Yes it's true, you are going to go out to dinner, lunch, coffee, drinks etc. You will go out with your friends, a crush, a girlfriend/boyfriend, a business contact, a co-worker etc. It is important to accept that you will go out a certain number of times a month and budget accordingly.
However, there are ways to save money while still going out to enjoy yourself.
Here are some tips:
1. Avoid going out for dinner.
Dinner is the most expensive meal to eat out, the portions are not that much larger then the lunch portions but they often cost twice as much. You are more likely to get alchool at dinner then at another time. So whenever possible suggest another time or activity.
2. Go out for happy hour instead!
Suggest going out to happy hour instead of dinner with your friends or crush. Drinks and food will be cheaper but you will still be able to enjoy the ambiance of eating out. Oftentimes there is also a late night happy hour (from 9pm to close), meet up for drinks and a bite to eat before you hit the town. Keep in mind that sometimes happy hour is restricted to the bar area only so be sure you grab a seat early.
3. Don't drink booze.
It sadness me to say this but alcohol is marked up drastically (around 200%) at restaurants. You can drastically trim down your bill by drinking water or even soda instead of a glass of wine. If you are having a big night out don't forgo alcohol, but try to drink at home or find a cheap happy hour before you have dinner.
4. Avoid getting drinks altogether.
It can be hard to forgo an iced tea with your salad or a coke with your burger but drinks can account for around 25% of your total bill. They are also surprisingly expensive, it's not uncommon (at least in LA) to pay $2 for a drink even at take out restaurants. Is it really worth $2 to have 12 ounces of iced tea or coke with your meal? Waiters often ask you as soon as you sit down (and before you check the prices) if you would like something to drink, making it easy for you to give an order without thinking about it. Have water instead and if you are craving caffeine after lunch, take one out of the fridge at work or at home.
5. Get it to go!
Not only is food more expensive at restaurants but you have to pay for services as well, which adds 20% to your total bill. If you have a favorite restaurant (Italian etc) but aren't going for the restaurant's ambiance get your meal to go. Not only will you save on tipping but you will also save money by providing your own drinks at home.
See, you don't have to break the bank to go out and have a good time! I hope you take the time to implement a couple of these tips and use the money you save for something fun... like a trip to Hawaii... or to pay off some student loans.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Enjoying Your Coffee Addiction Without Spending Big Bucks
I admit that I am addicted to coffee, I am useless in the morning without my daily cup (or two or three...). However I have found how not to break the bank when it comes to my favorite addiction!
We all do it, you are running around in the morning trying to make it to work or school and you stop by a local coffee shop to get your much needed caffeine buzz. While you are there you realize you haven't had breakfast so you pick up a pastry and hurry on with your day.
Coffee Coffee Coffee
That little pit stop really hurts your wallet. You could be spending around $25a week, or $100 a month just on coffee and the occasional pastry. Even if you just get a small coffee every day for $1.50 a day, multiplied by 20 work days a week that is $30 a month.
However if you buy a basic coffee maker around $20 at Target and a pound of coffee at Trdaer Joes (Dark Roast $4 a pound) you could save a substantial amount of money.
One pound of coffee is equal to aprox 20 servings of 12 ounce coffee (which is the same size as a small). Which would only cost you $25 for the start up month and substantially less for every month afterward.
One pound of coffee is equal to aprox 20 servings of 12 ounce coffee (which is the same size as a small). Which would only cost you $25 for the start up month and substantially less for every month afterward.
Most people claim that they stop by the coffee shop of the way to work because it's so convenient. Really? Is it any more convenient then pressing a button on your way into the bathroom in the morning? And you don't have to wait in line for 10 minutes.
All you need to do is place the ground coffee and water into your coffee machine the night before then either press the on button when you wake up in the morning or program you automatic timer to start the coffee. Place it in a travel mug or buy inexpensive disposable hot cups with lids if you don't want to carry around a travel mug all day.
Kicking the Latte Habit
Another reason people give for stopping by their local coffee shop every morning is that they get fancy drinks that they can't make at home. That is not true!
You can buy espresso ($10 a pound) and brew your own espresso in a coffee maker (just make sure you buy the right filters). You can have your favorite moca latte at home instead of shelling out $4 a drink.
If you are willing to forgo the steamed milk simply take a mug and heat your favorite milk in the microwave and add the coffee or espresso of your choice.
