quick breakfast and lunch ideas on a TIGHT budget.

Posts: 1,328
4/5/13 12:36 A

Thank you both for the recipe/ link.

Posts: 2,687
4/4/13 5:00 P

Here is one of the recipes from SparkRecipes. I just copied what looks like a basic one.

Applesauce could be substituted for some of the oil.

Minutes to Prepare: 5
Minutes to Cook: 35
Number of Servings: 6

Ingredients

1/3 cup oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg, beaten
2 cups uncooked oats
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2/3 cup milk

Free Coupons

Directions

Combine oil, sugar and egg. Add oats, baking powder, salt and mil. Pour into a small, greased casserole dish. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Serve warm with milk and cinnamon.

Number of Servings: 6

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user LADYMEG2

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Posts: 87
4/4/13 4:09 P

The baked oatmeal recipe I used is from www.chocolatecoveredkatie.com I love her chocolate chip oatmeal. I've tried the crockpot oatmeal off of pinterest, but it came out kinda gummy. (yuck!) I like the baked oatmeal because it tastes more like a cookie. I have even baked it in advance and then warmed up back up in the oven while getting ready for work. (just don't forget about it though or it will be really crispy! )

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4/4/13 4:01 P

Try rice, beans and veggies for lunch. You can prep your meals for the week and it'll be super cheap (especially if you use dried beans instead of canned.)

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4/4/13 2:47 P

Hi there,
Maybe you could clip and paste 2 of these recipes for her. I would but I don't know which ones you triedthat you liked.

You could post it here, or send it to her mailbox.

Posts: 217
4/4/13 2:34 P

Thanks Fancyqtr! Unfortunately, the only access I have to Spark right now is at work & they have all the recipe sections blocked!

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4/4/13 2:20 P

I've never tried making those, but they have some recipes at the SparkRecipes.com . They had something on the Best of Sparkpeople recently with different ways of making oatmeal. I haven't ever liked cooked oatmeal except in cookies and something like apple crisp, but the baked sounded like something I might try.

current weight: 220.0

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Posts: 217
4/4/13 2:09 P

Questions: How do you make baked oatmeal?
How do you make oatmeal in a Crockpot?

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Posts: 87
4/2/13 11:38 A

Thank you so much for all of the ideas. I'm ready to branch out from my traditional lunch but am still wanting to stay healthy and within my calorie range. Thanks!

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Posts: 17
3/2/13 11:39 A

Some excellent suggestions here!

Posts: 1,328
3/1/13 9:29 P

Your a smart lady, and probably full of pep, no doubt.

Posts: 36
3/1/13 7:21 P

Regarding Lunch Ideas on a TIGHT budget. I am retired,so I eat lunch at home.
I make 2 large vegetable salads (for 2 days) every morning while I am making my breakfast of oatmeal, egg whites and toast. I purchase a large head of Romaine Lettuce, 2 Cucumbers, plum tomatoes, bell peppers (red and green) sweet onions and shredded carrots (in a package). These ingredients last for at least two weeks. I wash the vegetables as I use them. I add 1/2 cup beans or 3 oz of protein to my salad and light salad dressing (2 tbsp). This is a very filling and nutritious lunch and I am able to stick to my daily food plan of no eating no more than 1,500 calories a day because my lunch is so filling.

Edited by: LOISY3 at: 3/1/2013 (19:22)

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1/25/13 12:50 P

Depends on your tastes.

I don't mind boring and predictable so every Sunday I make a big pot of something vegetarian (I don't like to eat meat during the day) for dinner and then have leftovers every day that week for lunch. Mujadara (lentils, carrots, and brown rice), Italian rice with kidney beans, honey baked lentils and brown rice, vegetarian chili -- those are my favorites. If I have time when I'm packing my lunch I add some fresh veggies -- when I don't, I open a can of string beans or beets and call it a day.

For breakfasts, I usually have greek yogurt or cottage cheese. I've done the breakfast burrito also. I frequently snack on hard boiled eggs so while I don't have any cholesterol issues I still don't like to eat eggs as a meal too often because that would just be too many eggs.

current weight: 293.6

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Posts: 1
1/25/13 9:35 A

Wonderful ideas! Thanks everyone!

