How to Eat Healthy On A Budget?
Discussion
Right, I'm trying to get fit in time for my New Zealand trip in New Zealand and am trying to change my diet. I'd also like to put on a couple of stone, but in a healthy way (I'm 11.5 at the moment). Whilst I'd like to be more healthy, there are a few factors that rather complicate things:
- First of all I'm a VERY fussy eater. I don't like eating foods that are mixed (e.g a stew or lasagne) and also absolutely despise onions, since most things have them in it makes things difficult
- I can't cook
- I try to limit myself to £25 a week for food and drink
- I work in a takeaway which means lots of free, but unhealthy food. Now you may think there's an obvious solution here, but problem is I often finish after midnight, and after a long shift I'm in no mood to go home and make a full dinner when one is offered for free. The hours are unpredictable so I often don't know where and when I'll be eating dinner. It also makes shopping hard as if I buy perishables I don't know if I'll have the time to eat them
- I also live on my own, so can't make massive meals as they'll go to waste
- I can't do set meal times, I eat when I'm hungry regardless of time.
Now at the moment I make sure to eat at least one bit of fruit a day as well as plenty of fruit juice. I can't really afford to eat loads of it though, plus as soon as fruit looks like it's going off I won't eat it.
So, any ideas or tips?
- First of all I'm a VERY fussy eater. I don't like eating foods that are mixed (e.g a stew or lasagne) and also absolutely despise onions, since most things have them in it makes things difficult
- I can't cook
- I try to limit myself to £25 a week for food and drink
- I work in a takeaway which means lots of free, but unhealthy food. Now you may think there's an obvious solution here, but problem is I often finish after midnight, and after a long shift I'm in no mood to go home and make a full dinner when one is offered for free. The hours are unpredictable so I often don't know where and when I'll be eating dinner. It also makes shopping hard as if I buy perishables I don't know if I'll have the time to eat them
- I also live on my own, so can't make massive meals as they'll go to waste
- I can't do set meal times, I eat when I'm hungry regardless of time.
Now at the moment I make sure to eat at least one bit of fruit a day as well as plenty of fruit juice. I can't really afford to eat loads of it though, plus as soon as fruit looks like it's going off I won't eat it.
So, any ideas or tips?
Get some good carbs to bulk up and proteins (this is on top of training don't forget)
Brown rice, I hardly go a day with out it and it is cheap
Jacket Spuds, cheap and nutritious . Add a tin of beans and you have a very complete meal.
Own brand wetabix and porridge. Cheap and a good start to the day.
Eggs. Cheap and you can make so many quick meals.
PS. you're not going to be able to add a 'couple' of stone in muscle by the time you go away, perhaps 3-4KG, but you would have to train very very hard.
Brown rice, I hardly go a day with out it and it is cheap
Jacket Spuds, cheap and nutritious . Add a tin of beans and you have a very complete meal.
Own brand wetabix and porridge. Cheap and a good start to the day.
Eggs. Cheap and you can make so many quick meals.
PS. you're not going to be able to add a 'couple' of stone in muscle by the time you go away, perhaps 3-4KG, but you would have to train very very hard.
Negative Creep said:
Ah yes, forgot to mention I'm allergic to eggs so none of them!
ahhhI am too actually. Only if they are not cooked, I can't touch a raw egg!
It used to make my mouth feel itchy when I ate them, but I think I have built up a tolerance to them now.
Drink milk. Blue top. Protein and kcals.
The thing is, do you want to bulk up in muscle or just want a healthier diet?
How tall are you?
If you have (access to) a freezer, you can make massive meals and store them. That might help you to eat before your shift, rather than a take-away after midnight (which is far from healthy).
But, put on weight, with those restrictions? You're kidding us.
Perhaps if you could give us a list of the type of things you can eat...
But, put on weight, with those restrictions? You're kidding us.
