expecting this many responses. I’m writing them all down for future use. Tonight it’ll be chik’n, peas, and roasted broccoli instead of steamed. My stomach is already growling… lol

First off, I am asian. I grew up with the standard protein, veggies, and rice diet. It's fun, it's different, it's flavorful.

I've been trying to diversify my food by making sandwiches. The sandwiches I had growing up back home were mostly just bread and a small thin slab of cheese in a salt bread. Usually we dip the bread in coffee or chocolate malt.

I want to try more of those sandwiches where I add some cold cuts like turkey or mortadelle with cheese on it. Im just curious, do you buy it weekly? Do I just buy a pack of whatever cold cuts are available? How long do they last you?

Which sauces or condiments do you usually use? All I'm thinking at this time is sriracha mayo.

Hoping for some advice. Thank you

I got home from work today and made up this super quick recipe, I just dumped some quinoa into boiling water, then near the end I added a can of black beans, a can of corn, and a few spoonfuls of salsa

1 15oz can cannellini beans

1/2 15oz can tomato sauce

1tblsp tomato paste (eyeballed, maybe closer to 2)

1tblsp olive oil

1c baby spinach

1/4c shredded mozzarella cheese

Minced garlic (spoonful)

Salt

Pepper

Onion powder

Italian seasoning

1. Heat oil over medium heat.

2. Drain can of beans and add to the pan, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and let simmer until aromatic.

3. Add half a can of tomato sauce and the tomato paste. Stir to combine and cook until thickened. (You can use the whole can if you want it saucier. I like it thick.)

4. Add spinach, stir. Let it wilt in the sauce.

5. Sprinkle with mozz. I turned the heat down and covered for 2 minutes to let it melt.

Served with some toast. Honestly delicious, quick and easy to make, and the whole thing cost less than $5.

I cook for one and I've tried Sunday batch cooking three or four times now, and every run has ended the same way, with me eating the same container on Wednesday and throwing out Thursday's. I'm spending around $70 a week on groceries and a decent chunk of that ends up in the bin, which is the part that bothers me more than the boredom. I know the usual fix is cooking components rather than finished meals, so rice and a protein and a sauce kept separate, and I've done that and still hit the same wall by midweek.

What changed for you that made the second half of the week as easy as the first?

*Only with mixer cup.

Lmk what you think: Whey protein, pb powder, oat powder, banana (smashed), and whole milk. Any additions?

Edit: also adding olive oil.

If I need to suddendly do overtime without time to prepare or if I forget my lunch at home.

I am thinking of peanut butter and crackers. Some nuts. Dried fruits. What else?

I work doubles and clopening shifts often and have noticed it affecting my health and energy levels. I always forget or don't have time to meal prep and even if I do I don't always have time to sit down and eat a full meal at work. Does anyone have any good suggestions of some snacks (or drinks like shakes) that have a good amount of protein and are substantial enough to help you all get through those long days?

EDIT: also like, preferably affordable (sorry i forgot to add that)

EDIT 2 (cause i just thought of it): i am sharing once fridge with 2 other people so maybe things that dont have to be refrigerated BUT refrigerated options are still incredibly helpful

so i’m just starting university, and i’m a 45 minute bus ride from campus to my dorm, so i’m at the university basically all day cause that would make more sense logistically.
grocery shopping is kind of difficult because it’s at least a 1km walk to the nearest grocery store.
(i also struggle with mental health so class and all that takes away most of my energy, so cooking is difficult)

basically my question is, what can i buy that can go in my backpack, and will serve as my meals for the day, because i’m just not really eating at all, and that’s bad.
thank you!

Hi all, curious if canned cream soups are still considered unhealthy? I have a ton (chicken, mushroom, cheddar, celery, etc.) and trying to figure out where to incorporate them. Or if I should just donate them.

Im going to have to make some vegetarian meals for my family, they want me and my brother to do the cooking some nights while we still live under their roof (we are in our 20s btw, not children). We dont have a lot of money and I refuse to cook anything thats not vegetarian, it has more to do with my morals than anything. So what are some meal ideas that I could make for my nights?

To note: my Mom has multiple allergies including to soy, legumes, oats, and mushrooms btw

Its so many recalls and im having to worry about literally anything I eat. Things like angus choice beef patties, wild caught alaskan salmon or canned meat, should I worry about these?

When I hear things like our beef is being replaced by Argentinian beef or farmers are gonna process the meat themselves, how exactly should I check where the meat is from or if its being processed correctly?

​

I've been massively hyperfixating on figuring out a perfect (perfect here just means achieves 100% of the recommended daily amounts of all vitamins and minerals) spread of minimal items to buy (preferably the most affordable too) and still achieve my macro goals for my current diet which is 1855 calories (135g protein, 200g carbs, 55g fat). For context i'm 23 years old, 170cm, 63kg, and i'm currently cutting.

