Healthy eating virtually impossible for me

[syntheticocean]

I need some help. I have been trying to eat healthy but there are complications.

In order for me build muscle/lose fat I need to eat 6 meals a day. I am currently living paycheck to paycheck and I can only afford about 20$ a week for food. I'm struggling to get by. What can I do? I've tried pimping myself out but the cops frown upon that here in upstate ny. The question isn't 'how can I make more money'. It's 'how can I eat healthy for a week with 20$'.

[Boss Man]

Buy cheap and in bulk.

Large boxes of Cereal. Big Biscuit type is best as it's easier to keep track of usage.

Eggs.

Yoghurt

2 for 1's

3 for 2's

Cans of Beans.

Boxes of Rice.

These are things you can do to help yourself.

[wonton04]

Have you tried applying for food stamps?

[cassiegose]

I need some help. I have been trying to eat healthy but there are complications.

In order for me build muscle/lose fat I need to eat 6 meals a day. I am currently living paycheck to paycheck and I can only afford about 20$ a week for food. I'm struggling to get by. What can I do? I've tried pimping myself out but the cops frown upon that here in upstate ny. The question isn't 'how can I make more money'. It's 'how can I eat healthy for a week with 20$'.

Buy in bulk whenever possible.
Shop sales, clip cupons, stock up when deals are good.
I sometimes buy lean meats in large packages then repackage into smaller when I get home.
Buy generic.
For veggies, frozen are usually cheaper and you don't have to worry about them spoiling if you dont eat them fast enough.

Foods:
Oats- old fashioned rolled in the tubs, generic brand. A large tub is about $2.50 and will last you a while
Beans- buy in the bag, soak over night, then cook. These are usually about .99 per bag. Great source of fiber and protein
Eggs- I buy these 6 dozen at a time for about $5-6. These will last you a while and are a great source of protein and fat
Brown Rice- Like the beans, buy in the bag and cook. Again, about .99 per bag or so.
Fish-Tuna and Tilapia are fairly cheap and are a great source of protein. Don't eat the tuna every day.
low fat cottage cheese-Go with generic brand, watch for sales, buy larger tubs as they are usually cheaper.
Cereal- Again, go generic. Generic 'cheerios' and bran flakes are cheap... buy the ones in the bag for an even better deal.
Lean red meat- again wait for sales, buy in larger amounts, repackage and freeze for later use
Chicken-Buy bone in as its cheaper. Remove the skin yourself and pick out the bones after cooking
Nut butter-Buy in larg(er) tubs. Try to get natural if you can. Shop for sales.

It is going to be a challenge but its definitely not impossible.

Sooo a day could look something like this for you:
Meal 1: 2/3 cup oats, 3-4 scrambled eggs
Meal 2: 1 cup brown rice/ 1 cup beans top with salsa
Meal 3: tuna or lunch meat sandwich on whole grain bread
Meal 4: 1 cup brown rice/ 1 cup beans, 1 boiled egg
Meal 5: chicken breast, beans, veggies
Meal 6: cottage cheese and natural nut butter

I'm guessing this would cost you around 2-3 per day...

Cassie

[Boss Man]

Oats- old fashioned rolled in the tubs, generic brand. A large tub is about $2.50 and will last you a while

That is a very good option. The one thing you would obviously need to consider is that unlike what I said, about buying maximum size boxes of large biscuit cereal, this option will be a little more difficult to monitor for portion sizes.

You might use a bit mre than the previous day or the next one, but then again, you might use a bit too much too often, using it up a lot more and not being able to track calories quite as easily, if you like tracking calories, because it will be difficult to compare the sort of Carb totals you want, when you're possibly eating 5-10 more Oats a time, than you planned.

However as stated it IS a very good option and not just because Cassie said it, though that is a major reason why it is a very good option .

[cassiegose]

Oats- old fashioned rolled in the tubs, generic brand. A large tub is about $2.50 and will last you a while

That is a very good option. The one thing you would obviously need to consider is that unlike what I said, about buying maximum size boxes of large biscuit cereal, this option will be a little more difficult to monitor for portion sizes.

You might use a bit mre than the previous day or the next one, but then again, you might use a bit too much too often, using it up a lot more and not being able to track calories quite as easily, if you like tracking calories, because it will be difficult to compare the sort of Carb totals you want, when you're possibly eating 5-10 more Oats a time, than you planned.

However as stated it IS a very good option and not just because Cassie said it, though that is a major reason why it is a very good option .

Valid point Bossman. I hadn't even considered that. I've been measuring food for so long now that it didn't even dawn on me that others don't.

A quick solution to this problem... invest in a measuring cup (a couple dollars) and measure out your oats. 1 serving is 1/2 cup measured dry.

[syntheticocean]

Thanks for the help. Friday is payday and hopefully after all bills I'll have some left over to get a little food, but I foresee myself eating scraps for a while.

[Athene]

This is interesting because $20 a day sounds about right to me..... that's $560 a month on food, right? $600 a month is what husband and I spend on groceries for the two of us, not just me, and that includes toiletries, protein powder, and cleaning supplies. What kind of food do you buy? Is it pre-portioned or processed?

[syntheticocean]

20$ a week

[cassiegose]

Thanks for the help. Friday is payday and hopefully after all bills I'll have some left over to get a little food, but I foresee myself eating scraps for a while.

I'm confused why you say that? Do you not think you could afford the foods suggested? I honestly think you could do it if you really watched for sales, clipped coupons, and spent your money wisely. Perhaps I'm too optimistic though.

[syntheticocean]

Well I'm currently in debt by about 1500$ and I'm trying best to get that paid off. and that isn't counting credit cards/car loan/personal loan. Thats just counting back rent/cell phone/electric.

[cassiegose]

Well I'm currently in debt by about 1500$ and I'm trying best to get that paid off. and that isn't counting credit cards/car loan/personal loan. Thats just counting back rent/cell phone/electric.

I feel your pain. Just take things as they come and I hope you are able to get everything paid off soon. As far as diet... make the best of what you've got and just do what you can. Your diet may not be perfect but just do your best.

Good luck.

Cassie

[Athene]

20$ a week

That explains problem relating to this - sorry for misunderstanding.
$80 a month.... that really puts things in perspective. Here's what I would buy, it's a short list that is cheap and covers the food groups:

Oats
Cans of beans, or tuna
Peanut butter
Bread
Skim milk powder (the kind you mix with water yourself)
Pasta
Frozen vegetables
Apples

[cassiegose]

20$ a week

Cans of beans

Great advice on the beans... however I've found that bagged beans (the dehydrated kind that need to be soaked and cooked) are much cheapter than canned. Atleast they are around here anyways.

Cassie

[syntheticocean]

What kind of beans exactly? I went to the supermarket yesterday and there was like 10 different kinds.