What’s your favorite healthy food that can be bought on a college student budget? I’ve decided that I’m really going to crack down on my poor eating habits. As a college student, I’ve always bought the food that was the most affordable. Unfortunately, this is usually generic-brand pizza, toaster streudels, and whichever soda is on sale. In order to combat this, I’m looking for suggestions for healthy, easy-to-prepare foods that won’t break the bank.
- A cup of rice and a vegetarian stir-fry
- Replace soda with water
- Pasta primavera
- Fruitshakes/smoothies
- Cheese and crackers
- Nuts
- Beans (flavored with a little meat)
- Fruits and vegetables
learning to eat more meals at home is an excellent way to reduce your food budget and eat healthfully. Find a source of recipes that you trust and learn to prepare them. If you’re looking for healthy food on a small budget, then fruits and vegetables and other whole foods are the way to go. They’re the basic building blocks of a nutritious diet, and they’re much cheaper than processed foods.
Try some of these suggestions and see how you feel afterwards!
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
You'll be amazed at how much better you'll feel just by making the smallest changes to your eating habits.
Replacing soda with water is a huge step in the right direction.
Also, buy "whole wheat" anything -- pasta, bread, tortillas, buns, etc. if you can find it. Brown rice, although it takes longer to cook, is also better than white for your stir frys.
Try vegetable broth for flavoring beans instead of meat; you can also substitute it for water when cooking rice.
If you get tired of smoothies and want some texture, make a parfait. I use frozen fruit cause its cheap and doesn't go bad as quickly (blueberries, cherries, raspberries, etc). Layer granola, yogurt and fruit in a bowl or cup. Stir it all up and its so yummy. I throw these things in a plastic cup, cover it in plastic wrap and take it to eat at work every day.
Also, try substituting ground turkey for ground beef. The secret to making it so no one will notice is to add some worchesterchire sauce (ie Lea & Perrins).
Best of luck to you in your dietary improvements!
/jkh
That's how I lost a bunch of weight. Your diet may work for you becoming "healthier" (compared to pizza), but if you are after losing weight, you may want to reconsider.
Most of your menu is very high in fat (nuts, cheese, crackers, possibly your smoothie, depending on how you make it), and carbs that do little for you (white rice, for instance!). For me, a high-protein, low-fat (i mean REALLY low fat) diet, and watching my empty carbs (sugar, white bread, white rice, etc.), has done wonders. Also, high-fiber foods fill you up- spinach instead of iceberg lettuce, for example, and carrots are a great filler with fiber, as well. Just my 2 cents- good luck becoming a healthier you- great things happen when you are able to feel good about yourself.
Jessie