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Cheap and Healthy Meals That Got Me Through CollegeAffordable ingredient selection -
As leafy greens go, spinach is a particularly good choice. It's famously rich in iron, but is also a good dietary source of magnesium, potassium, and vitamin E.
Eating spinach is linked with a range of health benefits, including improved skin, hair, and bone health, and helping your body control blood sugar levels. Spinach is also inexpensive, with retail prices of around 91 cents per pound.
The cheapest option for spinach is to buy it frozen and, perhaps surprisingly, frozen spinach can actually be more nutritious than fresh leaves. After being picked, fresh leafy vegetables tend to gradually lose their nutrients over time, but freezing locks them in, keeping frozen spinach as rich as when it was freshly harvested.
Helpfully, in many dishes, frozen spinach can work just as well as fresh leaves. It can be mixed with feta cheese and baked into a buttery Greek spinach pie, spanakopita, or can be combined with spices and diced potatoes to make a mouthwatering Indian spinach curry, saag aloo.
Tomatoes are one of those foods that are ubiquitous in world cuisines, and one of the cheapest ways to use them in your cooking is to buy them canned. Tomatoes are a good source of vitamins, B, C, and K, as well as potassium, but the main reason they're so popular is for their distinctive flavor.
One of the simplest ways to use tomato purée is in tomato soup , as a comfort food that's both wholesome and easy to prepare.
Tomatoes are an essential ingredient in cuisines from all around the world though, from Italy to India, so there's no shortage of inspiration. Whether you're spreading it onto a pizza base or making a rich pot of murgh makhani butter chicken , you'll need some of this versatile ingredient.
Of course, tomatoes are originally from Mesoamerica, so they're used in all kinds of Mexican dishes. An easy and satisfying one is to combine it with rice to make arroz rojo.
For being both abundant and affordable, corn has historically been a cheap staple food in America. It still comfortably fits this role, with cornmeal available for just under 70 cents per pound.
A starchy foodstuff, cornmeal also contains some protein and fiber, as well as being a good source of potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Traditionally used in working-class foods in the US, cornmeal is essential in a few classic recipes from the Southern states, like hot water cornbread or grits.
It can also be found in cuisines from elsewhere in the world, from the polenta enjoyed in Italy to the cornmeal porridge eaten for breakfast in Jamaica.
While many people may overlook cornmeal, it is a nice and cheap addition to add to your grocery list and it has a good shelf life. A little can go a long way in your cooking! Not everyone eats meat, but for those who do, cuts that are still on the bone are typically the cheapest option, and bone-in chicken is one of the most affordable.
As well as being a good source of protein, like other meats, chicken is also rich in potassium, phosphorus, and B vitamins. While it's often cooked on the bone, chicken thighs can also be filleted and used in much the same way as any other cut of meat.
To be truly frugal, it's best not to throw those bones away either. Chicken bones can be boiled to make a wholesome chicken stock , which can be used to add some umami depth and nutrition to other dishes like soups or noodle bowls. While it takes some time to get a rich-tasting broth, this effectively makes chicken on the bone a two-for-one option to add to your grocery list.
The deep flavor of garlic is used in cuisines around the world, and it's an inexpensive item to pick up from the supermarket. As nutritious as it is flavorsome, garlic is a rich source of potassium and comes with a range of health benefits. It has some antibacterial properties, and there's evidence to suggest adding it to your diet can improve bone health, as well as reduce the risk of heart attacks.
Garlic is also a good ingredient to keep in your pantry. As long as it stays unpeeled, it can have a shelf life of around six months. Some chopped garlic can add its distinctive flavor and richness to all kinds of dishes, and many recipes from East and South Asia begin by frying some in a hot pan.
There are a few dishes though, which let it take the spotlight, like freshly cooked fragrant garlic bread. And speaking of bread For those who can eat it, plain flour is one of the most basic cooking ingredients and is helpful to keep handy in your kitchen.
Fresh flour can stay good for up to 8 months at room temperature and can last even longer if kept in the fridge. It's also a very cheap dietary staple, costing around 56 cents per pound. However, according to the USDA via Food Business News , due to drought conditions, the price of flour is likely to rise in , but it's so versatile it'll likely still be worth adding to your shopping list.
Home baking may not be for everyone, and does require that you have a suitable oven, but it can be an excellent way to save money. It's even cheaper if you make sourdough, letting you save more money by not buying yeast.
Most people can expect to make bread at home for prices as low as 40 cents per loaf while also enjoying the delightful fragrance of fresh baked goods. Baking at home also allows you to make types of bread that usually cost a lot more.
Pizza is a good option. Far less than you'd spend on takeout or even frozen supermarket pizza. The more uniform shape of the chicken ensures that as much fat as possible is rendered out while it cooks, and since that fat joins the luscious sauce for the kale rice — which you should absolutely be prepared to make a double batch of, BTW — it's a very worthwhile swap.
Other favorites: My favorite herb-forward chicken noodle soup that's also loaded with veggies, or these air fryer chicken thighs that taste restaurant-quality every single time. I have nothing against sandwich bread, but if we're talking longevity and price point, tortillas win every single time.
I keep mine in the refrigerator so they stay fresh for as long as possible, usually at least two weeks, and they're a satisfying base for a variety of meals and snacks from air fryer tortilla chips to quesadillas.
