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republiclimber
Mar 21, 2006, 6:33 AM
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backpacking needs aside, what are some really cheap foods. I thought of ramen, rice, and beans. with each of those, a good deal less than one dollar will fill you up...more than once. what else am i missing. what other foods can you get a whole lot of for not much at all...(i'll be car camping so weight is not an issue) (yes i saw the "6 @!#$#$% dollars" thread, but i'm not backpacking....i don't care about weight...just value)
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rocketsocks
Mar 21, 2006, 7:18 AM
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Well, if you're car camping...
Canned chili, beans, pasta (e.g. beefaroni), soup, and stew. You can usually get 2+ servings for about a dollar or so.
Pancake mix. Just add water, might be tricky to cook without the right equipment though. You can even make your own pancake mix if you want to go even cheaper.
Tuna/chicken/salmon.
Applesauce and Pudding.
Then you've got your cooler foods like hot dogs and sausages, cheese, etc.
And, of course, bread.
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jamaica
Mar 21, 2006, 7:24 AM
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chili mac
chili ramen
chili dogs
chili and bread
chili
cheap, protein, filling, versitile, cheap, and yummy
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oldrnotboldr
Mar 21, 2006, 2:54 PM
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I once heard a story about a climber who used to buy two cases of canned cat food to live for the summer. Claimed it tasted just like tuna, with enough mustard.
Personally, I'd stick with beans, pasta, rice, and canned vegis.
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musicman
Mar 21, 2006, 3:32 PM
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sunbelt (i think that's the company) sells really cheap granola bars. they're like 1.30 at walmart for 12 or so. it's what i live off of on climbing trips.
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shiggetyshiva
Mar 21, 2006, 3:39 PM
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peanut butter!
day old bagels or bread
and don't forget the fruit & veggies - apples, bananas, carrots, etc.
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hammerhead
Mar 21, 2006, 3:50 PM
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What about cous-cous, hummus, falafel and pita bread?
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spinney
Mar 21, 2006, 4:02 PM
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Corn pasta packs a ton of energy. It's not so bad once you get over the slightly mushy texture....
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ericbeyeler
Mar 21, 2006, 4:09 PM
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In reply to: What about cous-cous, hummus, falafel and pita bread?
Eric
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brokenankle
Mar 21, 2006, 4:20 PM
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This is a bit of stray, but a good way to save money on food. Simmering rice and pasta uses up a lot of fuel on camp stoves. If you are going to be cooking every day on one, a good way to save $ and fuel is to cook with a pot cozy. You can bring the water to a boil and then place the pot in the insulating cozy for 10-15 minutes instead of cooking on the stove that whole time. I made mine out of closed cell foam and duct tape for about $5, works great. There are lots of hiking websites with instructions to make your own. Hope this is helpful.
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mur
Mar 21, 2006, 5:13 PM
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Wow this takes me back to my early college days. Mushroom soup, you can "doctor" it up with all kinds of things to make it good to eat. Also great for making not so great cuts of meat really good. Remember the "sale" area of the meat section is a road trippers friend. (If you eat meat). Canned tuna/albacore is always a must, and when its on sale, you can really stock up. LOL I bought 20 cans this week. Hell you can live on canned anything if you want, and the low sodium varieties of the store brand are pretty cheap, and not too bad on the salt. Beets, taters, beans, corn, you could be a canned food gourmet. Don't forget powdered milk, or instant Bfast powder.
I lived in my truck for 3 months straight on a road trip, and spent less than 2K while visiting both coasts, and 31 states. If you are willing to tighten your belt a bit, you can live well for very little. (would've been less $$$ except for that damn cheese bread in Bishop!)
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epoch
Moderator
Mar 21, 2006, 5:22 PM
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Rice.
It swallows volumes of water, and mixes with ANYTHING!!!
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stonefoxgirl
Mar 21, 2006, 5:36 PM
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Nutella and Peanut Butter Bagels
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ninja_climber
Mar 21, 2006, 6:27 PM
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Nutella + Bagels = GOODNESS
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spicerack
Mar 21, 2006, 7:10 PM
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If you have one near by, shop at Trader Joes!