Perhaps if you could give us a list of the type of things you can eat...
what sort of takeaway is it? e.g. if its chinese certain things can be healthy
supermarket value ranges are great - 43p for huge box of cornflakes, 56p for 2 litres of fresh ( from concentrate ) orange juice.
roast a chicken at the weekend and have it cold monday and tuesday ( lemon up bum and in oven couldnt be easier ).
buy the cheaper cuts of meat and slow roast them and then either heat up or have cold.
pitta bread is 70p for 2 packets in sainsburys fill em with tuna / cheese/ cold meats etc. If you have time before you go and have a garden buy some "cut and grow back" salad leaves and you have free endless salad in a few weeks time to add as well.
rice and potatoes both cheap. toast and honey.
main thing is u dont have to be ramsey to bung a few things in/on the oven. make sure its fresh and it normally tastes nice whatever you have! and those things you dont like - when did you last try them you never know u may like them know.
oh and drink guinness
ps you'll never pull the backpackers in nz if you turn into a fat bloke..
supermarket value ranges are great - 43p for huge box of cornflakes, 56p for 2 litres of fresh ( from concentrate ) orange juice.
roast a chicken at the weekend and have it cold monday and tuesday ( lemon up bum and in oven couldnt be easier ).
buy the cheaper cuts of meat and slow roast them and then either heat up or have cold.
pitta bread is 70p for 2 packets in sainsburys fill em with tuna / cheese/ cold meats etc. If you have time before you go and have a garden buy some "cut and grow back" salad leaves and you have free endless salad in a few weeks time to add as well.
rice and potatoes both cheap. toast and honey.
main thing is u dont have to be ramsey to bung a few things in/on the oven. make sure its fresh and it normally tastes nice whatever you have! and those things you dont like - when did you last try them you never know u may like them know.
oh and drink guinness
ps you'll never pull the backpackers in nz if you turn into a fat bloke..
loltolhurst said:
what sort of takeaway is it? e.g. if its chinese certain things can be healthy
supermarket value ranges are great - 43p for huge box of cornflakes, 56p for 2 litres of fresh ( from concentrate ) orange juice.
roast a chicken at the weekend and have it cold monday and tuesday ( lemon up bum and in oven couldnt be easier ).
buy the cheaper cuts of meat and slow roast them and then either heat up or have cold.
pitta bread is 70p for 2 packets in sainsburys fill em with tuna / cheese/ cold meats etc. If you have time before you go and have a garden buy some "cut and grow back" salad leaves and you have free endless salad in a few weeks time to add as well.
rice and potatoes both cheap. toast and honey.
main thing is u dont have to be ramsey to bung a few things in/on the oven. make sure its fresh and it normally tastes nice whatever you have! and those things you dont like - when did you last try them you never know u may like them know.
oh and drink guinness
ps you'll never pull the backpackers in nz if you turn into a fat bloke..
But you weren't listening. The man said he cannot cook....supermarket value ranges are great - 43p for huge box of cornflakes, 56p for 2 litres of fresh ( from concentrate ) orange juice.
roast a chicken at the weekend and have it cold monday and tuesday ( lemon up bum and in oven couldnt be easier ).
buy the cheaper cuts of meat and slow roast them and then either heat up or have cold.
pitta bread is 70p for 2 packets in sainsburys fill em with tuna / cheese/ cold meats etc. If you have time before you go and have a garden buy some "cut and grow back" salad leaves and you have free endless salad in a few weeks time to add as well.
rice and potatoes both cheap. toast and honey.
main thing is u dont have to be ramsey to bung a few things in/on the oven. make sure its fresh and it normally tastes nice whatever you have! and those things you dont like - when did you last try them you never know u may like them know.
oh and drink guinness
ps you'll never pull the backpackers in nz if you turn into a fat bloke..
loltolhurst said:
oh and drink guinness
Erm, that's probably not the best advice:1) On a limited budget, it's expensive
2) It's 140 calories per pint, which isn't exactly low
3) It doesn't contain half as much 'good stuff' - vitamins etc as you may believe.
Better advice would be to cut down your drinking, or, if consider switching to healthier drinks if you must drink. i.e. normal lager is generally very high in calories etc.
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