Alright, folks. Things aren't looking good for the Jenn job-wise and we're going to need to start clamping down on stuff. Quick ask:
I'm going to need to start saving cash, and with inflation, AND the fact that I make fancy foods, I'm gonna need to clamp down on groceries. What are your very cheap, college-level, devastating for your health but heaven for your wallet, meals?
@dolari if you have a set of scales, Jack Monroe writes great low cost and actually pretty healthy recipes: https://cookingonabootstrap.com/
@dolari also, I forgot to say they're super queer too, which is an obvious bonus.
@dolari
Houkime's cheapest food list:
* Pancakes
* Oats with raisins/a few fresh berries
* Polenta with same
* Rice with onions/potatoes/carrots
* Soy sauce is ok if bought in big bottles
* Peas to make pea soup. Baking soda helps
* Apples. I make a salty-sour salad with them, and eat with rice.
* In general, rice and pasta are cheaper than bread
* Baking is an option
Depending on local prices:
* Lentils
* Beans (dry)
* Spinach
* Miso
* Wakame
* Tomatoes are ok in cheap tomatoes season
@dolari That are diabetic-friendly? Well, eggs were there at one point, but they are no longer.
Low-budget, low-carb... that's tricky enough.
Definitely start with bouillon. If you can get it in a decent bulk, it'll last a while, and the stuff will help stem cravings.
If you can get a fryer chicken at the store for a respectable price (I find halfway through the evening is the best time to look), it's worth your while. Those things are a lifesaver.
Marked down mushrooms won't get you much nutrition outside of the micronutrients, but they can be a major bonus in an omelet, beefing it up and giving it a bit more flavour. And onions, too, will always be a favourite, alongside garlic. The marked-down packages of mushrooms aren't bad at all, either, so long as you use them right away and wash them right.
A big frozen bag of mixed vegetables is a must. I wouldn't eat them on their own, but they'll especially bolster any grains you have, as well as a soup - particularly if you make one out of the aforementioned fryer.
While it sounds gross, keep an eye on a meat department for anything that's marked down -- specifically, anything like prepackaged deli meats. Those little things which make maybe two sandwiches each? Get them at .25c and freeze them, they do surprisingly freeze well and you can just pull them out when needed.
Peanut butter. If you find it on sale (Shoppers will typically have it on for a song every couple of weeks) then stock up, and use it all over. It's higher-carb than most people assume due to the added sugar, and the fat content's nothing to be sneezed at, but it's a classic staple for a reason, and peanut butter cookies are not only calorie (and carb) dense, but sealed properly they do last forever.
Tea is cheaper than coffee and ironically has a higher caffeine content in some circumstances. If you find yourself with just low-quality stuff, then you can stuff six to eight teabags in a 2L pot on low, cover, and leave them bubbling away for the better part of a half hour. Be warned: unless you have a high caffeine tolerance this can be legitimately dangerous. (It's also no friend to teeth or tongue, but it'll keep you awake.)
If you have a dehydrator, I'd definitely make extensive use of it when it comes to fresh fruit which turns out to be on special. That can be mixed into nearly anything, even reconstituted and baked, so it's a good resource.
Cereals might be largely for crap, but I've found that farina wheat porridge can be comparatively cheap, and again, goes with everything. Higher-carb though depending on how you do it up. Oatmeal, too, and that's much cheaper.
Lemon juice is very much your friend.
As disgusting as it might sound, chopping up a few hot dogs into a box of KD and topping it with something tomato is usually a pretty good choice.
And lastly, for a go-to, a half a pound of ground meat, an onion, a green pepper, a couple mushrooms, can of kidney beans and a can of diced tomatoes, and you've got the basis for a few meals right there, probably without capping $15.
@dolari soup!