If you would like to add something sweet, go to your favorite coffee shop and get your desired powder or syrup or even better order it online.
There are other ways too, if you are a fan of mocas get some high quality hot chocolate mix (Ghrardelli is good), and add it to your milk once it's been heated, add coffee or espresso and stir and ta da delicious moca for a fraction of the price.
Another idea is to just add chocolate or caramel syrup to your coffee to give it that chocolate taste.
Kicking the Milkshake Disguised as Coffee Habit (aka Frappuccinos)
That's right, I said it, really most Frappuccinos are essentially milkshakes without the ice cream and do not contain a lot of caffinee unless you get shots of espresso added to them. However, they are delicious and it can be hard to break the habit of getting one every morning or afternoon.
First identify when you buy your drink, oftentimes it is as an afternoon pick me up instead of a morning jolt. If you get it in the afternoon for a sugar rush maybe it could be replaced by some juice or an oatmeal cookie you bring from home.
If you get it in the morning you could attempt to make your own at home using a blender, ice, cold coffee (that you have made the previous day), milk and the chocolate/caramel powder/syrup of your choice. If you are feeling bold you could try switching to a home made latte.
If you are unwilling to part with the taste of that special Starbucks combination try getting the bottled Frappuccinos at the grocery store or warehouse store (Costco) you can get them for under $2 on sale and it will save you a trip to the coffee shop, which will prevent impulse buying. Also they are smaller and therefore have fewer calories then the ones you buy at the coffee shop.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Simple Couscous Recipes
I mentioned unflavored couscous in my pantry staples. It is much more economical to buy a box of unflavored whole grain couscous ($2 a box at Trader Joes) then to buy the pre-seasoned boxes. It is also much healthier too. Couscous takes less than ten minutes to make from start to finish, which makes it a great side dish.
Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Simple Simple Simple
Replace the water that is called for on the box of couscous with chicken/vegtable/or beef broth.
Adds a lot of flavor.
Also I generally serve couscous with something that has a sauce on it like chicken picata or teriaki chicken. The couscous absorbs the flavor of whatever sauce is around it.
Moracan Style Couscous
http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Easy-Curry-Couscous-Allrecipes
I like this recipe for curry flavored couscous but I leave out the cilantro and sometimes the rasins and almonds. Really all you need is curry powder and couscous.
Remember!
When couscous is done cooking don't serve it right away let it stand for a while and fluff it with a fork before serving.
Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Simple Simple Simple
Replace the water that is called for on the box of couscous with chicken/vegtable/or beef broth.
Adds a lot of flavor.
Also I generally serve couscous with something that has a sauce on it like chicken picata or teriaki chicken. The couscous absorbs the flavor of whatever sauce is around it.
Moracan Style Couscous
http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Easy-Curry-Couscous-Allrecipes
I like this recipe for curry flavored couscous but I leave out the cilantro and sometimes the rasins and almonds. Really all you need is curry powder and couscous.
Remember!
When couscous is done cooking don't serve it right away let it stand for a while and fluff it with a fork before serving.
Quick Easy Healthy Fish Recipe
Hello Everyone,
My friend Jen recently mentioned to me that many people are afraid of trying to make fish at home. I have just the recipe to help get you over that fear. I recommend using tilapia if you are a little iffy about fish. It is easy to find, inexpensive, and doesn't have a strong fishy taste. It is also readily available in single serving sizes in the frozen section, just make sure it's not pre-seasoned.
Ingrediants:
2 Tilapis Filets (skin on or off)
1 lemon
1 clove of garlic
1 tablespoons of butter or olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Directions:
If fish is frozen thaw it out on the counter or in the fridge.
Pat dry on both sides with a paper towel.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Take a medium size saute pan and add oil/butter.
Turn up the heat to medium high.
Add 1 clove of garlic chopped.
Wait until the butter melts or oil is warm and add both filets.
Cook on each side for aprox 3 minutes.
Finish off with a squeeze of lemon.
Serve and enjoy!
This is a very basic recipe. You could add fresh herbs (parsley, basil, etc) or even canned or fresh tomatoes to give it an Italian feel. If you want you could even top it with some salsa. Feel free to play around with it and enjoy!
My friend Jen recently mentioned to me that many people are afraid of trying to make fish at home. I have just the recipe to help get you over that fear. I recommend using tilapia if you are a little iffy about fish. It is easy to find, inexpensive, and doesn't have a strong fishy taste. It is also readily available in single serving sizes in the frozen section, just make sure it's not pre-seasoned.