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ryanb
Mar 21, 2006, 7:21 PM
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I find that for prolonged outdoor activities eating well is important. Calcium, vitamin C and protean are all particularly important. Canned and packaged foods are usually not great. Its all about bulk foods...
Bulk oatmeal (79-1.00 a pound) with rasins/dried fruit and powderd milk is great in the morning, particularly if you cook up a couple of eggs (.20 cents each) to go with.
Tofu (1 -2 a package) is cheaper than meat and can be deep fat fried for deliciousness (put it in really hot vegtable or peanut oil till the outside turns light brown...makes a nice sandwhich).
Bulk kus kus (sp?) plus a can of chiken or some tofu and some seasoning.
Tortillas (In farming country you can get fresh made ones really cheap) +beans + cheese + whatever vegtables are cheapest.
Humus is exspensive. Make your own out of cans of garbonso beans, or get the dried mix bulk if you can find it.
That and a littel almost expired meat (usually stickerd "reduced" or "managers special") when you need to celebrate and you are good to go.
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jdouble
Mar 21, 2006, 7:21 PM
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Soups! Find the 15 bean soup packs at the market (or mix your own) and follow the directions. Around 4 bucks for at least 3-4 meals. Warms you up at the cold campsites.......
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mburke225
Mar 21, 2006, 7:31 PM
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Oatmeal $7 for 90 servings at costco
Peanut Butter- hard to beat for price vs calories vs taste
Potato- cheap, last forever, but hard to cook w/o a full blown campfire
Honey- little more exensive, but make everything taste better
Pasta- cheap
Olive Oil- helps get good calories, makes everything taste better
Fresh fruits-vegetables from farmers markets- good, and you can haggle
If you plan on doing this for a long time don't neglect multivitamins to ensure your getting the right amount of all the micronutrients. Picking up a bulk protein powder isn't a bad idea either, since even if your not a vegatarian, you won't be getting much in the way of animal protiens living cheaply on the road.
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jred
Mar 21, 2006, 7:41 PM
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In reply to: I once heard a story about a climber who used to buy two cases of canned cat food to live for the summer. Claimed it tasted just like tuna, with enough mustard. Personally, I'd stick with beans, pasta, rice, and canned vegis. |
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eastvillage
Mar 21, 2006, 7:51 PM
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Lot's of great recommendations here. One big thing is the little cheap things.
Think of what you like to eat and make sure you have the right spices, oils, sauce, condiments, whatever, that turn all the inexpensive food into delicious meals that you will look forward to at the end of long climbing days. If your cooking goes flat, you will start blowing your budget on restaurants. Can you cook?
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stonefoxgirl
Mar 21, 2006, 8:27 PM
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TRADER JOES ( =
Here is my most favorite thing to eat on the trail, well, out of my car, it's called........SUBMISSION.........
ramen noodles cooked (do not use the spice packet!!!)
corn
salsa
pulled pork (if you want)
hard boiled eggs
black beans
heat and keep in a big pot
when ready, put mixture in a tortilla and eat.
It sounds gross, I'm sure but you get everything you need!!!!
And it's really good, and it makes a lot and it costs like, $6!!!
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republiclimber
Mar 21, 2006, 9:03 PM
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potatoes, peanut butter and oatmeal are all excellent ideas that i had not thought of. tortillas are also a great idea. the thought about spices is well taken. i like these "bulk food" ideas....
trader joes is that grocery chain that sells unusual/more exotic items for cheap right?
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brent_e
Mar 21, 2006, 9:11 PM
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Potatoes
cheap, carb, can taste good fried in fat.
oatmeal.
cheap and easy.
Reminton Nylon 66
light, accurate, shoots fast, 22cal, reliable - too bad it's not made anymore. Eat whatever the hell you want..just don't tell the government/park service.
Brent
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sidepull
Mar 21, 2006, 9:40 PM
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In reply to: Bulk kus kus (sp?) plus a can of chiken or some tofu and some seasoning.
where do you buy bulk couscous?
as long as we're on a mediterranean/mideastern kick, tabouli is great. requires no cooking, is loaded with veggies, protein, and fiber and keeps pretty good too. plus it's cheap.
