Know any cheap meal ideas?

2017-07-10T03:37:37-04:00

Besides the Defac. I'm curious to explore more options for my diet as I transition into the regular army full time. Give me cheap food ideas?

Response by LCDR Thomas Doherty (USNR-R Ret) made Jul 10 at 2017 5:44 AM

2017-07-10T05:44:25-04:00

A bean stew with kale, carrots, peppers. onions with or without meat, garlic. Can cook a big pot and eat it all week or longer if portions are frozen.

Response by MAJ Brad Friedlander made Jul 10 at 2017 8:11 AM

2017-07-10T08:11:52-04:00

You should look at recipes for Asian dishes. Many of these use a small amount of protein and a lot of healthy greens to make a nutritious diet. The spices and the accompanying noodles or rice make the meals satisfying and filling.

Response by LT John Chang made Jul 10 at 2017 4:48 PM

2017-07-10T16:48:40-04:00

Cheap is one thing; eating healthy is another. It is possible to do both, but you have to be willing to try different foods and different sources. On one end of the spectrum is Whole Foods who Amazon recently acquired, because let's face it they've become the poster child for eating healthy and organic. But you pay for it, thus the nickname "Whole Paycheck."

On the other end is the mix of cheaper junk food / fast food that you find in inner cities, because like the high interest rate payday loans you end up paying heavily on the back end with your health for cheap and filling *now*.

In general, you'll find that meats and other proteins (especially seafood) are what you pay the most money per pound. So, just by cutting down on these you don't have to sacrifice nutrition for dollars. Often fresh fruits and vegetable (especially in season) are good deals and taste better than the salty, fatty, sugary stuff. But our taste buds will get used to what we put in front of them.

Over the years I've found that I'll shop at one store for basics and canned goods. Then, I'll get good deals at Whole Foods for certain items like produce in season. Finally, a store like Trader Joe's offers stuff like yogurt and specialty stuff like hummus or pineapple salsa at a prices I can't get elsewhere.

In general I'll rotate around these for what I need. Then, I'll either find recipes based on what I get or I'll get stuff for some favorite foods like spaghetti and [fill-in meatballs, sausage, etc] Overall, like I said it's a constant process of trying and experimenting.

Here's an article I recently wrote about just how bad sugar is for you out of all the things we've heard over the years.. https://caloriebee.com/nutrition/Why-is-Sugar-So-Bad

Why Is Sugar So Bad?

What is it about sugar that is so bad for us? We look at some of the most harmful effects of consuming too much sugar. Then, we consider what are some of the better options available.

Response by Susan Day made Jul 13 at 2017 6:50 PM

2017-07-13T18:50:37-04:00

There is little doubt that the key to physical and mental health is diet, and especially hydration. I try to keep meals free from additives and sauces. Serving sizes are important too. Great article and a topic we should all keep discussing.