You can do it, don’t be afraid to reach out for help either (as she mentions in the video)

Isnt it so hard tho.... it feels shameful somehow.. Last week for the very first time I went to a little purple box outside the justice center. I had seen it when I went to get a vin inspection. I got one bag of brown rice, a box of baby cereal, a can of yams, and a can of tomato soup. I used the cereal and yams along with some pantry staples to make muffins Used the soup to make a lentil curry (obvi adjusted flavor with lots of spices) and served it over the brown rice So It basically fed us for 4 days which got us to our first check I wish there were more of those little purple pantries. No paperwork, no crowds, no timing, so less embarrassment

@@kathleenbolanos, Please don't feel ashamed to use those services they are there for people who need them.

Kathleen B , I was just watching this and thinking how I better donate more to the food pantry this year as it’s going to be such a rough year. I want people in my community to have enough to eat and feed their kids. You know what I don’t want ? For anyone to feel judged or embarrassed that they need help. I’m embarrassed that there’s people going hungry while my cupboards are full. Hold your head high, you are worthy.

Right! Saving money and enjoying food!

That sounds so good 😍

That sounds really good, actually. lol

Stop looking at these videos. Most of these people has someone to help them BUT WHEN YOU HAVE ONLY GOD ,HE DIRECTS YOIU YOU WANT HUNGER NOR THIRSTY. They hit them high numbers they get paid for video. Until Yesterday i was broke and didnt have food But GOD Sent Peopke from the Church knocking at the door and an box of Food I was Blessed with. And Money came by babysitting Sed GOD DID IT. And STILL FLYING From HOLY GHOST.

@Hamptonian Painting i learn to take about 1 to 2 potatoes cut into quarters let them spout first and replant in the dirt or potter and in it season new potatoes and enough to share. Do sweet potatoes & zuchhni, also painters fries & dipping sauce. And i know most of these commenter are in denial I went or was a student at these colleges so I know and saw PRAISE GOD Most if them had jobs before graduation and as having college graduate kids of my own I pray that parents would STOP this mess of what your call tough love when your deny your responsiblility as a parent unless the child has better opportunies before leaving high school like scholarships or rich grandparents or parents or grant money either I still got to pay an student loan off from the ninteen hundreds and the school refused to take the payments so I couldn't graduate. So keep comments to yourselves. This 2021 and people in America still struggling NO WAY YOUR ARE LYING ! HOW MANY PRESIDENTS DOES IT TAKE TO GET AND KEEP US DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN? OUT OF PROVERTY AND LACK ? Answer for yourself.? PRAY LORD SAVES US

sounds yummy, but I would add refried beans and some spicey chilies

If you can, build up a decent pantry or non perishable so you have more options of mixing and matching with fresh ingredients. The up front cost can get tricky but once it's done you are gold

If you would like a tip try legumes & Lentils. Cheap, nutritious & delicious. Check out Greek & Indian recipes that will show you another option. I personally cook a lot of Greek lentils one serves that with Feta. Indian lentils have with a hard boiled egg & toast. Those keep me full for hours.

@@roxannedunstanharvey4898 Indeed. Cans of butter, garbanzo & Kidney beans is a good idea.

If making your own bread is an option, I cannot recommend it enough. I received a 2nd hand bread machine (probably at least 10 years old) from a family member who no longer used it, and have been making so much! Buns, bagels, pretzels, pizza dough, bread, naan, there's so much you can do with just a few ingredients (flour, yeast, sugar, salt, water) and the ingredients are so cheap. If you don't have a bread machine then you can just knead by hand and then bake in the oven, but a bread machine reduces the work so much, all you have to do for a loaf of bread is measure out a few ingredients into the pan and press start. It's especially good if you're home all day because you can watch it, but I'm a college student studying from home so it works for me most days. I just started and I love it so much!

​@@Lucy31315

Does anybody else find it counterproductive that people have to eat like this while studying? A balanced diet is vital to a functioning brain, people who move from eating junk food to a balanced diet with greens and limited fats and carbs often describe a 'lifting of brain fog' they didn't even realize the had Who can study like that?

