I'm a huge advocate of lentils and quinoa. Look up some recipes online. They're dirt cheap and full of nutrients. Add a little olive oil, veggies, and seasonings in any variety and you've got yourself a VERY healthy, satisfying meal.

I agree w/what everyone else is saying. Beans in general are really good choices, whole grains, brown rice, oatmeal, pasta etc.

I would add: splurge on a few things that will give you flexibility with some of these foods which are boring on their own. Buy spices in bulk, a bit of good parmesan cheese, some decent (but not overly expensive olive oil). Leftover wine can be frozen and used in cooking. You can still drink it, too, but sometimes you get a little sediment. It also really helps to make a bunch of food in advance -- I've been eating sesame peanut noodles for four days for lunch, but I don't mind because they're awesome.

I would also keep butter and heavy cream on hand. If you also buy a few fruits and vegetables at the farmer's market every week you'll be able to make lots of healthy and interesting food.

Eggs eggs eggs - the only complete protein and not as bad for you as every body USED to say, esp. if you have no cholesterol problems.

Rice - try different varieties. I can't handle gluten so my breakfast is about a cup of cooked rice mixed in with an egg and a handfull of raisins and nuked - easy and pretty cheap and it has it all (fat, protein, fiber, complex carbs). I just make sure I have cooked rice in the fridge for morning (a steamer makes it simple, but stovetop is fine too).

Nut butters - peanut butter is cheapest and you only need a tablespoon or so to add some protein & fat to a snack (spread it on apples or bananas or bread).

Nuts too - peanuts in shell or out, almonds - cheap only because you should only eat small quantities at a time.

Oatmeal is cheap - slice up fruit and add a bit of cottage cheese for protein (and nuts!).

Buy and cook in bulk - and freeze in smaller servings, well labelled & dated. I do this with my gluten free baking - make a big mess in the kitchen one day and bake away - then put things in little freezer bags to pull out as needed. Bulk is often cheaper if you have self control (and that freezer or storage space!).

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Cynthia Blue:
Dried beans are DIRT cheap. I've been buying the bags, soaking for a day, then cooking for 2 hours. They need a bit of salt though. But they have a ton of different kinds... Kidney, Great Northern, Black, Blake Eyed, Garbonzo... even got some pink ones I haven't tried yet.<HR>

I've totally stopped soaking them--I think it just cuts down on cooking time but isn't 100% necessary. I'll soak them for a few hours if I have time, but I don't worry about soaking them overnight at all any more. I also love pasta and beans, with some parsley and parmesan and garlic.

I love how cheap they are, that you can get so much food out of less than a dollar!

Here are my tips. I'm a vegan with student loans and credit card debt, so I work hard to find cheap, healthy food!

In no particular order:

1) Another vote for beans and other legumes! I'm a chick pea fanatic myself, but black beans are muy cheap. Beans and brown rice is a dirt cheap, healthy lunch or dinner option. Plus beans last forever in your cupboards.

2) In NYC at least, fresh produce from fruit stands can be surprisingly affordable.

3) I try to eat fresh as much as possible, but I also stock up on frozen spinach, peas, and squash when it's on sale. The frozen stuff is easy to throw over pasta or into a recipe and a lot of the stuff on sale is like a dollar a package - very economical.

4) For breakfast, get a big carton of generic oats. It'll last for months.

5) I'm sure you've thought of this, but pack your lunch for school or work. It's much cheaper and more healthful than eating out.

6) If you have a Trader Joe's near you, you can find some organic food at cheap(er) prices. They also sell nutrition bars (like luna and clif and builders) for cheaper than I've seen anywhere else (again in NYC at least).

7) I don't eat dairy, but I notice that yogurt is on sale a lot (like every 2 weeks at the grocery chain near me.) Usually it's almost half off. This is good if you're willing to be flexible with your brand.

Good luck. I love reading everyone's ideas about this.

http://This message has been edited by mspavement (edited Jun-08-2006).

This is a great thread! I'm in university and finding it almost impossible to afford healthy food - particularly when there are large $5 pizzas around the corner from my house..

Keep the ideas coming! It looks as if I'm going to have to learn to like beans..

oh yeah and bulk food (the kind that you have to scoop int plastic bags and get weighed) can be a way to save money.