Ingrediants:
2 Tilapis Filets (skin on or off)
1 lemon
1 clove of garlic
1 tablespoons of butter or olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Directions:
If fish is frozen thaw it out on the counter or in the fridge.
Pat dry on both sides with a paper towel.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Take a medium size saute pan and add oil/butter.
Turn up the heat to medium high.
Add 1 clove of garlic chopped.
Wait until the butter melts or oil is warm and add both filets.
Cook on each side for aprox 3 minutes.
Finish off with a squeeze of lemon.
Serve and enjoy!
This is a very basic recipe. You could add fresh herbs (parsley, basil, etc) or even canned or fresh tomatoes to give it an Italian feel. If you want you could even top it with some salsa. Feel free to play around with it and enjoy!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Recipe Ideas Part 1
So now that you have the ingredients what do you do with them...
Linguine with clam sauce (serves 2)
Half a pound of linguine pasta
Half to 2/3 a car of tomato sauce.
One can of clams
Flat leaf Parsley (1 tablespoon chopped)
Pepper (to taste)
Garlic (2 cloves chopped)
Open the can of clams and drain them. Set the clam juice aside and saute clams garlic and pepper in a pan. Once garlic is golden and clams are heated through add parsley and clam juice. Once heated add tomato sauce. Once the pasta is cooked combine and serve with salad. It's easy and good, it should only take about 20 minutes total to make. Sadly it doesn't keep that well which is why I wrote the recipe for 2.
Eat More (serves 4)
One package ground turkey or chicken.
Half an onion.
1/2 of a pound of dried short pasta (macarroni etc).
One can of diced tomatoes.
Once can of mixed veggies or frozen veggies (corn, peas, carrots, green beans etc)
Some dried italian or mexican seasoning.
Grown the turkey with the spices and onion. Once cooked add the mixed veggies and tomatoes. Then throw in the pasta and you are done. This is just a rough guide you can throw in anything you want left overs etc. It keeps really well and I even like it cold. Also it is supper cheap, especially if you make it with beef instead of turkey or chicken. It's less then $6 for everything.
Soy Sauce Chicken (severs 4-6) (my mom's recipe!)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 orange juice
1/2 soy sauce
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 diced onion
8 mixed pieces of chicken (I recommend thighs and/or breasts but get whatever is cheapest. Get them on the bone and with skin).
Mix all the liquid and powdered ingredients together. Dice onion and place chicken in an oven safe pyrex like dish. Pour the sauce and onions over the chicken. Cover with tin foil and bake for 30minutes at 375 then uncover and turn chicken and back again for 30 minutes.
Stir Fry (serves 1-4 depending on quantity)
Broccoli in a bag (or frozen broccoli)
Half a head of cabbage (chopped or bough pre-shredded)
Half a Red Pepper
Mushrooms
Half an Onion
Snow Peas
Any veggies you want!
Chicken, Tofu, Shrimp, beef strips (optional)
Brown Rice/Whole Wheat Noodles/Ramen Noodles (w/out seasoning)
Microwave broccoli (don't do it for the entire time it says go under the time by 30 seconds). Add the onion and protein (chicken etc) to a wok with a little oil in the bottom. Then add pepper and mushrooms first then add cabbage and other ingredients. Cook until done and serve over brown rice (or noodles) with soy sauce or black bean and garlic sauce. If desired add Asian chili sauce (Syracha).
Pasta ala College (Serves 2-3)
One Eggplant (diced)
3 Frozen Chicken Tenders (Cooked and cut)
Half a Red Pepper diced
1/4 of an onion
2 cloves of chopped garlic.
Mushrooms
3/4 of a jar of tomato sauce
Dry italian seasoning.
1/2 pound of whole wheat short tube pasta (riggitoni etc)
Thaw the chicken and add them to a pan with olive oil. Let the chicken cook all the way through then take it out. Turn up the heat then add the eggplant cook it till it gets soft then add the garlic, onions, peppers and mushrooms. Throw the chicken back in and add the tomato sauce and spices. Add some red pepper flakes for heat. Mix in the pasta and serve with parmigiana cheese on top.
*If you want to re-heat this throw it into a pyrex type pan and throw some cheese on top of it and put it in the oven on about 350 for five to ten minutes. Or just microwave it just be sure not to overcook the noodles the first time you make it.