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ski_n_scale
Mar 21, 2006, 10:01 PM
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Peanut Butter, Bread, Oatmeal, and Fruits and Veggies. I just got back from a week long trip of splitter IC cracks and survived pretty comfortably on a couple spoons of peanut butter on bread for lunch and dinner and oatmeal and coffee for breakfast. Sure, it's not super exciting but it was cheap and I had enough energy to charge hard for 6 days in the Creek.
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veganboyjosh
Mar 21, 2006, 10:17 PM
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In reply to: where do you buy bulk couscous? as long as we're on a mediterranean/mideastern kick, tabouli is great. requires no cooking, is loaded with veggies, protein, and fiber and keeps pretty good too. plus it's cheap.
most decent health food stores sell both cous cous in bulk, and some have dried tabhouli in bulk as well. add water and go. it helps if you can add some olive oil, for some fat and calories, and for taste. this is awesome car camping food.
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wings
Mar 21, 2006, 10:23 PM
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Lipton Sidekicks (packages are usually 99c or cheaper, and is very filling for one)
TVP (textured vegetable protein) can be added to lots of foods, and is very cheap and light
Those, along with instant noodles, instant miso soup, Snickers bars, and dried mango slices, are my staple backpacking foods.
- Seyil
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snothead
Mar 21, 2006, 10:31 PM
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Steak spice - it can make anything taste good.
To save fuel costs use instant rice
Use legumes - garbanzos, lentils, kidney beans etc... and plan ahead. They are way cheaper dried, and if you pre-soak them then you don't have to waste as much fuel or time cooking.
Textured vegetable protein - TVP - it takes on the flavour of whatever you put with it, just don't add too much of it or you will taste the TVP.
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bentelbow
Mar 21, 2006, 10:36 PM
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Monkey chow, a 55 gallon drum cost almost nothing considering it will last for as long as you can stand it and has all the nutrients humans need.
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acro
Mar 21, 2006, 10:55 PM
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What are Lipton Sidekicks and where do I get them?
What is TVP (textured vegetable protien) and where do i get that?
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atpeaceinbozeman
Mar 21, 2006, 11:05 PM
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Lentils
the orange ones taste like sweet potatoes...those too....
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boardline22
Mar 22, 2006, 3:54 AM
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In reply to: If you have one near by, shop at Trader Joes!
best shop ever
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packclimber
Mar 22, 2006, 4:03 AM
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I know water is cheapest but you can always but off brand kool aide and gatoraide to kick it up a knoch.
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republiclimber
Mar 22, 2006, 6:36 AM
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I hope you did that on purpose cause that is seriously hilarious. i think i might start spelling it like that just to be faux urban hip. awesome...seriously....even if you didn't mean it to be.
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pico23
Mar 22, 2006, 8:08 AM
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If you are car camping get a white gas stove (CHEAP).
then walk down the aisle in a supermarket and toss in anything that looks cheap, filling, easy to make, and easy to cleanup.
pasta is cheap and it's filling. bread is cheap and filling.
while on road trips I never EVER EVER eat fast food. If I eat out it's a buffet or perhaps a good steak. But I do hit the supermarkets and buy a loaf of French or Italian bread from the bakery and some ham/turkey or roast beef. i wash this down with water and bannanas which are like 30 cents a pound and fill me up just fine. i also drink plenty of milk which is cheap and filling.
Condiments are courtesy of the fast food places or convenience stores in those little packets. If I splurge I might buy some mustard since it keeps without refrigeration.
even when car camping I'm still kinda low maintainence. I try to keep things simple, cheap, and low spoilage.
Manwhich makes for a simple hearty meal. 1.5 lbs of beef (buffalo, turkey, osterich, whatever) and a can of manwhich and some rolls. serves 2-3 hungry people for about $5 and 7 minutes of effort. Cut the beef in half for a single serving.
also, if you need a lot of water, you can mess around with gallon or 2 gallon poland spring or crystal geyser but i find it's easier just to get a few collapseable jugs and fill them at those supermarket filtered water fill stations.
gatorade? either make your own with sugar, morton lite salt and some no sugar KoolAid or buy the big 10 gallon powdered mix. $7 for 10 gallons. Can't beat that.
