Bean burritos, bean burgers and bean chili are all easy to make, very tasty and budget friendly. If you include meat in your diet, you can still stretch many soups and stews with beans to make a delicious, protein rich, filling one dish meal. Dried beansīeans are extremely versatile along with being cheap and nutritious. They freeze beautifully so if you find a good price, save some to enjoy later in the year in smoothies, sauces and baked goods. Strawberries are known for being loaded with antioxidants and fiber.
#Potato mush client options cut off full#
Strawberriesĭon’t bother with strawberries off season, when they are expensive and not very flavorful, but in the spring and early summer when they are abundant and cheap, take full advantage.
#Potato mush client options cut off skin#
They are so easy to set out on the counter for quick snacks and if they are starting to brown, you can pop them in the freezer, skin and all, to use later for smoothies and baking. These are one of the least expensive fruits that you can regularly find in your supermarket and are packed full of fiber and nutrients. Steel cut oats are particularly delicious they are more expensive than rolled oats but if you buy them from bulk bins at your health food store they are cheaper than processed cold cereals. It can also be used in meatloaf and meatballs instead of bread crumbs. It’s not only for breakfast! You can use super healthy oatmeal in your baking to beef up the nutritional content of your goodies without spending a lot of cash. They are also fairly hardy and can live in your crisper for quite a while so that you can always have them on hand. Carrotsĭon’t overlook the humble carrot, they are delicious eaten raw and are a great way to stretch more expensive vegetables in stir fries, stews and other dishes. Try shredded cabbage instead of iceberg lettuce on your tacos or slice it thinly and sauté lightly in olive oil with a bit of cumin. It’s inexpensive, easy to find and prepare and tastes pretty good, too. There is a reason that so many cultures have relied on cabbage as a dietary staple. In most areas, kale is a lot cheaper than chard or spinach or other salad greens, which makes it a budget friendly as well as healthy choice. I separated kale from the other dark green leafy vegetables because it can also be used in green smoothies as it’s not as tough and strong tasting as the others. All dark green leafy vegetables contain vast amounts of phytonutrients and nearly all of them are extremely affordable. Collards and other greens such as mustard, turnip and beet greens can all be prepared this way for an inexpensive and nutritious side dish. I happen to love traditional, long cooked mushy collards greens but if you’re not a fan try cutting them into thin strips and briefly sauté. While they have a pleasing flavor on their own, they also stand up well to strong spices and can be a good substitute for meat in dishes like curry and chili. They contain a good amount of protein and are very filling. Unlike beans, lentils do not require any presoaking and cook in just 20 minutes. One of my favorite dishes is a simple soup made of pureed squash served with homemade bread.
An added benefit is that they keep well, so you can buy them while doing your weekly shopping and not have to worry about them spoiling after just a day or two. Winter squashīutternut, acorn, and other hard squashes are terrific sources of vitamins and fiber. Sweet potatoes are also terrific in curries and stews. I like them best simply roasted in just a tiny bit of olive oil prepared this way they are gorgeously rich and sweet without adding butter or sugar. These are full of fiber and vitamins and taste terrific. Here are twelve of the most delicious, inexpensive and nutritious foods your dollar can buy. Often, they are so cheap and abundant that I can afford to go for the organic version and feel great about what I put on the table for my family each night. To eat well on a budget I look for foods that are packed with nutrients, naturally delicious and cost pennies a serving. On the other hand, a diet of artisan cheeses, organic arugula and wild caught salmon is delicious, healthy and far too expensive for me to feed my family every night. Ramen noodles and store brand bologna are dirt cheap but not only are they unhealthy, the flavor is torture to most people’s taste buds.