Posts: 2,687
1/24/13 11:11 P

In the February 22 isssue of All You they have an Herb Frittata recipe that can be made ahead (it's for muffin-sized) and a muffin recipe. I haven't tried them since I can't use my oven right now, but the frittata sounds good. The muffins have carrots, nuts, pineapple, oats and most of the normal ingredients, so look pretty healthy.

They also have 3 women who have lost weight and kept it off. One of those used Sparkpeople to help her.

current weight: 220.0

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1/24/13 10:57 P

Nothing compares to the long-lasting fullness of oatmeal (I like mine with fruit like blueberries or raisins). And oatmeal is CHEAP.

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1/24/13 4:50 P

Cereal with skimmed milk - simple but still tasty!

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1/24/13 11:44 A

I boil eggs and keep fruit on hand they make a great breakfast or snack

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Posts: 62
1/24/13 10:48 A

I make a crockpot full of steel cut oats once a week and the pack it in smaler coantiners that I can grab and heat at work to eat for breakfast. I usually eat it with (or near, timewise) a greek yogurt, which I get less expensively at Trader Joes.

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1/24/13 9:44 A

I too had been looking for new ideas to pack in a lunch to haul into work. The recipes had to be inexpensive too!. The website www.theyummylife.com/ Has some really great breakfast and lunch ideas. I have tried her overnight refrigerator oatmeal and my family loves it. Her remade egg mcmuffin sandwishes are great too. I also make up my own pinto/kidney bean combo in the crockpot. I buy the beans in bulk from Winco foods. My best guess it is around $.14 a pound cooked. I mash some and put in rubbermaid containers I get at the dollar store. I portion them out, then freeze them. I save some whole to put in soups or chili. They taste better than the more expensive canned and I control the sodium.

Posts: 802
1/24/13 9:42 A

I like Oat Fit -- all the different kinds. 90 seconds and you don't dirty more than the bowl and spoon.

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1/24/13 8:59 A

Some great ideas here

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Posts: 285
1/24/13 8:07 A

Here is an idea I found and is planning on trying this weekend. Take some time on Sunday and make breakfast burritos to freeze. Take a dozen eggs and scramble. Heat up a regular size tortilla and add a portion of the egg to each burrito. I use by the family pack tortillas and there fairly inexpensive. You can sprinkle cheese or cooked ham or already cooked bacon too. Then wrap each burrito in foil and put in freezer. Now you will have quick and filling breakfast for the morning. Just pop it in the microwave.

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1/23/13 11:09 P

ooh. yummy. good ideas.

That crock pot steel cut oatmeal recipe is really cheap. I think I paid $2.50 for a huge container of oatmeal. You only need 2 cups for 8 large servings, add raisins, brown sugar and you have it for the family for the week. You can add anything really - crasins, apples, nuts, berries, I even put a banana in before I microwaved it, really good.

http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1289906


Edited by: LISAKUL at: 1/24/2013 (09:32)

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1/23/13 8:11 P

Remember breakfast doesn't have to be just breakfast type foods. Low calorie English muffins with a little spaghetti sauce, roasted veggies, nonfat cheese would be a mini pizza and tastes good anytime. Cottage cheese mixed with pineapple or berries and topped with a little fiber cereal, lowfat granola or something similarly crunchy is good. Small tortilla wrapped around an eggwhite omelette with a little salsa and lowfat cheese is another good option.

Lunch - soup with lots of veggies or chili with lots of beans or a bag of salad mix with or without chicken, walnuts, dried cherries or cranberries, pineapple, apple or mandarin oranges and topped with a low calorie poppyseed salad dressing mixed mostly with the pineapple juice is delicious - especially if you add a little flavored (cranberry cinammon or blueberry for example) goat cheese. Wonderful. Also Jimmy Dean turkey sausage crumbles mixed with a lower calorie spaghetti sauce and layered with low calorie mozzarella cheese and roasted eggplant is as good as lasagna for hardly any calories.

