Read all 160 plus posts...alot of inexpensive ideas some with great nutrition and some w/downright scary non nutrition.
My DH is mid 50s was a Type2 diabetic whose condition has gone (in last year) to Type 1 insulin dependent. Due to the Diabetes he has heart issues having stents and one major (100% blockage of LAD) heart attack.
So, when I hear ANYONE over the age of 19 eating Spam (high fat & sodium); ramen noodles or commercial canned soup (sky high sodium); etc i cringe. Just a diet high in rice/noodles/pasta (yes cheap) but can tip someone who is insulin resistent into full blown Type 2 diabetes. Same w/buying the cheapest deli meat (bologna and low end hams full of fat & sodium). Again, not at all good for anyone even approaching middle age.
For the record, my DH and I both grew up in houses where bacon grease was a treasure; we ate Spam; alot of white (cheap) bread. Alot of potatos & rice. I can’t help but believe that this helped his pancreas to slow down & stop working.
We still have 2 teenaged sons @home. Left overs are a rarity. I am frugal but there are certain things we no longer buy that are cheap...even eggs now for us are expensive. We use Great Value liquid eggs (same as the name brand more expensive Egg Beaters) it’s a high protein source that doesn’t spike blood sugar levels; low sodium turkey sausage; whole wheat bread. Our still at home kids eat like that too (trying to outsmart our apparent bad genetics)...
But anyways...please look at the lables on the items some of you have mentioned...you’re not doing your health/longevity any favors.
I hear you. My husband is type2. Imho, a nutritional diet is an investment. Yes, rice, pasta and grains are inexpensive, but they are not as healthful as vegetables, fish and meat.
Great Value Liquid eggs zero cholesterol; low sodium; high protein. Many mornings (I work retail so I go into work at 10a) I make omelets (GV low eggs, my own cheap yet low sodium homemade salsa, sm portion of cheese, side of turkey sausage, wheat toast); I also pack all of our lunches (though our SD tries to hunt me down each year to have me apply for discounted lunches). Dinners have to closely monitored for carb levels and we do alot of stews/chili for that reason. I did some quick math on supermarket receipts I have w/me and we are closer to $30 per day for the four of us, but due to dietary issues we scrimp elsewhere.