@@rainjaydd8213 Especially when when you are not allowed means of cooking. What are you supposed to do?

@@rainjaydd8213 I would have sympathy except in the UK students waste their money on alcohol and cigarettes/drugs and going out.

@@rainjaydd8213 college students often have enough money, but they have different priorities. The food that she made was probably far more healthy than what most college students actually eat.

@@sexysilversurfer it’s their money, they can spend as they please. It’s not up to you to approve.

@Bonnie Holman I agree 100% but unfortunately a lot do. What breaks my heart are the children.

I agree. And of course there are many more challenges. I think people forget a lot of people don’t have access to standard cooking appliances and safe housing. Or even housing at all. It’s pretty tough to do this simple cooking without those basics.

I too struggled in College. My family grew up GIVING to Food Banks and such... Then one day I needed help... I forget ALL About them.

That would have been great when I went!!

If you’re still in school, check with your state and see if they offer food stamps for students. Most do.

Same here in Ireland. We have fruit and veg on 50c deals.

Hey what is the name of place that has odd fruits and vegetables that you can get. Also, almost all schools here in san antonio handing out breakfast lunch and dinner. All churches have pantry. There are soup kitchens

That’s amazing!

@@shamrockewe822You beat me to it, was going to say Lidl & Aldi often have fruit/veg for as low as 39c. I would have partially cooked the carrots in microwave before adding them to pan. Same with the beans. Take care & stay safe.

That is such a nice program

Agree

Go back and binge some older ones too, she's been awesome for years

Whoa! That’s amazing!!

Very inspiring! Thank you for sharing this 🥰

Try Shelftember: For one month (I do September), you HAVE to use all the ingredients in your house and you can only buy fresh fruit & veg, milk, and items needed to complement what you already have at home. I set a weekly limit of $30 for those items and I feed a family of 4.

I think cooking for one would be a good video challenge.

I’d also like to see more videos for single people!

@@marissagaugler4610 this one was for single people.

and the day old bakery... 😉

Substitute edamame for peas and it's a complete protein! I buy frozen edamame on sale (it's often on sale, slow turn over, but grocer has to rotate stock) and use it to bump up veg & protein in rice or stew or potpies.

Yum. I did the same, and with some cheap chicken too!

No such thing as 18 eggs for 99 cents or flour for 99 cents anywhere. Sorry

@@pennyfry8291 in my town there is. Eggs and milk are rarely ever more than $1. Usually only $0.75

In college currently and had this twice last week.

❤️❤️❤️

In the words of Zachary Michael: "love to see it!"

❤❤🎯

Your channel looks so interesting, subscribed 😊

We stan a compassionate queen. keep it up!

The Good witch

Hot dogs have too many preservatives..b3ans..cashews better choices.

@@KC-dr3cg mmmhh that is so true but when you have 5kids to feed they are a gift from heaven above. Atm I didn't but I'm a meat eater.

@@KC-dr3cg beans sure. those can be cheap. but the dried ones take time and effort that not all can afford. Cashews? delicious but crazy expensive. lets not shame people for making choices that fit their budget and lifestyle.

That is really cheap. What year were you in College? That sounds like the early 2000s prices.

Love this idea!!

Interesting! I like this

bone marrow is considered a delicacy in a lot of places and is super good for you! never understanded why people don't want it...

Well done, friend! Hats off to those who helped establish student food pantries - not available in 80s, and free food wasn't common anywhere - not meetings/gatherings like it is now. My roommates used to save & pitch in $ to go get a pitcher of beer at a local restaurant that had a free appetizer happy hour 2x a week. That was pretty much all the protein they got, other than peanut butter! BTW: powdered and evaporated milk are great shelf stable alternatives for cooking if you can't afford dairy or don't have a fridge.

Thanks for your help in getting to good food banks 👍😊

That would be a lot of work for her to list all discount stores for states she does not live in....... . If anybody is unsure of discount stores in your area, google it. I’m assuming they have access to google if they have access to KZfaq. 🙃 & MA, your hair does NOT look stupid. You’re beautiful!