In my most dire rent-week experiences, I've even been known to slather warm tortillas with butter and salt and munch on them as-is don't knock it 'til you've tried it. If you have a gas stovetop, my favorite hack for getting store-bought tortillas to taste decidedly fresh is to briefly run them under cool water, pat any excess dry, then toast directly over the flame.
You'll end up with an interior that's warm and tender with a crisp, slightly charred exterior, and it's heavenly. You can do this with electric or induction stovetops, too; just toast the tortillas directly in a hot skillet until warmed through and gently crisped.
Think of this recipe as a baseline, then customize it as you see fit. To cut down on costs even further, I've occasionally reduced the amount of chicken I use by half and supplemented it with black beans or cooked rice.
Importantly, flour tortillas and corn tortillas yield drastically different results; the former produces a dish that's more filling and suuuper comforting, while corn tortillas make for a meal that's lighter and more meat-forward. The choice is all yours! Other favorites: TikTokers love these ridiculously easy smash burger "tacos" and I do, too!
Though I eat plenty of meat, one of my proudest accomplishments is converting my partner, who previously couldn't stand tofu, into a person who now requests tofu-based dishes when we go through our weekly meal plans.
The fact of the matter is that tofu will never replace the texture or flavor of meat, but like meat, it plays nicely with just about every flavor profile. Tofu is the greatest blank canvas out there, which means that the one or two packs you keep in your refrigerator could become just one of the thousands of different tofu recipes out there.
The tofu in this recipe "cooks" by gently simmering it in water, and if that immediately worries you since you're used to crispy tofu, stick with me.
Though it's a concept that's still hard for me to wrap my head around, this method actually draws out excess moisture, which means that the resulting tofu has a satisfying bite to it and isn't soggy whatsoever.
Paired with a simple garlicky sauce that you'll want to pour all over anything and everything you eat, it's a weeknight meal I'd recommend for even the staunchest tofu opponents.
Other favorites: This Caesar salad with crispy tofu croutons yes, you read that right is truly a showstopper if you're cooking for family or friends, and BBQ shredded tofu is the even-cheaper sloppy Joe replacement that you never knew you needed Food · Posted on Jun 10, I Cook Around Recipes Each Year For My Household Of Two; Here's How I Stretch 8 Core Ingredients In Several Different Ways "I also keep these in the fridge so I'm less tempted to order takeout or dine out when I can't figure out what to make.
by Ross Yoder BuzzFeed Staff. Tap to play GIF Tap to play GIF. Tofu is great in stir-fries, salads, or really any dish that you would normally add meat to.
Keeping these 10 budget-friendly ingredients on hand will help you get healthy meals on the table without breaking the bank. Tweet this Share it to Facebook. And for more info on how to keep a well-stocked pantry, see our Pantry Essentials Guide.
I acknowledge by requesting this info, I'll be added to Cook Smarts' newsletter list. I can unsubscribe at any time. In-season fresh fruits and vegetables Unfortunately, fresh fruits and vegetables, which tend to be among the healthiest foods for us, can also be the most costly ingredients.
Beans Dried beans are inexpensive and are ideal for feeding large groups of people or for leftovers. Canned tomatoes Purchasing tomatoes paste, crushed, or diced in a preserved form canned, tubed, or boxed can save you time, money and add flavor to lots of dishes.
Grains and Pasta Grains such as rice, farro, and quinoa and dried pasta are easy to buy in bulk at a reduced price and can generally be stored for long periods of time. Potatoes Potatoes often get a bad rap for their fry and chip form, but potatoes are actually a nutrient-dense vegetable that can be very good for you in moderation.
Eggs Eggs are an excellent source of lean protein, with 6 grams of protein and less than 2 grams of saturated fat in a hard boiled egg.
Canned Tuna Canned tuna is another great source of protein that can be purchased inexpensively or on sale. Rotisserie Chicken Buying rotisserie chicken on sale can feed your family for several meals and can be incorporated many different ways, from tacos to salads to sandwiches.
Tofu Tofu is a wonderful meatless source of protein and fiber and is much cheaper by the pound when compared to meats. Get our Meal Plans The convenience of meal kits without the waste. Try our award winning meal plan service for free.
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Trying to feed ihgredient family nutritious foods without breaking the bank can be a Book an Appointment Form bit of a struggle, ingredienh Free all-purpose cleaning samples Affordale doesn't have inhredient be! We've Affordable ingredient selection a list of 10 cheap and Affordable ingredient selection ingfedient to help you keep those grocery bills down. Andrea has worked in several healthcare settings including clinical, public health and long-term care. Andrea believes in achieving optimal health by incorporating healthier eating habits into your lifestyle and making healthy eating fun! When she's not running after her two boys, she enjoys creating content to encourage self-love and promote body positivity. Elizabeth Ward is a registered dietitian and award-winning nutrition communicator and writer.
JavaScript seems to ingreeient disabled in Free all-purpose cleaning samples browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to Affordable ingredient selection on Javascript in your browser. Selectiom healthy doesn't mean Adfordable have to Sample home decor themes your ingredkent savings at the grocery store on organic, minimally processed foods. There are so many ways that you can stick to a budget and still enjoy healthy, flavorful meals. Though it may require a bit more planning, once you've mastered that art of making your shopping list, it will prove to be much easier. Stocking your kitchen with wholesome, nutrient-filled ingredients without breaking the bank is entirely possible.
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