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1/23/13 5:34 P

I like mashing ripe bananas with peanut butter. For variety, you can add in raisins, honey and/or raw oatmeal. But plain ol' bananas and peanut butter are tasty, too. :)

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1/23/13 2:20 P

I just tried something great...turkey bacon wrapped around the inside of a muffin tin, then crack and egg in there, salt and pepper to taste. You can add a tiny amount of shredded cheese if you want. These will freese well for quick and easy breakfasts!!

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1/23/13 1:24 P

for breakfast, use old bananas and make a banana bread, great with coffee or milk. for lunch, also stock up on sale items, like your favorite lo-cal soup. don't forget those coupons.

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1/23/13 1:23 P

I usually eat a Luna bar (around $1/each), a slimfast (a little more expensive but there are generic brands that are around $1/each) or 2 hard eggs. All are under 200 calories and about $1.

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1/23/13 1:12 P

I'd recommend a few dry staples like oats, cereal (a generic brand), peanut butter.

Keep eggs on hand.

Things like bread and yogurt can be bought in bulk when they are on sale and you can freeze them so that they last longer.

If berries aren't in season you can usually get a large bag of frozen ones cheap. Also, apples, oranges or pears can usually be found inexpensively depending on time of the year.

Mix up what sort of fruit you throw into the oats or use peanut butter, some canned pumpkin, apple sauce, or even some chocolate chips or chocolate syrup (just a dab!).

With the eggs, toss in a handful of spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, or whatever other veggies are on sale that week and scramble it altogether on toast.

Use the cheap or frozen fruits and the frozen yogurt (if you choose to do it that way) in a blender to make a smoothie.




Edited by: HCORNETTO at: 1/23/2013 (13:13)

current weight: 140.0

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1/23/13 1:02 P

I like to stock up on greek yogurt when it's on sale...more expensive but tons more protein than regular yogurt so it is worth it. Chobani raspberry flavor is my favorite. I eat one of those with half of a whole wheat english muffin, half tablespoon of peanut butter, plus or minus a drizzle of honey. If I am planning a heavy work out day, I will slice half a banana on the english muffin instead of the honey. This combo is sweet, salty, and creamy...all my cravings satisfied, healthfully!

HaleyLW...love the mini omelette idea...it's on my list to try! :)


Jane

Edited by: RX_2_RV at: 1/23/2013 (13:07)

current weight: 139.0

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1/23/13 4:49 A

I agree that oatmeal is a good way to go for cheap breakfasts. I either add peanut butter, blueberries, or a little cinnamon; and it always fills me up!

If I have a little time over the weekend, I'll crack one egg into each space of a muffin pan, add some salt and pepper, and pop it in the oven for about 15 minutes. And if I'm feeling fancy, I'll add some spinach or ham--they're kind of like mini omelets! These freeze really well, so they end up being a really great way to get quick and convenient protein in the morning!

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1/23/13 3:53 A

I make baked oatmeal with apples, dried cranberries and walnuts in it, and then just portion out into serving sizes and pop them in the microwave. I like to add some Bob's Red Mill 10 Grain Hot Cereal to the mix too, just for the extra nutrients it has.I put in a little brown sugar and some cinnamon, and I'm set for the week.

Lunch is usually some sort of grain, protein, veg mix, with a piece of fruit on the side. I make a batch of brown rice at the beginning of the week and then do different things with it. A cup sauted with cabbage, carrots, onions, almonds and seasoned with soy sauce is a great quick fried rice. Or eat it cold with black beans, corn, tomatoes, red onions, chilies and a little vinegar for a vaguely Mexican feel. Today I have whole grain pasta, chickpeas, sundried tomatoes, artichokes and olives.

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1/22/13 10:09 P

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Posts: 95
1/22/13 9:05 P

I like making baked oatmeal. I cut it and freeze it in individual portions, then nuke it in the morning.

Eggs are cheap, easy, and very nutritious.

Oatmeal, like everyone else said. I like peanut butter in it, too, and some milk.

Toast is one of my absolute favorites. My mom always ate it, and got me hooked as well. Very cheap, very easy.

Cereal, when eaten in regular portion size, can be inexpensive, especially if you go to Aldi or buy the off brands. A lot of 'cheap' eating is really just eating the regular portion sizes. If I buy a box of cereal, my kids can eat it in one sitting almost. But if I portioned it out, it would last longer. So, maybe just looking at your portions, too, would help.