@@lovelybones1990 Just the ones in her state. Once college kids get the idea, they will find them. The comparison would be really good for them.

@@lovelybones1990 I googled it gave list of grocery stores in my area... so which do you consider discounted?

Grocery Outlet, Winco, Fred meyers are the cheapest in the Seattle area.

@@janeulness93 I liked Fred Meyers when I was in Detroit visiting my cousins but I don't live there full time. We don't have any of those stores that you've named and even Albertsons closed within the state about 10 years ago. What I wanted to ask was if Albertsons is partnered with Randall's Safeway stores? Because I have seen signature brand of merchandise there. Although even that's not in Central Texas. I had to move north about an hour to go get medical treatments. There's HEB Target and Walmart here. That's about it.

Hope it was yummy!

@@MichaelTheophilus906 lol, good one 😆

7777777iy

@@sheilachambers8347????

My kids are all grown. 56 yo.I just adjust the size portions. I really liked these recipes today. Can’t wait to try the pasta and the soup!

@@laurieboone1239 Tastes like pasta and soup!

I know being a party of one it is not a challenge for me. Since my husband died recently I am not in the mood to cook!

My husband perfected a pasta dish is college he still makes it today! Our 9 month old loves it!

Some people eat to live! And some live to eat. Haha

@Haley Barton yes ..if he used frozen vegetables with the rice while the rice was about 10 mins to finish it would be better than the beans

Many years ago I had a friend that aspired to buy a condo. He figured the cheapest he could eat healthfully was chicken leg quarters, potatoes or steamed rice and frozen mixed vegetables. He ate that every night for dinner to save money. Eventually he got his condo.

@Winter Sun Couldn't tell ya how long. It was a long time ago and I didn't keep track! LOL

Maybe roast the veggie scraps for extra flavor first before making the stock?

My exact suggestion

I love that! A lot of places will donate their excess or unsellable produce but if theres not enough volunteers to bag and distribute it at the food pantries it can still go to waste

Great idea! Let's copy that here..

That's awesome! In the US we have an online service for ugly produce, and it's more expensive than going to the supermarket and buying regular "pretty" produce...

Mmm I don’t think it’s just looks, it’s dealing with all the bruises and wilted ends. You would have to cut a lot off

They do that at one of the supermarkets here at the US too. They sell a mix of too-small produce in one bag (a few apples, an orange, maybe a lemon thrown in) and just mark the whole thing as 99 cents.

NC Neighbors FTW! ❤️

💙 Got to love good people. NC native myself

I wonder if I took my new NC neighbor a plate....?

I eat simply. In my opinion I think we eat too much and spend too much time cooking. Fruits and veggies do not have to be cooked; they are good to go! Nothing like a banana for breakfast, and an apple a day keeps the Dr. away; old, but true saying, and a mixed green salad with a carrot, green pepper, and some grated, real cheese, makes a great dinner; throw in some grapes, walnuts, or strawberries if you desire. However, this makes more than one serving, so you have dinner for two days, at least depending on all the additions! Making a crock pot of beans, with carrots, etc. makes several meals!

Oh we live in FL now but you made me so homesick for my NC neighbors!!

Thank you! Im trying it today.

And vegan!

@@shaelstrata517 I made these a few days ago... I am on my third batch. Total hit with the kids and my adult kid now wants me to make some for her home. Love em!

That sounds delicious!

Oh my! Hang in there. I hope your husband is able to find a job soon.

madiantin aww ty ❤️ God has been providing. We haven’t gone hungry and have a roof over our heads. I can’t complain!

I'm so sorry. I hope you find your way around this.

I'm so sorry.... hang in there and please reach out to the resources out there if needed..

I am sorry about the job loss. Thank the Lord He is providing! I make a really good layered dish with corn tortillas, black beans, corn and whatever salsa is cheapest at the store. (Can add chicken or cheese if in the budget). Stretch those bone in chicken legs or thighs by roasting them, and make sure you save that delicious fat and broth. Use the fat to saute veggies. Save the bones for broth to make soup or season rice or beans. I mash up beans or lentils to help stretch meatloaf/sloppy joes and meatballs. I make all sorts of different egg dishes. Fried rice is an easy, cheap.meal and can make use of less protein, but you don't miss tons of meat. At one point, we had a budget of 25 bucks per week for 3 people. I made so much pasta, ate so many bean dishes, and grew to hate oatmeal. 😆. I am sure.others have some great ideas for more recipes. I will say a prayer for your family.