Breakfast of Champions (Serves 2)
6 eggs
Half a container of mushrooms
Artichoke hearts (3-4 cut up)
Spinach (a couple cups, it cooks down)
Small Tomato diced
1/4 package of Tofu or one fully cooked chicken sausage (cut into bite size pieces)
Saute the spinach, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and tofu or sausage in a non stick pan with a little oil or butter. Once cooked add the diced tomato then poor over the eggs and stir (like making scrambled eggs) until done. We cover it in hot sauce or mild green salsa. Serve with toast or tortillas and fruit and you have a great breakfast/brunch. It's great if you are going to school or out for the day and don't want to be hungry right after you have breakfast.
Linguine with clam sauce (serves 2)
Half a pound of linguine pasta
Half to 2/3 a car of tomato sauce.
One can of clams
Flat leaf Parsley (1 tablespoon chopped)
Pepper (to taste)
Garlic (2 cloves chopped)
Open the can of clams and drain them. Set the clam juice aside and saute clams garlic and pepper in a pan. Once garlic is golden and clams are heated through add parsley and clam juice. Once heated add tomato sauce. Once the pasta is cooked combine and serve with salad. It's easy and good, it should only take about 20 minutes total to make. Sadly it doesn't keep that well which is why I wrote the recipe for 2.
Eat More (serves 4)
One package ground turkey or chicken.
Half an onion.
1/2 of a pound of dried short pasta (macarroni etc).
One can of diced tomatoes.
Once can of mixed veggies or frozen veggies (corn, peas, carrots, green beans etc)
Some dried italian or mexican seasoning.
Grown the turkey with the spices and onion. Once cooked add the mixed veggies and tomatoes. Then throw in the pasta and you are done. This is just a rough guide you can throw in anything you want left overs etc. It keeps really well and I even like it cold. Also it is supper cheap, especially if you make it with beef instead of turkey or chicken. It's less then $6 for everything.
Soy Sauce Chicken (severs 4-6) (my mom's recipe!)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 orange juice
1/2 soy sauce
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 diced onion
8 mixed pieces of chicken (I recommend thighs and/or breasts but get whatever is cheapest. Get them on the bone and with skin).
Mix all the liquid and powdered ingredients together. Dice onion and place chicken in an oven safe pyrex like dish. Pour the sauce and onions over the chicken. Cover with tin foil and bake for 30minutes at 375 then uncover and turn chicken and back again for 30 minutes.
Stir Fry (serves 1-4 depending on quantity)
Broccoli in a bag (or frozen broccoli)
Half a head of cabbage (chopped or bough pre-shredded)
Half a Red Pepper
Mushrooms
Half an Onion
Snow Peas
Any veggies you want!
Chicken, Tofu, Shrimp, beef strips (optional)
Brown Rice/Whole Wheat Noodles/Ramen Noodles (w/out seasoning)
Microwave broccoli (don't do it for the entire time it says go under the time by 30 seconds). Add the onion and protein (chicken etc) to a wok with a little oil in the bottom. Then add pepper and mushrooms first then add cabbage and other ingredients. Cook until done and serve over brown rice (or noodles) with soy sauce or black bean and garlic sauce. If desired add Asian chili sauce (Syracha).
Pasta ala College (Serves 2-3)
One Eggplant (diced)
3 Frozen Chicken Tenders (Cooked and cut)
Half a Red Pepper diced
1/4 of an onion
2 cloves of chopped garlic.
Mushrooms
3/4 of a jar of tomato sauce
Dry italian seasoning.
1/2 pound of whole wheat short tube pasta (riggitoni etc)
Thaw the chicken and add them to a pan with olive oil. Let the chicken cook all the way through then take it out. Turn up the heat then add the eggplant cook it till it gets soft then add the garlic, onions, peppers and mushrooms. Throw the chicken back in and add the tomato sauce and spices. Add some red pepper flakes for heat. Mix in the pasta and serve with parmigiana cheese on top.
*If you want to re-heat this throw it into a pyrex type pan and throw some cheese on top of it and put it in the oven on about 350 for five to ten minutes. Or just microwave it just be sure not to overcook the noodles the first time you make it.