Best wishes.

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1/22/13 5:07 P

I'm back to work this week. Cereal has become my life saver again.

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1/22/13 3:14 P

Homemade Buttermilk Oatmeal pancakes. Make ahead and freeze indiviually. Pop one in refrig the night before and it is ready to eat plain or topped with banana, nut butters or even cottage cheese. These are heavy on the oats and light on the sugar. Sure to satify as well as top for variety.

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1/22/13 3:04 P

Protein shake. NO excuses.

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1/22/13 2:52 P

that is most interesting... sounds good!

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1/22/13 12:57 P

I do the instant oatmeal, and a scoop of protein shake mix, (the one I use tastes like Cinnamon, it gives my oatmeal a great flavor and I get the extra protein that I need.

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1/22/13 11:34 A

these are some good ideas

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1/22/13 10:54 A

I don't eat animal products, but you could always add an egg. I soak and cook chickpeas from scratch, then freeze them in 1cup amounts in baggies in freezer. I take one out at least 2 hrs before I will be cooking in oven. I make a breakfast hash of sorts. Throw chickpeas on oven pan along with 1" pieces of assorted vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, Brussels sprouts, kale, tomatoes. These are all delicious. I use whatever veg I have in hand, at least 2 types. I spritz with oil, and toss with a bit of herbs, thyme and rosemary are great. Roast at 400F for about 30 minutes, turning once. If I'm using kale and tomatoes, I Toss them in about 10 minutes after everything else. I eat this any time of day.

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1/22/13 10:21 A

My current breakfast is one David's Plain Bagel and two teaspoons Philadelphia Strawberry cream cheese. The bagel has 8g of protein to get me through the morning.

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1/21/13 11:31 P

I make Dr.Oz's fat burning soup that was in a Women's World magazine. It's vegs and ground turkey. I always put some Parmesan cheese on it. I also mix it with my egg beaters...Yum

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1/21/13 11:03 P

I've grown accustomed to eating healthy on a budget and it IS tricky. However, I'm lucky, I'm not fussy. I can survive on beans and rice. Spark people has a great recipe with black beans, salsa, brown rice, corn / whatever veggies you care to throw in- and it is SO good. Swap it up and do couscous and chick peas or, pasta with italian veggies and navy beans, quinoa, you get the idea (cheap whole grains + beans + veggies) Dairy is always good for you and relatively affordable (I eat a ton of cheese, yogurt, etc.) Oatmeal is always a winner, add nuts and dried fruit for a twist.

I had to live on a vegetarian diet for a long time, and it saved me so much money I continue to be about 80% vegetarian. However, I also like loaded stuffed potatoes and sweet potatoes. Eggs are always good with whole wheat toast. I'm addicted to apple butter and whole wheat muffins right now! Mmm.. now I'm hungry! Time for a healthy snack!! :)

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1/21/13 7:34 P

i have egg intolerance so i do whole wheat 100 calorie english muffin with turkey breakfast sausage (walmart brand) use spicy brown mustard or hummus and add a little spring mix and a slice of tomato.

Posts: 18
1/21/13 2:33 P

Love the pancake idea! Sounds very good and healthy!

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1/21/13 2:32 P

I usually make a big pot of soup. Any kind will do. It usually lasts me all week to finish and its cheap to make. I especially love the weight watchers cabbage soup with a can of white beans thrown in for more protein. I also add some apple cider vinegar and red pepper flakes to add extra flavor! So good on a midwestern snowy afternoon!

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1/21/13 1:55 P

I like that I ideal thanks

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1/21/13 1:47 P

I usually stock oatmeal, eggs, yogurt, and fruit in season to use for breakfast. If the bananas are getting spotty I peel them and throw into the freezer and use with frozen berries on sale for smoothies (Costco has big bags of mixed berries at a reasonable price). I keep a bowl of hard boiled eggs in the refrigerator to grab if I need a quick cheap protein. There are usually dinner leftovers to work with for lunch, which is a great budget saver.