Also just very entertaining to watch lol

I think the struggle meals channel is a budget bump up from frugal fit mom. For me it is a basic cook at home while saving money show.

@@vickigrice4663 I like struggle meals too, but bear in mind that that is a well-designed and highly produced show, whereas Christine is a housewife doing it all on her own. The host of struggle meals is actually worth (according to Google) between $1 and $ 5million, which is hardly a fair comparison.

Pinto Beans awesome add sauce, refried beans or whole. Very nutritious add garlic onion walaa!

@@deniseheafey3014 just an fyi for future Denise - walaa = voila! lol (only constructive criticism :-) )

I would have added a handful of the sliced green beans to the pasta too.

plus, the carrots make the sauce richer and sweeter

And adds some vegetables! I love your idea!

Ditto ☺

Agreed

Same!

Me too. I look forward to new videos.

YUM!!

Wow such a good idea! I'm making that this week. So easy! I've never thought to throw all that together in the same pan. Thanks for the great idea!! 😁

Add a bit of variety to that with some eggs for some breakfast meals, too.

To make this even more economical, use regular raw rice (much cheaper than minute/instant rice). Also, dried beans are way cheaper than canned beans.

Ground turkey and vegetable soup with garlic..it's the bomb..lots of garlic powder..easy peasy

I would love this !

@@lindseyvaiciulis1660 I have a feeling she could come up with way more interesting things than I can.

I have lived off wic only when we were broke. Rice pudding with the milk, quesadillas with the corn, tortillas & cheese. Also chicken soup with all the veggies. Bean soup with the beans or add chorizo to the beans. I know you can also buy potatoes & make hash browns, potatoes with cheese with and tomatoes. Cereal lol girl there is a lot you can make with just wic and extra couple dollars out of pocket for the chorizo, chicken, evaporated milk and you can get most of this at dollar tree.

I hope you use it wisely for healthy food. Most times I see people abuse these programs. I see people buy monster drinks with them, people buying a 4 bottles of 20 oz coke for $8 when you can buy a 2 liter coke for $2. I see many that sells their wic money for cash. I support these programs but I am disgusted when I see all the misused. I myself don't by the overpriced monster drinks and I always look for the cheaper generic brands and I work 60-80 hour week to be able to pay for the things I need.

@@temujinkhan6326 you do know WIC only gives you cheese, milk, fruit & vegetables right? Your talking about Snap

Yes, race is very high in protein and carbs. You could have little or more no meat.

Yummmm I love both of those meals!

This was more true before pandemic. Currently, the donation supply chain to food banks is broken (like so many other supply chains during covid-19) due to many factors: donations from food service suppliers down; harvests in USA affected by wildfires, hurricanes, derecho, flooding; demand for food bank support up 700% in some places, etc. Our food bank is buying from retail grocery at no discount currently. But good to remember for post-covid days!

You described everything I have in my kitchen

That's a pretty good list. You could make some nice meals with that one. I would only add (as my veggie) onions, a cabbage, also some bread, butter and jam and a box of tea. Can't live without that tea! Guess we're getting over $10 at that rate, but more healthy.

agree, this makes more sense than the stuff she got lol

Chicken thighs tend to be a lot cheaper in my area than whole chickens and you get a better meat to bone ratio.