As much as I hate to say it (and i haven't shopped there in at least 4 months) Walmart is the place to pick up dried lipton (or Walmart Brand) noodle packets. These side dish packets make both perfect backpacking or car camping food at 69 cents a packet and you only need 2 packets for a meal. Just at some tuna and make a tuna casserole.
instead of soups, get boulion cubes. add your own rice and pasta.
couscous isn't cheap. but it's cheaper in bulk. doesn't need much fuel or water to cook it. really a good backpacking food. not so sure it's a great car camping food.
bulk dried mashed potatoes.
peanut butter, honey and totillas.
eggs. boil them and they last for a while with just moderate care.
good olive oil to flavor your foods. beats out butter, keeps better, is easier to store and is nutritious in itself.
bulk unflavored oatmeal. buy a big container of it, it will last weeks. add pure maple syrup to it for flavoring (the maple is expensive but you can't fake some things and you'll still save a ton over prepackaged oatmeal).
one of my simple favorites is: pasta, olive oil, foil packed smoked salmon, black olives, romano cheese and some spices. simple, easy to clean and cost about $4 for whats almost a gourmet meal for 3-4 people.
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oldrnotboldr
Mar 22, 2006, 3:12 PM
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jred wrote:
In reply to: Personally, I just eat the cat, with enough mustard they taste like chicken.
Only if it's stir fried!
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shnobe
Mar 22, 2006, 4:14 PM
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has anyone mentioned SPAM, that stuff is pretty good with a shot of whiskey or six
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wings
Mar 22, 2006, 4:18 PM
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In reply to: What are Lipton Sidekicks and where do I get them?
They're meant to be served as side dishes to your main dinner entree. So they're usually some sort of potato or rice or pasta dish. Some flavours are a bit bland, so you'll have to experiment.
You can usually get them at any grocery store.
In reply to: What is TVP (textured vegetable protien) and where do i get that?
Google it. You can often find it in Chinese and vegetarian supermarkets.
- Seyil
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kyote321
Mar 22, 2006, 4:31 PM
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everybody is forgetting the classic:
tastey bite!!!!!!!!!
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acro
Mar 22, 2006, 5:06 PM
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@ wings --
thanks a bunch
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wzrdgandalf
Mar 22, 2006, 6:43 PM
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I used to take SPAM and cook it on a hot pan. Just cut it into centimeter thick slices and brown the sides and put it on small rolls and use free mustard or mayonaise packets from some random fast food place and you have a pretty good tasting small sandwich. I cant stand the taste of regular SPAM but i found when i fried it it didnt taste nearly as bad and actually pretty good. Try it, you will be seriously suprised.
Also try bananas and peanut butter together, the two together is my favorite thing on climbing trips.
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veganboyjosh
Mar 22, 2006, 6:47 PM
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In reply to: I used to take SPAM and cook it on a hot pan. Just cut it into centimeter thick slices and brown the sides and put it on small rolls and use free mustard or mayonaise packets from some random fast food place and you have a pretty good tasting small sandwich. I cant stand the taste of regular SPAM but i found when i fried it it didnt taste nearly as bad and actually pretty good. Try it, you will be seriously suprised. Also try bananas and peanut butter together, the two together is my favorite thing on climbing trips.
you're on your own for the spam, but i'll vouch for the pb and bananas. they work awesomely on a tortilla, especially if you can grill that puppy up on a skillet or over a fire, and eat it like a burrito. i'm guessing the hood of a car would owrk, ifit's hot enough. prolly'd wanna clean it first, tho.
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republiclimber
Apr 12, 2006, 5:51 AM
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my last trip to HCR we lived on french bread, fried spam and summer sausage. it was awesome....but i felt so greasy.
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kasharp
Apr 12, 2006, 6:06 AM
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cheap & good combo: easy mac with tuna. it's like tuna helper... only easier. and also nutritious :D
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iclime
Apr 12, 2006, 4:48 PM
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Grocery store bagels with some protein; try a homemade TVP spread:
oSweet: TVP, cinnamon, sugar/honey, olive oil, honey
oSavory: TVP, Chicken flavoring (I find a vegetarian chicken powder, or use bullion cubes), garlic powder, hot something if you want it (crushed red peppers, etc.), water, olive oil
Save money by breaking caffeine habits (you might be surprised how much you can save by not buying coffee/frappucinos/coke, either to drive or to get up in the morning), beer at night, that "recovery" item you've always had: a friend of mine always had to get a Taco Bell grande something or other, et al.