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1/21/13 1:38 P

I make a smoothie with 1-banana, 1 cup low or fat free milk, about 6 ice cubes, 1 or 2-packet sweetener, cinnamon and vanilla to taste. Blend well in blender.
If my bananas get to ripe, I peal them put into zip freezer bag and mash. Freeze until you need, just add about 4 ice cubes. I also add a tablespoon peanut butter or a couple spoons of unsweetened apple sauce sometimes. I will make this in the mornings, put it in a shaker and take it to work.

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1/21/13 12:14 P

A few staples I always keep at our house on our tight budget are oatmeal (not instant), bananas, honey, peanut butter, and greek yogurt. We usually have some frozen berries, rice, beans, and canned veggies as well. I make my own bread whenever I want that because it is easy and really cheap. Anyway, a banana cut up with honey and cinnamon on top is soo tasty and paired with greek yogurt mixed with a Tsp of PB is a great lunch. It doesn't sound like much, but it packed with lots of protein to keep you feeling full for awhile. Another favorite easy lunch is soup. I love lentil soup which makes a ton for cheap and potato/leek soup because it also makes so much for really cheap! The best way I've found to eat cheaper foods is to just add different spices for a different taste! Ohhh, and smoothies. I love smoothies for breakfast, they are really filling especially if you drink them slowly. A cup of ice, banana, some frozen berries, a 1/4 cup of greek yogurt a bit of honey and a little milk makes two servings for my husband and I ! Yumm!

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1/21/13 9:33 A

A "protein pancake": In a blender combine 1 cup egg white, 1/2 cup oatmeal, and 2 cups fresh baby spinach. Blend til its smooth and then cook in a frying pan like a pancake. It's very green but its YUMMY and not bad for you.

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1/20/13 9:24 P

I love a small baked potato with just about anything on it.
Soup is always a great choice.
An egg white omelet is a wonderful proteined packed meal. Eggs are economical and they don't have to be eaten just for breakfast.
Frozen vegies are as good for you as fresh and a bag can last for several meals.
peanut butter sandwich always makes me feel like a kid. Make it with a banana

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1/20/13 8:48 P

Oatmeal or brown rice for breakfast.
Tuna, chicken or fish for lunch
Chicken, for dinner
Frozen Fruit for snacks

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1/20/13 8:29 P

Edamames are a good source of protein to put in your salads. Ib buy the ones that are organic. You just let them thaw. You do not have cook them unless you want to.

Edited by: KMLONG66 at: 1/20/2013 (20:30)

Posts: 46
1/20/13 5:46 P

If you can cook, it is really very inexpensive to make soup. A big pot can last all week. So while there is some prep time, it really isn't bad considering that you could have five days lunches. For example, if you cook a whole chicken in plenty of water you can use the chicken for one or two nights dinners. Then I just put the broth in a crockpot and dump in whatever I have in the cupboard: 1/2 cup brown rice, lentils, frozen mixed veggies, canned tomatoes, canned beans, cajun seasoning, etc. For less prep time there is a company called Pacific that makes a boxed organic veggie broth that is awesome. Also I have been getting Bobs red mill soup mixes at Big Lots. One bag of mix can make three or four pots of soup.

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1/20/13 10:54 A

i like black beans and brown rice mixed together with some cajun seasoning or other spices. it really fills me up. or some chicken in wrapped up in a tortilla with buffalo sauce.

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1/20/13 3:59 A

I also buy the bult chicken breast and boil it, then shred whatever is leftover if I have used it for a meal, or shredded some and frozen some already cooked. I love making the chicken burritos. I also make tuna burrito also - just tuna,mayo,cheese in the burrito. It tastes really good to me.

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1/19/13 11:17 P

Bran cereal (for fiber) and milk for breakfast. For lunch, a simple cold-cut and cheese sandwich prepared the night before with light mayo or mustard and whatever veggies you may have lying around--I always have tomatoes and onions on hand.

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1/19/13 10:55 P

I like to make a big batch of french toast and freeze them with wax paper to keep them from freezing to each other. Easy to take 1 or 2 in the morning and heat in the microwave. Add a piece of fruit and a glass of milk and it's tasty and cheap.

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1/19/13 9:18 P

For breakfast I often toast a bagel thin and top it with 1 tbsp of reduced fat peanut butter (a serving is 2 tbsp, but 1 is plenty). I grab a banana, and I'm good til lunch.