Breakfast of Champions (Serves 2)
6 eggs
Half a container of mushrooms
Artichoke hearts (3-4 cut up)
Spinach (a couple cups, it cooks down)
Small Tomato diced
1/4 package of Tofu or one fully cooked chicken sausage (cut into bite size pieces)
Saute the spinach, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and tofu or sausage in a non stick pan with a little oil or butter. Once cooked add the diced tomato then poor over the eggs and stir (like making scrambled eggs) until done. We cover it in hot sauce or mild green salsa. Serve with toast or tortillas and fruit and you have a great breakfast/brunch. It's great if you are going to school or out for the day and don't want to be hungry right after you have breakfast.
Pantry and Freezer Staples
* Indicates budget tips. Like if you have more money do this, or if you have less money do this. Read them! Some of them are quite funny!
Pantry Essentials:
First and foremost you need a well stocked pantry. It's essential to low budget and low calorie food.
Whole Wheat Pasta- Great for regular pasta in tomato sauce but can also be used with peanut sauce to make Asian noodles.
*Though it is slightly more expensive then white pasta it is much more flavorful and keeps you full longer. Plus you are only talking a 20 cent difference on average!
Tomato Sauce- Though it can get boring a great go-to meal with pasta. You can add in any left over meat or frozen veggies to make it more exciting. Actually canned tuna is a good addition to tomato sauce for protein and flavor.
*When good sauce goes on sale buy it! It's worth the extra 50 cents (but only when it's on sale!)
Canned Tuna or Salmon- Less funky then caned chicken you can add it to anything salad, pasta, stir- fry and add low cost low calorie protein.
*If you want to get fancy get then in the pouches they are less watery and often come flavored but can be more expensive, once again stock up when on sale!
Brown Rice- Though it is a pain to make you can make a lot and keep it cooked in a container in the fridge for a few days. Keeps you fuller longer and is nice and chewy. Try to branch out from just Asian dishes with the rice and add taco seasoning and salsa to make healthy and fast Mexican rice.
* If you are pressed for time and are willing to spend some more money. Kashi makes good pre-cooked whole grain rice in pouches that can be microwaved in 90 seconds and Trader Joes has a frozen version.
Canned Beans- They are the musical fruit! More importantly when paired with rice they are a complete protein and are great if you don't have meat. You can use black beans for Mexican food and pair them with kidney beans for a fast chili. Garbanzo beans are great in salad.
*It's tempting to buy them in bulk because they are so cheap but unless you are going to devote a couple hours on the weekend to making them you are better off with canned.
Artichoke Hearts- They are sold in jars and cans they are less then $3 and a few go a long way. Great on salads or on chicken or in pasta. I recently discovered they are great in eggs as well.
*If you buy a can open the top then place plastic wrap over the opening it should last for a few days.
Olives- Great to add to salad, sauce, over meat or to eat from the can. They are cheap and add salt and flavor to almost everything!
*It's worth it to buy them pitted if you are going to cook with them. It's less expensive to buy pitted olives then to go to the dentist!
Corn Bread Mix- If you are tired of rice and pasta or want to spice up caned chili corn bread is awesome! You can get mixes for less then a dolor and jazz them up with some creamed corn. Not exactly healthy but a nice change for the ordinary.
*It's great the next morning for breakfast toasted in a pan with a little melted butter in it. You can get a box of Jiffy Mix for around 60 cents a box.
Flavored Cous Cous- Though it can sometimes be expensive, it's worth stocking up when it's on sale. They come in lots of flavors and can be made in five minutes. They are great as a side. But I admit sometimes I just eat it for dinner with a salad. Oh and get the whole grain kind!
*You can buy whole wheat cous cous in bulk and add flavors (olive oil, thyme, olives, etc) yourself and save a significant amount of money.
Hot Sauce- Despite all of my wonderful advice you will most likely get tired of what you are eating. Add hot sauce (tabasco/tapatillo/or chipotle tabasco) to eggs, chicken etc. Invest in some asian chile sause (the kind in the squirt bottle aka syracha) to dress up stir frys. Get dried taco seasoning to spice up rice and beans. Add dried red pepper flakes to pasta sauce to spice things up.
*Trust me a little hot sauce can make boring veggies taste good! Most of these are less then $2 each and will last a long time, tapatillo (found in the Hispanic grocery section is about 75 cents a bottle!)
Frozen Essentials:
Your freezer doesn't have to be filled with frozen prepared meals. Here are some other ideas...