On the other hand, plan some luxuries for yourself; this is recreation, isn't it? It's a free country.
M
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ledavis23
Apr 12, 2006, 5:00 PM
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Favorite way to cook ramen:
Chicken Ramen
bring water to boil
add 1 egg per serving of ramen + the noodles
use a very small portion of the spice packet
cook until it comes to the consistency of clam chowder
add Tony's Chachere's until it's spicy in every bite!
Tony's makes creole spices that can be found at Wal-Marts across the country
www.cajunspice.com
Tony's makes everything taste better: chicken, beef, pork, scrambled eggs
When traveling I find that Best of the Egg products work very well for an egg substitute. They come in a carton like milk, so you don't have to worry about breaking the real thing or getting the container soggy in your cooler.
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esibnitsud
Apr 13, 2006, 1:15 AM
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ham sandwhich
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fixednut
Apr 13, 2006, 1:35 AM
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In reply to: I once heard a story about a climber who used to buy two cases of canned cat food to live for the summer. Claimed it tasted just like tuna, with enough mustard.
Chouinard.
Meow.
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anykineclimb
Apr 13, 2006, 2:07 AM
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Hit the dollar store Dollar Tree has some damn good stuff.
On my last run:
Soup
pasta
spaghetti sauce
water
cereal
poptarts
granola bars
salsa
refried beans
chili
hot sauce
nesquick syrup
tupperware
utensils
papertowels
dishsoap
sponge
batteries
peanutbutter
honey
cookies
Some of the stuff is off-brand but pretty much all good! I'm always surprised how much brand name stuff I find.
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jeapord
Apr 13, 2006, 2:36 AM
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Put anything you can find on a flour tortilla and eat it.
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curtis_g
Apr 13, 2006, 2:41 AM
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This is one of the most helpful threads I have read to date on RC.com
i love it.
my favorite is some grade 'poor' dirt cheap groundbeef set ontop of raw potato slices in tin foil, everything smothered with ketchup, rolled up and tossed into a fire for 15 minutes. spice and eat. cut the tots THIN.
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phaedrus
Apr 13, 2006, 5:27 PM
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Mac & cheese with a can of tuna tossed in rocks... high in protein, carbs, and decently tasty. If you can get your hands on fresh peas, those are a great addition as well... instant tuna noodle casserole. :)
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curtis_g
Apr 13, 2006, 10:20 PM
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whats that small print bottom left?
not for women who may be pregnant or persons with a history of heart complications?
made with products found by the state of California to cause cancer?
haha, yikes: 80mg cholesterol in 120 calories and 85g of product.
sounds tasty but a full serving might kill you!
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sidepull
Apr 13, 2006, 11:27 PM
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In reply to: In reply to: I once heard a story about a climber who used to buy two cases of canned cat food to live for the summer. Claimed it tasted just like tuna, with enough mustard. Chouinard. Meow.
really?
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sausalito
Apr 14, 2006, 2:25 AM
Post #56 of 67
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this may come off as nasty but here are some tips I use even when I am in town:
1) bakeries, especially bagel or pretzl places in the mall, throw out a ton of stuff almost every day. Once a week I get a full garbage bag of pretzls from a mall near me just because I am willing to wait by the dumpster. They are hard but they soften really easily. Grocery stores throw out loaves of bread with one piece of mold on it.
2) nice restaraunts. Three nights ago I got a whole pork chop and two almost whole steaks out of the garbage behind a fine dining restaraunt. You can kill the bacteria on the surface by simply reheating the outside of the meat.
the amount of food that is wasted is amazing. I was never comfortable as a dumpster diver until I took several microbiology courses and realized that if I was smart about what I chose and I took measures to clean the food I was just as safe as eating food from a restaraunt.....
tips....
dont eat food that is in a bag with anything other than food. at bakeries the bread or bagels or whatever will all be in one big bag. This bag is good. Its the unsold items. Dont eat stuff if there is regular trash mixed in unless the food you are after is individually wrapped like bread. Be smart and be your own judge but my wife and I eat well and we save some flow doing it.... there are web resources on the subject but I just say use your own head.