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1/19/13 8:18 P

That is such a great deal and they're good too!

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1/19/13 7:47 P

Smartones have breakfast meals for $1.78 at my Walmart right now. Maybe check that out! They have a coupon on their site where if you buy 10 you get $3 off which makes 10 of them end up being $14.80!

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1/19/13 6:31 P

For breakfast
1) I have 1/3 of a green smoothie or
2) 1 cup homemade oatmeal with raisins or
3) 1 cup shredded wheat, banana, and 1 cup 1% milk

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1/19/13 4:59 P

Breakfast-oatmeal, whatever fruit I have, and a spoonful of sliced almonds, plain greek yogurt
lunch-leftover dinner or homemade soup that I've portioned out and frozen for lunches

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Posts: 38
1/19/13 4:04 P

I so do not cook in the morning so I often eat a whole wheat english muffin toasted w/ peanut, almond or sunflower seed butter. I like all 3 butters so it gives me a tad bit of variety. Sometimes I add about 5 craisins.
Salads are great for me for lunch.

Pounds lost: 18.2

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Posts: 1,328
1/19/13 11:25 A

I like that too : ))

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Posts: 4,973
1/19/13 9:20 A

I eat oatmeal every day, year round. Old fashioned oatmeal is both better nutritionally and cheaper than the sweetened flavored instant stuff, plus its a lot more flexible. I get mine in a huge box from Costco, but if that's not an option many stores have inexpensive oatmeal, either in the regular aisle or in the bulk bins. I cook it with soy or almond milk (I can't drink cow's milk), which tastes so much better than when its cooked with water. Oh, and I use raisins and add flax seed, both for the nutritional benefits and because it tastes good.

Oh, and I should say that I put all of this in a bowl and microwave for about 2 minutes. You need the right bowl or you'll end up with a boiled-over mess. Another possibility is to batch cook the oatmeal and just warm a serving in the microwave each morning, which is what my mom prefers to do.

Edited by: PAG2809 at: 1/19/2013 (16:14)

current weight: 231.8

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Posts: 5,704
1/19/13 8:48 A

cream of wheat with fruit

current weight: 138.0

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130

SparkPoints: (5,372)
Fitness Minutes: (1,300)
Posts: 352
1/19/13 8:06 A

The weight watchers pancakes or French toast with turkey sausage are really pretty good.

137 Days since:  Junk food

0 37 75 112

150

SparkPoints: (23,600)
Fitness Minutes: (13,575)
Posts: 628
1/19/13 7:39 A

omelet made with the leftover vegies from dinner

SparkPoints: (6,085)
Fitness Minutes: (8,669)
Posts: 93
1/18/13 7:59 P

Special K Choc Delight 3/4 cup and a banana

current weight: 127.4

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117

Posts: 1,328
1/18/13 5:20 P

I like that too : )

Posts: 670
1/18/13 2:18 P

I usually do a couple of slices of wheat toast and some tea, or an apple and peanut butter...I am so not a cooker in the morning.

current weight: 184.5

192 181.5 171 160.5

150

SparkPoints: (3,044)
Fitness Minutes: (1,659)
Posts: 52
1/18/13 2:04 P

This morning I made a breakfast sandwich with egg whites, whole wheat bread, and a slice of non fat cheese. Delicious!

current weight: 117.5

125 121.25 117.5 113.75

110

SparkPoints: (343)
Fitness Minutes: (250)
Posts: 5
1/18/13 12:56 P

Cream of Wheat hot cereal (in winter!), a cheese stick and a V-8

Scrambled eggs (2) w/spinach, onions, mushrooms and shredded cheese (summer), and a V-8


Spinach salad w/hard boiled egg, cucumber, tomato, Feta cheese and chopped chicken breast w/Italian dressing and 2 V-8s

Chicken breast, chopped w/onion and celery, a little pepper a little mayo....and, of course, a V-8

Pounds lost: 9.5

0 24.75 49.5 74.25

99

SparkPoints: (28,882)
Fitness Minutes: (19,721)
Posts: 1,038
1/18/13 12:24 P

fresh fruit

Pounds lost: 104.0

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140

Posts: 1,808
1/18/13 9:32 A

Love the breakfast cookie recipe; that's really new to me and i always have peanut butter with my breakfast Ezekiel toast anyway! This will be different. I will probably add powdered milk instead of the protein powder though if it looks like i need more dry ingredient in the mix, as i can use the calcium.