I don't have all that: I have white, brown and wild rice, yams, kale, and a chicken thighs or wing drumettes I purchase in a family pack, wrap in ones or twos and freeze, red and yellow peppers, bok choy for chicken soup, soba noodles, chicken broth carton, chicken Better Than Bouillon, blackeye peas, white beans, marked-down beef, brocolli, chickpeas for hummus, home-made flaxmeal crackers. It isn't $10 at the checkout, but it is less than that all week. If I see Butter Lettuce in a bag, I have a 'big salad' with artichoke quarters, chickpeas, brocolli sprouts or chickpeas, julienne beets. I regard a 'big salad' as a special meal, using a serving bowl. I use that serving bowl for my chicken soup. I failed to mention I have buckwheat soba noodles or yam noodles to help fortify the nutrition in that chicken soup. My only other food expense is coffee, I make in an K-Cup adapter because I like that single cup method. I have adopted green tea, and find quality oolong tea is the most satisfying. I alternate weeks at a time, coffee or maybe the tea. I am gradually getting away from coffee, and it really is more expensive when you are a coffee snob like me. If I spend more, I get osco bucco or lamb shanks. I purchase these direct, locally. I almost never purchase fruit, unless marked 3 for $6 blackberries, blueberries, raspberries. I do purchase sour cherry juice, pomegranate juice, or make cranberry juice from fresh cranberries. This is because very little has high nutrition value.

Where do you shop?

@@Kiki-D-Kimono HEB

Your fishy macaroni made me remember my mom used to make tuna patties from tuna, breadcrumbs, egg, and relish. I called them catfood patties 🤣

My great grandmother made something similar, was macaroni noodles, peas, meat or potato(whichever she had), and either canned or fresh tomatoes, with salt to taste. Was a meal she made from the Great Depression

Thanks..that's an easy affordable meal. Mozzarella would add a nice texture and added flavor and more protein.

@@annalisahamlett1334 This is similar to a British staple--fish cakes! I love them.

My favorite cheap meal as a single person is mac & cheese with tuna (or packet salmon if it's on sale) on the top! From time to time, our grocery will do the Michelina's frozen mac & cheese for 4/$1.00 and I'll do those instead of blue box. If your veggie intake is low, you can also get something cheap per volume like fresh or frozen spinach (thaw in the fridge and drain) and mix it in!

Could also add some zucchini to the pasta.

i volunteered at a church run food pantry and no food was just given to anyone. First timers had to answer a bunch of questions,give address,social security number etc. Before covid you could only go 1x a month but the amount of food given would maybe last 2-3 weeks at most. So several clients told me they would go to several food banks in order to get enough food for the month. Some food banks also give away pet food-so keep that in mind if u donate to them.