Frozen Chicken Breasts- They are expensive fresh but if you buy them frozen most come with a saline (salt) solution that helps prevent freezer burn. You can get 3 to 4 pounds for $10. The chicken tenders are individually portioned and you can cook them and add them to anything. I throw them in a plastic bag in the morning with a little marinade (BBQ or soyaki/terriaki sauce) and leave them in the fridge. Throw them on the grill pan or George Foreman in the morning and there you go!
*Make sure you don't go crazy and eat a bunch of them! A little protein goes a long way!
Frozen Peas- Great to add to pasta or a way to dress up mashed potatoes (throw them in with the potatoes and mash them). They are great with bacon in pasta.
*They also are great if you are accident prone and may need to use them on a wounded knee.
Frozen Waffles- I add fruit like blueberries to mine in the morning when I am tired of just syrup. Peanut butter works good too and has the benefit of being portable. Get the whole grain ones they keep you fuller longer.
*The whole grain is more expensive but Trader Joes has cheap ones or buy them in bulk.
Frozen Fruit- It's great to freeze your own fruit to makes smoothies. When strawberries, blueberries or mangoes are on sale buy a bunch clean them and cut them and throw them in plastic bags. It's cheaper then buying them already cut and you can throw them on top of ice cream or in smoothies.
*You can buy them already frozen if fruit is out of season or you don't have time to cut it up. It's still cheaper then Jamba Juice!
Frozen Veggies- There is nothing wrong with frozen veggie mixes. You don't have to prep them and you can use them as an easy side dish or throw them into a main dish. There is no problem mixing frozen veggies with fresh ones in a stir fry just thaw the frozen ones first!
*Don't buy name brand, they are exactly the same. If the store brand doesn't have the mix of veggies you want buy the veggies separately and mix them yourself.
Convenience Food that is Worth the Money
In general packaged and prepared food is a rip off, there are however some exceptions.
Broccoli/Veggies in a bag- These are great you can microwave them in the bag in three minutes then throw them into stir fry or eat them as they are. The veggies are a consistent price and you can change it up by getting different combination of veggies.
*Unless you are planing on eating broccoli all weak, don't buy it in bulk.
Marinades- Throwing some frozen chicken into a baggie with a little marinade is a delicious and convenient. Get low calorie marinades and buy them when they go on sale.
*You can also use cheap Italian dressing as a marinade!
Whole Roasted Supermarket Chicken- Yes it is totally worth it. The whole roast chicken costs about the same as doing it yourself but without the hassle. They now have low sodium ones available too, all for around $6!
*You can mix up how you use it have it with veggies and rice one night. Then add it to salad the next day, then make a chicken salad sandwich the day after that.
Diced/Shredded Potatoes- Potatoes are very cheap but hard to work with. Throw fresh diced potatoes (sometimes found near the eggs and breakfast food) and make a breakfast burrito. Or buy frozen roasted potatoes as a side for a meat dish. They are normally under $2 and fast to make.
*Use the frozen potatoes for dinner then add them to eggs in the morning!
Tortillas- I eat them with everything. If you are pressed for time throw some rice beans and salsa in them and add a salad it's a great cheap lunch or dinner. They are also great with eggs in the morning.
*Buy corn not flower tortillas they are only $1.50 for 20 and they taste better then flower ones. They are also smaller which helps control portion size.
How to stock up:
There is no need to go crazy and run to the grocery store and buy all of these ingredients. Chances are some of this will sound more appealing to you then others. For example, I don't like tuna but I always have canned salmon at home. Start off with a few pantry items and frozen items and start from there. Even just adding a new marinade or hot sauce will spice things up. Let me know if you have any questions!
Pantry Essentials:
First and foremost you need a well stocked pantry. It's essential to low budget and low calorie food.
Whole Wheat Pasta- Great for regular pasta in tomato sauce but can also be used with peanut sauce to make Asian noodles.
*Though it is slightly more expensive then white pasta it is much more flavorful and keeps you full longer. Plus you are only talking a 20 cent difference on average!
Tomato Sauce- Though it can get boring a great go-to meal with pasta. You can add in any left over meat or frozen veggies to make it more exciting. Actually canned tuna is a good addition to tomato sauce for protein and flavor.
*When good sauce goes on sale buy it! It's worth the extra 50 cents (but only when it's on sale!)
Canned Tuna or Salmon- Less funky then caned chicken you can add it to anything salad, pasta, stir- fry and add low cost low calorie protein.
*If you want to get fancy get then in the pouches they are less watery and often come flavored but can be more expensive, once again stock up when on sale!