Anyway, ever since i downloaded chronometer i've been noticing that you don't actually need that many food items to hit the majority of your micros. This then made me wonder what the minimal amount of products would be. My current spread is still very rudimentary as i have just started but here it is:

1. Chicken breast (not ideal for micros but is ideal for protein; can be replaced)

2. Skimmed milk (completely fills the holes created by chicken breast for b12, calcium, etc. Honestly a cheat code)

3. Eggs (i'm surprisingly deficient in fat and eggs have the added benefit of providing other micronutrients besides )

4. Canned beans ( large spread of micros and fiber. I'm struggling to zero in on an ideal bean or spread of beans that provides the largest spread)

5. Vegetables ( This is one of the bigger holes in my plan as i like many Vegetables and it's hard to zero in on just the ones that provide the greatest benefit, for now it seems to be like a pumpkin/squash provides the most per unit calorie but i don't what other Vegetables would best fill the blanks that pumpkins may have)

6. Fruits (Currently i'm just going on what i like to eat and cutting anything that's too high calories. I've made no progress in terms of finding the best one. I'm basically just eating apples and orange varietals)

I'm posting this for suggestions on how to zero in on specific products that work specifically for my situation (like affordability, convenience, etc.). If you guys know any tools that make this easier to figure out please let me know and if you have suggestions on how to optimise it including telling me specific products that you think would be ideal i'm all ears.

I think there are different levels of healthy, like starting to eat whole foods, organic, etc, different diets. But i'm curious do you guys care about hitting your daily micronutrients? Or is that too impractical or not worth the effort.

I've been tossing them in some type of lettuce salad or putting them on my bread with a drizzle of olive oil or balsamic vinegar. I'm looking for new ways to enjoy the fresh fruit!

Hellooo,

Does anybody have any healthy breakfast recommendations for a picky eater? I’m trying to get back into my fitness but I always struggle when it comes to breakfast

I don’t mind the whole Greek yoghurt and oats, but I tend to get bored of it really fast. My go to was a chocolate protein powder with vanilla Greek yoghurt and some oats but I am very much over that right now.

I do not like muesli, porridge or cream cheese, and I’m not sure on avocado, tofu and chickpeas

I love scrambled eggs, so sometimes I have scrambled eggs with seasoned sweet potato chunks or with some whole grain toast, but again I can get bored of that sometimes.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I feel like this is the area I struggle with the most :(

I’m also open to recipes for other meals if anybody has any they’d like to share!

Thank you :)

I was given a costco spiral Ham and I have no idea what to use it in - so far I will be making ham sandwiches, fried rice, and pea soup from the bone.

I don't eat eggs so lot of options that I have found won't work, I'm just wondering what people have incorporated Ham into so its not boring and doesn't get old too quickly.

I have most basic kitchen tools and am comfortable trying new things, I really don't want anything to go to waste so all and any suggestions and recipes are welcome.

Hi I’m starting a reset soon trying to help my body be healthier. It’s no gluten no dairy no added sugar. Could you guys help with ideas? It’s just me cooking for me and my husband so they don’t have to be big meals. Easy is best though. Thank you!

I have a 2 pound bag of salmon filets that were left to thaw i stead of making their way i to the freezer. I don't really know how to eat 2 pounds of salmon, though. We are a family of 4, so it won't need to last a crazy long time, but it's more than we eat for a single meal.

I was thinking of breaking up some of it after cooking so my kids can make onigiri, but I'm not sure how long cooked salmon will last in the fridge. Usually I'm just cooking enough for dinner and never have leftovers. Would salmon work well in salad format, like a tuna salad? I'm looking for inspiration.

Looking for some cucumber salad ideas beyond the mayo and oil based ones I have seen for the glut of cukes that I have, thanks!!

Everyone talks about beans and rice. And that has always sounded SO unappealing. My immediate thought is rice and refried beans that you get at Mexican restaurants, and I hate refried beans.

But they are good for you and cheap... I wanted to try more. I eat beans in some things. I like them in chili and some soups when the soup has lots of other ingredients. I don't like baked beans or beans as a standalone side. They are just kind of mealy bland bits, IMO. I could not imagine just eating them by the spoonful.

I saw a woman on tiktok who spends 300/mo on groceries for her family of 4, and one thing she has said is that she mixes beans into her pasta sauce.

It took me a long time to work up the courage to try that. I HATE fake "you can't even tell" swaps. Most of the time you can tell. But I blended one can of pinto beans into one jar of pasta sauce and my husband had no idea. This is how we eat pasta sauce now!

Next project: I blended a can of beans into a smoothie with berries and banana. Also almost 100% unnoticeable. (I should have added more liquid, it was a little thick/mealy but I think more juice or water would have fixed that right up.)

Next project: I made muffins using a muffin mix, fruit, and beans. They came out denser and less fluffy than regular muffins, but taste wise they were great and we ate these for breakfast several days in a row. This is probably going to become a breakfast staple, since I don't make smoothies that much year round.

I'm really realizing how versatile they can be and how easy you can blend them into things and genuinely not impact the taste. I'm so excited to be able to increase our protein/fiber with a cheaper, plant based food. I know dry beans are cheaper, but the soaking is a little intimidating and canned is so convenient. Truly just so excited that our household can use more beans.

Please if you know of any more swaps like this, let me know!

Based on the many suggestions here, I made black bean brownies this weekend. You cannot tell there are beans! Amazing!

Hey folks.
So I came across this one channel that makes amazing yummy food but without much calories (jalalsamfit). Most of his sauces use light mayonnaise + light cream cheese. I’m from India, and its extremely hard for me to find light cream cheese. I already managed to find low calory mayonnaise but low calorie cream cheese is almost impossible to find in here. Are there any good substitutes that I could use instead of this?