I fully agree! I managed to find a food pantry where I'm at, that DOES give out rescued grocery food, WITHOUT AN INTEROGATION, at all. It's more valuable than diamonds to me because it does that. I refuse to go to any food pantries, that require a barrage of personal info, ["Salvation" Army & St. Vincent's] to hand out DONATED food. There's no reason to do that. I value my privacy, and security. Therefore, I do NOT freely give out my name, address, ID, phone #, or soc sec. #. Who knows where that info is put, & who sees it. Would you want complete strangers knowing where you live? That's scary in today's times. I read a story, how a girl was stalked by someone who'd seen her name & address on her luggage tag. Food is a basic human right, & there should be no barriers to a person to receive rescued, or donated food. People GIVE it freely to pantries, so it should be freely given to people that need it. They don't give it to pantries for them to say. "no, you can't have anything, until we have all your personal info. I'll never support any food pantry of food bank, that does that. Did you know, that government food banks, make food pantries BUY pallets of DONATED food? They do! I asked a pantry once why they do the interrogations. They said that if they got any government food, that the government entity giving the food required it. NO ONE, needs to know that I go to a food bank. Period, especially the government. The food bank I go to, is simply 1st come. 1st served. They said we could come EVERY WEEK, but I went every 2 weeks, & then just once a month. I LOVE, that they allow people to go "as needed", no questions asked. They give out 1 Banana box of food, to each family. Within that Banana box, is: 1 plastic grocery bag of fruit [apples, oranges, lemons, limes, mango, grapes, avocados, etc.] 1 plastic grocery bag of vegetables [carrots, greens, potatoes, tomatoes, etc.] 1 plastic grocery bag of bread, rolls, buns, biscuits, etc. 1plastic grocery bag of bakery goods a pie, cookies, cupcakes, pastries, donuts, etc. 1 plastic grocery bag of frozen meat [which I decline because I'm vegan] & in the bottom of the box, is random dry goods, such as peanut butter, pasta, canned vegetables, canned diced tomatoes or tomato/pasta sauce, canned fruit, dry fruit mix, raisins, PLAIN, generic cereal, dry beans, sometimes a bottle of 100% OJ, and cans of animal based stuff, tuna, chicken, [which I give away] etc. There's NO junk food, like chips, Spaghetti O's, sugary cereals, pop tarts, etc., except the baked goods. Also, the contents vary each time, so one gets an amazing array of HEALTHY food. At a different time & place, I went to a Salvation Army to get food. I had to sit in a room full of other people, & wait for HOURS, while they took 15 minutes to interrogate the 20 people before me. Then, when I was finally given a SINGLE brown paper bag of food, it was mostly sugary junk food, so I quit going there. One I got a loaf of bread, that was green with mold, from them. The "no questions asked", pantry gives a Cornucopia of very healthy, real foods, that are in decent shape. Much of the food, is rescued food from local grocery stores. I FULLY support those stores, for making their unsalable food FREELY available to those who need it. I save a lot of money by not buying food, that I can save up enough money to buy a basic flip phone [I had no phone for years, & an eye exam [I have no insurance, & it takes me 3 months to save the cash up for an eye exam, even with saving money not buying food]. I also freeze much of what I get, which is what helps me be able to only go once a month. I turn some apples into applesauce, & freeze it. I freeze: tomatoes, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, avocados [to use as a Chocolate pudding base], and roast onions, celery, carrots, squash, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, zucchini, pumpkin, peppers, , etc., & dice & freeze them. I puree oranges, lemons, grapefruit, mango, papaya, etc., & freeze those. I even cook dry beans, & freeze those too. I freeze bread, pies, pastries, biscuits, bagels, etc. as well. This pantry, helps expand our diet, into a more healthy one, as I wouldn't buy much of what they give us, like mangos, avocados, oranges, pastries, fruit mix, etc. as it's just too expensive. I use a strict meal plan, & buy or incorporate what the pantry gives me into it. I make a lot of muffins because I can take a half a cup of fruit, or vegetables [pumpkin or sweet potatoes], & make 6 muffins out of it. I make tropical muffins, [if I get papaya, pineapple, coconut, oranges, etc.], & pumpkin, sweet potato, blackberry, banana, chocolate nut muffins, etc. I make all kinds of healthy dishes, with whatever other food I get, like Ratatouille, Tuscan bean soup, split pea soup, lentil stew, etc.

@@shaelstrata517 I 100% agree with you food is a basic human right and people should be able to easily get it. What’s unfortunate is like you said, to get funding or aid from the government a lot of the time those “interrogations” and barriers are required, and many of these places wouldn’t be able to function without that aid because they aren’t run by rich people. Unfortunately there are people who take advantage though... I have an aunt with PLENTY of money to spend (trust me, PLENTY) and a few months ago she started going to food banks to “save money.” Save money... that she genuinely does not need to save. All these limitations in place and people like her still are able to take from people in need. It’s terrible.

@@shaelstrata517 I agree it shouldn't be that way, but with limited resources I think it can sometimes be a necessary evil. There are a significant number of people that are happy to abuse the system. If it was first come first serve the impoverished family that works a ton of hours and can't get there right away would miss out. I think it's a nice balance to have both types of services for those that don't wish to disclose their info

@@somethinginthenothing there really are NOT many people who abuse the system, that's a myth

Fff bfggbn

Es-tu canadienne? :)

Wow, you did awesomely and very healthy by the sounds of it. I've never thought of oats in pancakes, the flat whole kind? Or instant?

I use old fashioned oats in my pancakes.A cup and a half of oats, 2 bananas, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 tsp baking powder and some cinnamon,(optional 1 tbsp flaxseed meal). Blend it all up in the blender until smooth. Can add blueberries to the batter after blended. So good and filling!