Brown Rice- Though it is a pain to make you can make a lot and keep it cooked in a container in the fridge for a few days. Keeps you fuller longer and is nice and chewy. Try to branch out from just Asian dishes with the rice and add taco seasoning and salsa to make healthy and fast Mexican rice.
* If you are pressed for time and are willing to spend some more money. Kashi makes good pre-cooked whole grain rice in pouches that can be microwaved in 90 seconds and Trader Joes has a frozen version.
Canned Beans- They are the musical fruit! More importantly when paired with rice they are a complete protein and are great if you don't have meat. You can use black beans for Mexican food and pair them with kidney beans for a fast chili. Garbanzo beans are great in salad.
*It's tempting to buy them in bulk because they are so cheap but unless you are going to devote a couple hours on the weekend to making them you are better off with canned.
Artichoke Hearts- They are sold in jars and cans they are less then $3 and a few go a long way. Great on salads or on chicken or in pasta. I recently discovered they are great in eggs as well.
*If you buy a can open the top then place plastic wrap over the opening it should last for a few days.
Olives- Great to add to salad, sauce, over meat or to eat from the can. They are cheap and add salt and flavor to almost everything!
*It's worth it to buy them pitted if you are going to cook with them. It's less expensive to buy pitted olives then to go to the dentist!
Corn Bread Mix- If you are tired of rice and pasta or want to spice up caned chili corn bread is awesome! You can get mixes for less then a dolor and jazz them up with some creamed corn. Not exactly healthy but a nice change for the ordinary.
*It's great the next morning for breakfast toasted in a pan with a little melted butter in it. You can get a box of Jiffy Mix for around 60 cents a box.
Flavored Cous Cous- Though it can sometimes be expensive, it's worth stocking up when it's on sale. They come in lots of flavors and can be made in five minutes. They are great as a side. But I admit sometimes I just eat it for dinner with a salad. Oh and get the whole grain kind!
*You can buy whole wheat cous cous in bulk and add flavors (olive oil, thyme, olives, etc) yourself and save a significant amount of money.
Hot Sauce- Despite all of my wonderful advice you will most likely get tired of what you are eating. Add hot sauce (tabasco/tapatillo/or chipotle tabasco) to eggs, chicken etc. Invest in some asian chile sause (the kind in the squirt bottle aka syracha) to dress up stir frys. Get dried taco seasoning to spice up rice and beans. Add dried red pepper flakes to pasta sauce to spice things up.
*Trust me a little hot sauce can make boring veggies taste good! Most of these are less then $2 each and will last a long time, tapatillo (found in the Hispanic grocery section is about 75 cents a bottle!)
Frozen Essentials:
Your freezer doesn't have to be filled with frozen prepared meals. Here are some other ideas...
Frozen Chicken Breasts- They are expensive fresh but if you buy them frozen most come with a saline (salt) solution that helps prevent freezer burn. You can get 3 to 4 pounds for $10. The chicken tenders are individually portioned and you can cook them and add them to anything. I throw them in a plastic bag in the morning with a little marinade (BBQ or soyaki/terriaki sauce) and leave them in the fridge. Throw them on the grill pan or George Foreman in the morning and there you go!
*Make sure you don't go crazy and eat a bunch of them! A little protein goes a long way!
Frozen Peas- Great to add to pasta or a way to dress up mashed potatoes (throw them in with the potatoes and mash them). They are great with bacon in pasta.
*They also are great if you are accident prone and may need to use them on a wounded knee.
Frozen Waffles- I add fruit like blueberries to mine in the morning when I am tired of just syrup. Peanut butter works good too and has the benefit of being portable. Get the whole grain ones they keep you fuller longer.
*The whole grain is more expensive but Trader Joes has cheap ones or buy them in bulk.
Frozen Fruit- It's great to freeze your own fruit to makes smoothies. When strawberries, blueberries or mangoes are on sale buy a bunch clean them and cut them and throw them in plastic bags. It's cheaper then buying them already cut and you can throw them on top of ice cream or in smoothies.
*You can buy them already frozen if fruit is out of season or you don't have time to cut it up. It's still cheaper then Jamba Juice!
Frozen Veggies- There is nothing wrong with frozen veggie mixes. You don't have to prep them and you can use them as an easy side dish or throw them into a main dish. There is no problem mixing frozen veggies with fresh ones in a stir fry just thaw the frozen ones first!
