How to eat healthy on under $50/week
I'm a college student and my food budget is tight. Everyone says "just eat healthy" but healthy food seems expensive. Any tips for eating well on about $50/week?
Absolutely doable! My staples:
- Dried beans and lentils (pennies per serving, tons of protein and fiber)
- Rice (buy in bulk)
- Eggs ($3-4/dozen, perfect protein)
- Frozen vegetables (just as nutritious as fresh, WAY cheaper)
- Bananas and apples (cheapest fruits)
- Chicken thighs (cheaper than breast, more flavor)
- Oats (bulk, breakfast for pennies)
Going partially plant-based saves a ton of money. Beans + rice is a complete protein for like $0.50/meal. Add some frozen veggies and hot sauce and you've got a solid meal.
Buy a whole chicken instead of parts. Roast it, eat the meat over 3-4 days, make stock from the bones. Maximum value from one $8-10 bird.
Frozen vegetables are your best friend on a budget. Same nutrients as fresh, last forever, and often on sale. Don't believe the myth that frozen = inferior.
Aldi and Walmart are your friends. Generic brands are nutritionally identical to name brands. Also: shop the perimeter of the store where whole foods are.
Frozen berries for smoothies are way cheaper than fresh. $3 bag lasts me a week. Blend with banana, protein powder, and water = cheap breakfast.
These are amazing tips. I went shopping with the bean/rice/egg/frozen veggie strategy and spent $42 for the whole week including some treats. This is life changing.
Canned tuna is insanely cheap protein. Like $1/can and 25g protein. Just don't eat it every day (mercury). 2-3 times a week is fine.