Simple Foods for Frugal People

If you’re like me—going to college, low on cash—then you’ve probably faced the problem of asking yourself, “What am I going to have for dinner tonight?” Often times, these thoughts lead to ordering take-out, eating unhealthy cup noodles, which, face it- they’re not great for your overall health. Here are a few simple but good solutions to keep eating healthy.

• Bread – whether you eat it plain or with butter, bread is a great breakfast food for people on the go.
• Carrot sticks – carrot sticks are great because you don’t have to use a vegetable peeler in order to enjoy it. Just pop it in your mouth! And it can go with practically any meal.
• Rice – Buy one big bag, and it’ll last forever (not literally of course)! You just need to know how to cook it right, which means either getting yourself a rice cooker or just putting the grains in a pot full of water.
• Fruits – for people who don’t want to bother peeling off the outer layer of a fruit, apples, mini tomatoes, and grapes are brilliant.
• Frozen foods – frozen peas, vegetables, and frozen fruits/berries are excellent for microwave-users. It’s an instant healthy meal!
• Eggs – scramble them up, make them sunny-side up, poach them, make an omelet, or boil them! Eggs are awesome to have in the home.
• Potatoes – boil ‘em, mash ‘em, stick ‘em in a stew. ‘Nuff said.
• Fish – Depending on how you make them, it may take a while to cook, but fish have essential omega-3 fatty acids that are very healthy for you.
• Cereal – get the healthy kind, not Froot Loops or Lucky Charms. Yes, it’s tempting, but in the end, you’re going to regret it!
• Dairy – even if you’re lactose intolerant, stores have special milks and yogurts for lactose-intolerant folk, so it’s no excuse not to get some dairy! It helps build strong bones and teeth!
• Pancake mix – pancakes may not sound like a healthy-meal type food, but you can be lenient sometimes. Just don’t add a cup full of syrup to it!
• Dark chocolate – yes, I know, we all love chocolate, but brands like Hershey’s and Nestle don’t exactly have your health-conscious interests in mind. Go to a place like Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods and get some dark chocolate. It has less sugar than milk chocolate, but you know, it’s still chocolate. And if you don’t like it, turn it into hot chocolate or a cake for a friend. Food is more fun if you share it!