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curtis_g
Apr 14, 2006, 4:07 AM
Post #57 of 67
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In reply to: this may come off as nasty but here are some tips I use even when I am in town: 1) bakeries, especially bagel or pretzl places in the mall, throw out a ton of stuff almost every day. Once a week I get a full garbage bag of pretzls from a mall near me just because I am willing to wait by the dumpster. They are hard but they soften really easily. Grocery stores throw out loaves of bread with one piece of mold on it. 2) nice restaraunts. Three nights ago I got a whole pork chop and two almost whole steaks out of the garbage behind a fine dining restaraunt. You can kill the bacteria on the surface by simply reheating the outside of the meat. the amount of food that is wasted is amazing. I was never comfortable as a dumpster diver until I took several microbiology courses and realized that if I was smart about what I chose and I took measures to clean the food I was just as safe as eating food from a restaraunt..... tips.... dont eat food that is in a bag with anything other than food. at bakeries the bread or bagels or whatever will all be in one big bag. This bag is good. Its the unsold items. Dont eat stuff if there is regular trash mixed in unless the food you are after is individually wrapped like bread. Be smart and be your own judge but my wife and I eat well and we save some flow doing it.... there are web resources on the subject but I just say use your own head.
awesome. keep-it real man. that's like how my brother never buys clothes anymore. thrift shops throw out hundreds of pants and shirts every month and there's still all the teen kids paying $20 for that SWEET Hollister shirt at the mall. I can't stand how much we waste as a 'civilized' society. Rock on.
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rockguide
Apr 14, 2006, 4:09 AM
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Canned food outlet in Yucca Valley.
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annak
Apr 14, 2006, 5:04 AM
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Reading through this thread made me thick. And it was not the trash bin advice, that was perfectly reasonable. People, do you really eat all this junk????
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porcelainsunset
Apr 14, 2006, 7:32 AM
Post #60 of 67
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Don't forget yer taters,
You can mash em, smash em, stick em in a stew. Nice golden chips.
YOU KEEP NASTY CHIPS!
God I love scene.
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porcelainsunset
Apr 14, 2006, 7:37 AM
Post #61 of 67
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Don't forget yer taters,
You can mash em, smash em, stick em in a stew. Nice golden chips.
YOU KEEP NASTY CHIPS!
God I love that scene.
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mattyp
Apr 14, 2006, 12:54 PM
Post #62 of 67
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Registered: Sep 5, 2003
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My personal favorite is the snickers/roll combo
You get a snickers bar(44 cents at Walmart) and a bread roll, or even two if you are really hungry(like 10 cents a piece, I mean the brotchen European style, NOT the dinky American dinner rolls)
Take a small bite of snickers and a big bite of roll. Chew it up and the roll magical turns into more snickers in your mouth. Repeat until you run out of roll and snickers. Ideally you finish both at the same time.
This is the perfect meal. You get protein, carbs, and fats. All the food groups are covered, expect maybe the veggies, but you can eat a carrot if you want to. Enjoy!
*edited for a minor correction
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veganboyjosh
Apr 14, 2006, 4:12 PM
Post #63 of 67
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In reply to: All the food groups are covered, expect maybe the veggies, but you can eat a carrot if you want to. Enjoy!
peanuts are a vegetable.
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curtis_g
Apr 14, 2006, 5:33 PM
Post #64 of 67
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In reply to: In reply to: All the food groups are covered, expect maybe the veggies, but you can eat a carrot if you want to. Enjoy! peanuts are a vegetable.
peanuts are vegetables but I'm pretty sure that they do NOT fall under the vegetable food group. more spicifically, along with beans and peas, they are legumes and according to the USDA fall under a category containing meat, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and NUTS. so the vegetable "food group" is not represented, but veggies are. :roll: :D :)
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tyify
Apr 16, 2006, 2:14 PM
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There a couple of staples of living cheap on the road that I've found. I'll sort them into categories.
Main Foods
Eggs: Cheap as all hell (less than 10 cents apiece) lots of variety (fried, boiled, scrambled..etc). They also make for great filler for ramen and like the like. Boil up your ramen like normal and drop an egg in. Adds some fat and protein to your diet.
