Cheap food: eat healthy and tasty?

Cheap foods: background

  • Germany is the country of discounters. We save more on food than almost any other country in the world. Cheap food should therefore not only be trendy here, but also be available nationwide.
  • But first you should ask yourself what is important to you for your diet. Ultimately, it's not for nothing that you are what you eat. Many people give their car the most expensive oil and only buy rancid oil themselves.
  • So before you want to cut your dietary expenses (which is not wrong), ask yourself if you are out of coercion or out of conviction and if you don’t spend the money unnecessarily elsewhere.
  • Do not worry: A balanced diet does not preclude an inexpensive diet. Of course, organic products are a little more expensive, but it is primarily finished products that cost the most. We will now show you which foods are really cheap and which tips you can use to eat tasty, healthy and cheap.

Cheap food: Eat a balanced diet

The correct distribution of macronutrients – that is Carbohydrates, proteins and fats – provides the body with all the necessary nutrients and gives us strength and concentration for everyday life.

That's why we want you now for every category healthy and inexpensive food with whom you can create a nutritional plan. It is important that you always vary with the food and do not eat the same thing every day.

carbohydrates

Carbohydrates give us Energy and strength and also provide us with many important vitamins and minerals. Focus on long chain carbohydrates. These keep you full for longer, are healthier and at the same time inexpensive.

  • Rice: Rice is a perfect carbohydrate source with easy preparation and a reasonable price. You get the kilo for about 2 to 3 euros and is enough for many servings.
  • Potatoes: Sweet potatoes in particular contain a lot of vitamins and minerals and the calorie density of potatoes is very good. You usually get a kilo of potatoes for less than 2 euros and you can use potatoes very versatile.
  • Pasta: You can get pasta for 20 cents per serving. Like rice, they last a very long time and can be combined with many dishes and eaten in various variations.
  • Oatmeal: Oatmeal provides you with a lot of fiber that saturates well. They also contain almost 14 grams of protein per 100 grams and are priced around 1 euro per kilo Unbeatably priced.
  • spinach: Frozen vegetables in particular are a good choice to save money. So you can ration your portions well and benefit from them over a long period of time. If you count down, you pay for 100 grams of organic spinach around 30 cents. In general, you should use seasonal products for fruits and vegetables to save money.
  • Cabbage: Cabbage is particularly attractive as a seasonal vegetable in winter. There are countless variations and a large white cabbage just costs in the supermarket around one euro. For this you get a lot of vitamin C and can enrich salads, sandwiches or side dishes with it.

protein

Protein is important for muscle building and provides us with essential amino acids important building blocks for the development and maintenance of many bodily functions. While carbohydrates are often known as inexpensive foods, proteins have a reputation for being expensive. But we show you that you can buy high-quality proteins at a good price.

  • Lean curd / natural yoghurt: Avoid fruit yogurts or puddings in the future if you want to save money. You can get natural yogurt or skimmed curd in a 500 gram pack about 60 to 70 cents. With some fruit, cinnamon or oil, you can also enrich the curd with flavor.
  • Eggs: Eggs contain many vitamins and high-quality protein. You can even get a pack of organic eggs with six eggs for around 2.50 euros, which is only 40 cents per egg means.
  • Chicken: Chicken is one of the cheapest meat and is also very rich in protein. You can usually get a 400 gram pack of fillet in the supermarket from 2 to 3 euros. Of course, everyone has to decide for themselves whether they want to buy cheap meat from the discounters.
  • Cream cheese: Cream cheese is often underestimated when it comes to tasty, healthy and affordable food. You can get a 200 gram pack from the discounters' own brands about 60 cents.
  • Lenses: Legumes are a real superfood due to their variety of vitamins and proteins. They fill you up very well and often cost 100 grams less than 40 cents. Peas and beans also fall into this category.

fat

Fat is high in calories, but it provides important nutrients for our nervous system, hormone production and also protects our cells. As a flavor carrier, fat is an important point for delicious and filling dishes. Of course, you shouldn't overdo it with the amounts, but you don't need to avoid fats either. Only trans fats from ready meals need to be minimized.

  • Avocado: The avocado has already made a name for itself due to its unsaturated fatty acids. It also tastes super delicious and is ideal as a spread or for salads. You can often get a whole avocado in the supermarket under one euro.
  • Almonds: Almonds are very suitable as a small snack in between. You can also add them in doses to your muesli, salads or dishes. You get 100 grams of almonds already for about 80 cents. If you eat about 20 to 30 grams of it every day, they won't strain your account.
  • Oil: Although oils are very high in calories, they last very long if you only use them in low doses. Because of the fats, they contribute to satiety and ultimately ensure that you do not need any other food or smaller meals. Ideally, you rely on very beneficial oils such as coconut oil or linseed oil.
  • Peanut butter: You can get the peanut butter in the supermarket for around 2.50 euros, the equivalent of around 50 cents per 100 grams. Of course, you shouldn't eat large amounts of peanut butter because of the many calories. However, the butter contains healthy fats, proteins and can be used very well in smoothies or as a spread.

Cheap groceries: 6 helpful tips for shopping

  • Less meat: Whether someone eats a vegetarian or vegan diet is an individual decision. However, if you value low food costs, you should reduce your meat consumption. The cheap meat from discounters is not always free of germs or salmonella and far from being appropriate for the species.
  • Shopping List: Before each purchase, you should roughly write down which foods you want to buy and what you can spend on them. Of course, you can still make adjustments in the supermarket if you become aware of certain offers. You can also buy them directly when shopping Products as well as their price and the amount contained in the pack note. In this way you can easily compare which foods are attractive in terms of price / quantity. Also ask yourself how long the food will last so that you can eat it. If you regularly throw away products because they go bad, you also throw the money out of the window. Basically, it makes sense to buy products such as rice or pasta in bulk in large packs, because you can save money here again.
  • Best before: On the other hand, it is also convenient to buy fresh products with an expiration date that is soon to come. These are usually available in supermarkets.
  • No drinks: Since tap water is often as good or even better than mineral water, there is in principle no reason to spend money on drinks. You shouldn't do without expensive lemonades or sugar-containing fruit juices just for the money. You can prepare tea or make a juice or smoothie yourself.
  • Buy own brands: Private labels are usually significantly cheaper than well-known brands. However, the content often differs little or not from each other. Often there are even brand manufacturers behind the own brands, which only want to address another target group.
  • Unprocessed food: You have certainly noticed in our list above that ice cream, chips and pizza do not occur. These are processed foods or fast food. Due to the many processing steps, these foods lose many nutrients and are also significantly more expensive than unprocessed foods. Rely on foods that contain only a few ingredients and that also occur in nature.

Are you interested in exotic fruits? From Rambutan to Lychee, we will introduce you to many exotic species.

If you want to share with others about shopping tips or delicious recipes for vegetables, fruits and Co., have a look in our BRIGITTE community.