Pounds lost: 77.1

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201

Posts: 1,651
1/18/13 9:19 A

Avoid processed foods because they are more expensive! We eat oatmeal with fruit, greek yogurt w/a sprinkle of nuts & granola, or eggs and homemade bread for breakfast.

For lunch we do wraps with chicken I bought on sale and precooked, greens, and some veggies. Try to buy in season. Add in a piece of fruit and maybe some yogurt.

If you are a snacker, buy in bulk and preportion out your snacks into little snack bags. This will save lots of money on nuts, dried fruits, and even pretzels.

SparkPoints: (965)
Fitness Minutes: (34)
Posts: 13
1/17/13 4:47 P

Greek Yogurt! They have high protein and low calories. Add some fruit and you will be good to go :)

current weight: 142.0

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135

SparkPoints: (1,498)
Fitness Minutes: (611)
Posts: 12
1/17/13 2:51 P

I buy a bag of frozen boneless skinless chicken breast ($6.00 for 3 lbs) and boil and shred it. Then I add a little mayo with olive oil, celery, and tomato for lunch, and have shredded chicken burritos for dinner.

Pounds lost: 14.1

0 8.75 17.5 26.25

35

SparkPoints: (7,407)
Fitness Minutes: (3,442)
Posts: 40
1/17/13 2:32 P

Breakfast:
1/2 c oatmeal, 1/2 c fat free cottage cheese or fat free yogurt
small apple or banana

Chobani fat free greek yogurt (blue berry, black cherry, raspberyy, etc) + 1 cup fresh blueberries

Lunch
Bag salad (trader joes for example) 3-5 oz chicken breast, low fat salad dressing
or
Progesso low cal soup many many options

current weight: 271.4

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175

Posts: 76
1/17/13 12:53 P

My favorite GO TO cheap meals.

Breakfast: 2 slices Whole Wheat Sara Lee Light Bread (90 Calories)
1 over-medium egg (70 calories)
Slice of Tomato (5 Calories)
Hellmans Light Mayo (45 Calories)

Lunch: 2 Slices Whole Wheat Sara Lee Light Bread (90 Calories)
Sliced Turkey Breast (66 Calories)
Pickles, Mustard, Light Mayo (50 Calories)

Cheap cheap cheap.

Dinner is usually whatever meat is on sale at Publix or Trader Joes mixed with a canned or frozen veggie (cheap) and a CHEAP glass of red wine ;) Just for good measure.

Pounds lost: 12.0

0 3.75 7.5 11.25

15

Posts: 36
1/17/13 11:07 A

My quick breakfast is either oatmeal or cream of white. I make them with 1% milk and water in order to get my calcium in for the day. Also, I cut up a banana in the cereal while it is piping hot and add cinnamon and nutmeg to the water and milk while I am cooking the cereal in order to give the cereal some taste. The banana is counted as 2 fruits for the day.

Edited by: LOISY3 at: 1/17/2013 (11:08)

Total SparkPoints: 25,616

	25,000 26,249 27,499 28,749	29,999
SparkPoints Level 14

SparkPoints: (8,116)
Fitness Minutes: (2,911)
Posts: 103
1/17/13 10:22 A

Dinner becomes lunch for the following day.

Posts: 810
1/17/13 9:54 A

oatmeal is our current fave - in 5 minutes you can have a big, hot, delicious bowl of oatmeal for almost nothing - oats go on sale all the time, and a big bag can last for weeks! also, the flavouring possibilities are endless

current weight: 217.0

311 278.25 245.5 212.75

180

SparkPoints: (11,469)
Fitness Minutes: (6,070)
Posts: 201
1/17/13 9:26 A

i like to make either a big thing of vegetarian chili that i can dress different ways throughout the week or soup and then preportion for lunch or dinner so I don't have to think what to eat and stay on track.