Potatoes: These suckers are cheap and easy to make. Shred them and fry them up. Mix with eggs for good results. Easy to make good.
Add it to meat to stretch it out. Make awesome stews. Very easy to cook with if your on the road. If backpacking they are heavy and take a while to cook however.
Oatmeal: The mushy goo that fills you up good. This stuff will get sickening after a while so add variety with brown sugar and whatever else you can think of. Oatmeal is cheap so you can fill up very easily.
Canned Meats: Cheaper than their fresh counterparts and store without refrigeration. Chicken breast is a good cheap meal if you stretch it out with some pasta.
Pasta: Add this to basically everything you make. Cheap as all hell, easy to cook, and hard to make taste bad. When used in conjunction with potatoes is delicious. Meat+ Potatoes+ Pasta+ Vegetables
Veggies: Find cheap vegetables at farmers markets and locally. Supermarkets can have good veggies..although in my experience they spoil quicker. (I'm from AK however and there everything spoils quickly due to it having to be shipped there).
TVP: Texturized vegetable protein. Great for extending a real meat. Don't add to much or you will taste it for sure. But in small quantities is great. Adds required protein.
Ramen: Don't count out the ever cheap ramen. 16 cents per package! Buy in bulk at costco/sams club. Add stuff to it other than just the seasoning packet...you will get sick of plain ramen. Fast.
Bananas: Buy a lot of these suckers cause they fill you up and add vital nutrients. Don't eat to many however as potassium overdose is really really no fun. It interacts with many medicines and makes them release faster.
Seasonings
Do not count this part out! This is the most important part of your meal. Its what makes cheap food palatable.
Lemon Pepper: Adds a little taste to your food. Great on eggs.
Garlic Powder: Again adds taste to your food. Great in a soup. Great on eggs.
Ketchup: This will be a staple. You can cover up the taste of almost everything with ketchup. Great on eggs. Great on bad meat. Can be added to almost anything.
Salt/Pepper: Obvious other staples.
Conclusions to eating cheap
Eating cheap is easier than you think it would be. Look for sales! Buy a lot at a time at places like costco/sams. Stock up in big cities instead of little markets. Eat a daily multivitamin and watch your intakes of salt/fat/protein. Easy to overdo it on the first too and way under do it on the last one if your eating cheap.
Free Eating
Several methods for this...although most are past what people will do.
Go to a place that has ketchup packets and saltines for free. Deli's are good places for this. Mix the ketchup with water and then dip the saltines in it. Experiment to find the right consistency and mixture. Will feed you if your that desperate.
Dumpster diving behind supermarkets can be a good way to get past date produce. Most of which is still good. Watch for diseases and possible legal consequences on this one. Illegal in most places. Most supermarkets these days lock up their dumpsters.
Ravening
This involves going to a restaurant getting seated and then when others leave stealing the food they leave. This is not for the weak of heart as it can be slightly disgusting. The wait staff will kick you out if they see you doing this however so be sneaky. Leave before they take your order...if the waitress comes before you've ravened your food just tell her you need more time. Pilfer your food and leave before she/he comes again. Be ethical about this one...don't dirty their silverware or dishes. Don't be a pain in the ass. Raven your food and then leave without making a mess. This is a last resort and is probably illegal...so be careful. A better way to go about it is order coffee or something cheap like that then use their silverware and the like. At least then you've paid for your seat.
So in your quest for free/cheap food I suggest you use these methods. Karma is a bitch so don't steal.
Good luck guys! :D
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devkrev
Apr 16, 2006, 3:28 PM
Post #66 of 67
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Registered: Sep 28, 2004
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Don't forget the dented cans at the back of the grocery store
Always a suprise, you never know what you are gonna get.
I live on the edge, and buy the ones where the label came of :P
dev
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shanz
Apr 16, 2006, 3:47 PM
Post #67 of 67
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Registered: May 18, 2004
Posts: 702
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Venison jerky(pound for pound the cheapest meat - also requires the most work), summer sausage, canned corn/peas(with a little garlic salt - doesnt even need to be heated) throw in some diced up summer sausage you got a meal -- also MRE's are very good just dont make MRE bombs inside your car while you are driving thats a bad thing!!
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