LittleJanet
02-01-2006, 12:45 AM
I'm a college student, and I'm finding it hard to buy food that's good for me. For instance, you can spend five bucks on pasta and eat for a week, but $5 will get you just enough veggies for a salad. It's frustrating, because I actually like a lot of low-calorie food like salads and fish, but I just can't afford it.
What do you buy when money's tight but you don't want your pants to be?
What do you buy when money's tight but you don't want your pants to be?
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kes1321
02-01-2006, 10:20 AM
What do you buy when money's tight but you don't want your pants to be?
I find I have the same problem - I too am a college student... To over come this, I made a decision - I cut out the unimportant things (like going to bars, movies, etc), in favour of buying healthy food. I encourage my friends to hang out at my place, or rent a movie in stead of going out to see one, or something like that. It saves a TON of money which can then be put to good use buying healthier foods.
I find I have the same problem - I too am a college student... To over come this, I made a decision - I cut out the unimportant things (like going to bars, movies, etc), in favour of buying healthy food. I encourage my friends to hang out at my place, or rent a movie in stead of going out to see one, or something like that. It saves a TON of money which can then be put to good use buying healthier foods.
LittleJanet
02-01-2006, 11:49 AM
I've already cut most of my other costs - not in order to buy healthy foods, but because I'm on a budget anyway. Most of the money I earn goes to help my parents pay my tuition.
What are some of the less expensive foods you buy?
What are some of the less expensive foods you buy?
s1mc7
02-01-2006, 12:40 PM
I'm a college student too...but I just eat what my meal plan allows me to. So, for dinner, for example, I'll have grilled chicken and make myself a salad from the salad bar.
do you have a meal plan??
do you have a meal plan??
LittleJanet
02-01-2006, 12:49 PM
I did my first two years of college but now I'm buying my own food. It's cheaper that way, because the meal plan cost $900 a semester and I only spend $200-$300 a semester on food when I feed myself.
I miss the salad bar SO MUCH.
I miss the salad bar SO MUCH.
kes1321
02-01-2006, 02:38 PM
I did my first two years of college but now I'm buying my own food. It's cheaper that way, because the meal plan cost $900 a semester and I only spend $200-$300 a semester on food when I feed myself.
I miss the salad bar SO MUCH.
I guess that's why the meal plan was more expensive - maybe you could cut the spending by not quite as much. In stead of spending $900, spend $500 - you would still be spending less than before, but able to buy more healthy foods. My food seems to average about $30 per week... That would be about $450 a term... Some weeks more, some less, depending on what I need.
I also like frozen veggies and fruit - you can get a whole bag pretty cheap, and keep them practically forever. I just thaw the fruit in the microwave every morning, and I boil the veggies every night for dinner. I eat whole wheat pasta. I'm lucky because my family hunts, so I bring venison or moose (both VERY lean meats), or sometimes fresh trout, from home. That saves HUGE on the costs - meat is so expensive.
You can also watch for which vegetables and fruits are 'in season'... I just bought a whole pineapple for $2.50! That's my fruit for the week.
I miss the salad bar SO MUCH.
I guess that's why the meal plan was more expensive - maybe you could cut the spending by not quite as much. In stead of spending $900, spend $500 - you would still be spending less than before, but able to buy more healthy foods. My food seems to average about $30 per week... That would be about $450 a term... Some weeks more, some less, depending on what I need.
I also like frozen veggies and fruit - you can get a whole bag pretty cheap, and keep them practically forever. I just thaw the fruit in the microwave every morning, and I boil the veggies every night for dinner. I eat whole wheat pasta. I'm lucky because my family hunts, so I bring venison or moose (both VERY lean meats), or sometimes fresh trout, from home. That saves HUGE on the costs - meat is so expensive.
You can also watch for which vegetables and fruits are 'in season'... I just bought a whole pineapple for $2.50! That's my fruit for the week.