*Don't buy name brand, they are exactly the same. If the store brand doesn't have the mix of veggies you want buy the veggies separately and mix them yourself.
Convenience Food that is Worth the Money
In general packaged and prepared food is a rip off, there are however some exceptions.
Broccoli/Veggies in a bag- These are great you can microwave them in the bag in three minutes then throw them into stir fry or eat them as they are. The veggies are a consistent price and you can change it up by getting different combination of veggies.
*Unless you are planing on eating broccoli all weak, don't buy it in bulk.
Marinades- Throwing some frozen chicken into a baggie with a little marinade is a delicious and convenient. Get low calorie marinades and buy them when they go on sale.
*You can also use cheap Italian dressing as a marinade!
Whole Roasted Supermarket Chicken- Yes it is totally worth it. The whole roast chicken costs about the same as doing it yourself but without the hassle. They now have low sodium ones available too, all for around $6!
*You can mix up how you use it have it with veggies and rice one night. Then add it to salad the next day, then make a chicken salad sandwich the day after that.
Diced/Shredded Potatoes- Potatoes are very cheap but hard to work with. Throw fresh diced potatoes (sometimes found near the eggs and breakfast food) and make a breakfast burrito. Or buy frozen roasted potatoes as a side for a meat dish. They are normally under $2 and fast to make.
*Use the frozen potatoes for dinner then add them to eggs in the morning!
Tortillas- I eat them with everything. If you are pressed for time throw some rice beans and salsa in them and add a salad it's a great cheap lunch or dinner. They are also great with eggs in the morning.
*Buy corn not flower tortillas they are only $1.50 for 20 and they taste better then flower ones. They are also smaller which helps control portion size.
How to stock up:
There is no need to go crazy and run to the grocery store and buy all of these ingredients. Chances are some of this will sound more appealing to you then others. For example, I don't like tuna but I always have canned salmon at home. Start off with a few pantry items and frozen items and start from there. Even just adding a new marinade or hot sauce will spice things up. Let me know if you have any questions!
Introduction to Graduate Eats
Introduction
At the insistence of my friends I have compiled a few ideas on how to eat cheaply and relatively healthily. Many of the cheap food blogs are for large families or people who live in rural areas. Living in Southern California and other major cities is EXPENSIVE. Especially for recent college grads who find themselves working full time, but still need to live on a budget. Here are a few ideas to get you through the next couple of years.
This will be helpful if...
1) You realized your apartment has a kitchen, with an oven and everything!
2) Your kitchen has been feeling lonely but your freezer and microwave are feeling the love, as has the In-n-Out down the street.
3) If you have to eat (pasta, ramen, or caned soup) one more bleeping time you are gonna lose it.
Then fear not my friends I am here to help! These are health conscience and budget conscience ideas. Sorry guys no steak and lobster!
Keep in mind.
1) Be realistic about how often you are going to eat at home and/or be willing to prepare your own meals. For example if you go out every Friday for happy hour with your friends, don't plan on cooking Friday night.
2) Don't go to the grocery store hungry. That's how you end up with 5 bags of Doritos in your cart. Have a snack and/or a meal before you go.
3) Make a meal plan and shopping list and stick to it. Even if In-n-Out is calling your name resist temptation and remember you have food at home to eat!
At the insistence of my friends I have compiled a few ideas on how to eat cheaply and relatively healthily. Many of the cheap food blogs are for large families or people who live in rural areas. Living in Southern California and other major cities is EXPENSIVE. Especially for recent college grads who find themselves working full time, but still need to live on a budget. Here are a few ideas to get you through the next couple of years.
This will be helpful if...
1) You realized your apartment has a kitchen, with an oven and everything!
2) Your kitchen has been feeling lonely but your freezer and microwave are feeling the love, as has the In-n-Out down the street.
3) If you have to eat (pasta, ramen, or caned soup) one more bleeping time you are gonna lose it.
Then fear not my friends I am here to help! These are health conscience and budget conscience ideas. Sorry guys no steak and lobster!
Keep in mind.
1) Be realistic about how often you are going to eat at home and/or be willing to prepare your own meals. For example if you go out every Friday for happy hour with your friends, don't plan on cooking Friday night.
2) Don't go to the grocery store hungry. That's how you end up with 5 bags of Doritos in your cart. Have a snack and/or a meal before you go.
3) Make a meal plan and shopping list and stick to it. Even if In-n-Out is calling your name resist temptation and remember you have food at home to eat!
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