@@angelika_munkastrap4634 my sister does this all the time. Funny enough I just asked her for her recipe just this week on her Buckwheat/Oatmeal version, telling her I was having trouble finding Buckwheat locally (I knew she actually used a Buckwheat pancake mix)... next day, she had some shipped to me from Amazon. She's so sweet.

Sounds like you went to school when the economy was significantly different, I envy you

@Bonnie Holman indeed. I am blessed.

If you like bread..I have a great beer bread recipe...3 cups of self rising flour and a 12 oz can of beer (yourchoice). Blend together and pop in preheated oven 350 degrees for about 50 min. Tastes great. I recently looked at that recipe. It tastes odd because I forgot the 1/3 cup of regular sugar. So sorry.

I'm intrigued by both breads. I thank Fab Fit Mom and all the commenters who are helping me to learn more good frugal recipes.

@@patriciaburr4826 Do not use the lite beers for bread will taste odd.

@@patriciaburr4826 I have made this many time's. It's really good.

Ohhhh that would be interesting!! I bet the crockpot was nice, you can do just about everything in one of those bad boys 🤣

you could simplify things a lot by making a lot of multigrain bread flat or loaves and vegetable stir fry very effortless very dense very nutritious

Almost forgot about the popcorn! Yes! I probably ate a potato a day for one meal or another. lol

Potatoes are so healthy and versatile! Thank you for the idea!

Canned fruit can be pretty expensive. Even store-brand, you're still paying at least a dollar a can for most things. A half size can of fruit cocktail might be $0.85. I would have added a box of Jell-O for this challenge, it doesn't add much vitamin-wise, but it's a cheap way to have a little dessert at night, and that can really raise spirits.

Mac and cheese with hot dogs are life!!!

Pasta Roni was a must eat in college. I had a microwave, electric griddle and toaster oven so it was normally things that cooked in those things. I did even make muffins in the toaster oven in a little 6 muffin container. Lots of creativity back then!!

You can eat a vegetable when you go on a date or visit your parents. 😂

I don't know how it is now, but when I was in college; most students didn't have access to their own transportation and had to shop as close to home as possible.

A half a can of instant rice cooked in a can of veggie soup with a dollop of ketchup- at the beginning of the month, maybe even a piece of American cheese My brother ate cheap pot pies over rice all during law school.

ok. but in the end, about 1550 cal a day. that is not much. there even would have been space for a snack. I think these meals are even ok for somebody who tries to loose weight slowely. only natural fibers are a little low. some more fuit now and then or more salad or other vegetables. it is not easy with a low budget. therefore that goal to put in as much calories as possible for the price. sure, it sounds weired, when one is used to do it the otherway around. :-) but I was surprised at the number in the end. I bet, I would have got myself seconds on the pasta dish. so for sure more 1900-2000 kcal. which would mean for my weight, height and lifestyle. that the balance for a day would be +/- 0.

Wow!! Thank you so much for sharing! Such great ideas 😁

Ah, Linda, I can tell we were in college at same time! Tang was the giveaway 😜 Tho I was too poor for ziplocs, which were just invented! Waxed freezer paper FTW! Ditto what you said. And, once monthly shopping when paid, it allowed some stuff to be bought in bulk because more $ on hand. Would buy a big bag of apples on sale and discount peanut butter alternating months, then eat peanut butter apple for lunch every other day. And egg sandwiches with bakery thrift store bread (thank God for Arnold's bakery thrift! 3 loaves whole wheat for $1 back then. Still pretty good at 3 loaves for $3.50 now). Family pkg of bone-in chicken thighs with skin are cheapest and you get bones for bone broth and skin to render fat from for other uses. (Crunchy fat so good crumbled into egg fried rice!) Always frozen veg except carrots, celery, onion. One big batch of soup or stew or beans each week to stretch across evening meal. Much cheaper than my college's meal plan in mid 80s ... Would get 3 full-to-top bags of groceries for $19 a month.

I loved egg macaroni when I was little! You can do the same with boiled potatoes.

Same with boiling eggs. Bring to a boil, cut off the heat, put a lid on it, 15 min and done.

Great tip, thanks!

I didn't want to hear that my daughter is a freshman in college 😔

Keeping it realistic... staves off failure. :)