May Minutes: 756

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2000

SparkPoints: (11,744)
Fitness Minutes: (8,161)
Posts: 9
1/17/13 8:40 A

This is something I have experience in - I'm also trying to eat healthy on a micro-budget! Here's my plan: for breakfast consider making breakfast quiches with whatever veggies you have on hand. Although there are a bunch of different recipes (i.e. recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?
recipe=584979 ), the basic premise is eggs and veggies in a muffin pan! I make them with whole eggs (not just egg whites) and manage to stretch 6 eggs for 12 mini-quiches. Two with an English muffin makes for a tasty start to the day! For lunch, I agree with the veggie soup theory, but shop around. I've found that for a box of soup (which contains 4x1 cup servings at about 80 to 100 calories each) is much less at Trader Joe's than at Harris Teeter. Good luck!

SparkPoints: (35,455)
Fitness Minutes: (6,814)
Posts: 1,115
1/17/13 8:22 A

breakfast cookies sound good

current weight: 374.0

398 378.25 358.5 338.75

319

SparkPoints: (977)
Fitness Minutes: (702)
Posts: 3
1/17/13 8:10 A

Silly question about the breakfast cookies, Goddess, but do you eat one or more for breakfast? They look pretty filling but can't really tell.

Edited by: STEINBOCK57 at: 1/17/2013 (08:12)

Posts: 305
1/16/13 9:31 P

i freeze leftover dinners and soups in 8 oz containers. i am luck to be able to store them at work in the freezer so they are always handy. today was cabbage rolls, yesterday was minestrone soup from September.
breakfast is usually an egg and slice of toast or farina.
soups for lunch are probably the cheapest thing. any cut of meat (or not) and any veggies you want with some broth and voila you have soup.

Pounds lost: 57.7

0 29.25 58.5 87.75

117

SparkPoints: (2,513)
Fitness Minutes: (389)
Posts: 67
1/16/13 7:23 P

Make a pot of soup for lunches and use no fat in preparation. I use 6 oz ground turkey, a can of chicken broth, a can of tomatoes, a 1/2 cup canned of pinto beans, onions, garlic, mushrooms, and taco seasoning. This is enough for 3 lunches.

For breakfast at work--,try a boiled egg, a no fat yogurt, and a piece of cheap fruit like oranges or apples on sale.

Pounds lost: 21.0

0 27.5 55 82.5

110

SparkPoints: (841)
Fitness Minutes: (223)
Posts: 1
1/16/13 6:38 P

I add Tofu to my smoothies, you can't taste the Tofu at all.

Pounds lost: 6.4

0 9.85 19.7 29.55

39.4

SparkPoints: (4,528)
Fitness Minutes: (302)
Posts: 163
1/16/13 3:04 P

Cereal and milk with dried fruit and then a sandwich with an apple for lunch. I only drink tap water from a bottle too :)

Total SparkPoints: 4,528

	4,000 4,374 4,749 5,124	5,499
SparkPoints Level 7

SparkPoints: (2,931)
Fitness Minutes: (1,706)
Posts: 13
1/16/13 2:28 P

Make oatmeal in the slow cooker, and portion it out for the week. I believe there's a recipe on spark recipes. My advice is use a crock pot liner. Then as you use it you can change it up with whatever add ins you like each day. If you don't find the slow cooker recipe here, I know there is one on allrecipes com.

current weight: 214.0

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Posts: 354
1/16/13 1:34 P

I like Coach Nicole's mini frittatas too. She has a recipe on here: http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/recipes.asp?category=3&recipe=356514

I adapt it based on what veggies I have around. Have used feta or cheddar cheese and spinach, peppers, etc. The only thing that screwed up the recipe was mushrooms because the juices came out and made the frittatas watery.

Pounds lost: 16.5

0 10.75 21.5 32.25

43

Posts: 289
1/16/13 1:30 P

THIS IS A GREAT IDEAL

Pounds lost: 51.0

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221

SparkPoints: (35,455)
Fitness Minutes: (6,814)
Posts: 1,115
1/16/13 12:40 P

I am trying a new soup with lots fo veggies and freeze it

current weight: 374.0

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319

Posts: 1,328
1/16/13 12:18 P

That looks interesting to try out