14 Post(s)Gender: MaleGoal: Gain MuscleDate Joined: January 1, 2017
Posted
Hey guys, I am going to become a platinum member in a few days to use the meal planner, so I just wanted to get some ideas on what foods are cheap but fit your macros well? I am on a budget and don't mind eating the same thing everyday as long as I see progress. I'm not sure if this will help at all but these are the macros I'll be using:
220g Protein (880 Calories)
350g Carbs (1400 Calories)
90g Fat (810 Calories)
Total Calories = 3090
Any advice would be appreciated, thanks! :)
2.6K Post(s)Gender: MaleGoal: BodybuildingDate Joined: October 10, 2013
Posted
There are many affordable but nutritionally dense foods you can buy. A meal plan not only needs to be balanced and meet your macros but also those macros need to be nutritionally dense. Some examples of "affordable" food choices:
1) Eggs
2) All fruits and vegetables
3) Brown rice, sweet potatoes, whole wheat pasta
4) Chicken
5) Nuts - walnuts, almonds, etc
6) Whole Milk and and full-fat Greek yogurt
7) Tuna or salmon in the can
8) Coconut oil (for cooking and adding to food for healthy fats)
9) Grain-fed beef
Important foods that will be a bit more expensive but should be added if you can afford them:
1) Organic fruits and vegetables
2) Grass-fed beef
3) Hormone and antibiotic free whole milk and full-fat Greek yogurt
4) Alaskan salmon
5) Tuna steaks
6) Cage-free eggs
7) Hormone and antibiotic free chicken
The best rule of thumb is always choose wholesome and unprocessed over packaged and processed food and always pick organic, and hormone and drug free fruits, vegetables, and meat when possible. In the U.S., many of these items are much more affordable and available than when living overseas like me. At the end of the day, a serious disease like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc will cost way more than the cost of wholesome natural food. Your body will also build the best physique your genetics will allow with the best building materials so think of your food purchases and meal plan as an investment in that goal.
John
34 years of lifting and nutritional experience and resident "old man" :-)
MS Athlete and past Super Hermanite since 2013.
7.1K Post(s)Gender: MaleGoal: BodybuildingDate Joined: August 8, 2008
Posted
@Rebellious_Saiyan you live in the UK right? Do you have anything like a Walmart over there? Because hopefully you can get a 5lb pack of chicken for like $10. Super cheap!
Then you have a lot of the things John mentioned on his list as well that are wallet friendly.. rice, everyday fruits and vegetables, oils are normally pretty cheap for a good source of fat.
Check out this healthy shopping list guide too - if you can find foods on here that fit your budget then you are golden!
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14 Post(s)Gender: MaleGoal: Gain MuscleDate Joined: January 1, 2017
Posted
Yeah, I live in the UK, there's a few places I can get cheap sources of protein, however should I always stick with chicken and beef?
And thanks for the list you gave guys, I really appreciate the help. Can't imagine how hard it would be to find all this information by myself!
13 Post(s)Gender: MaleGoal: Gain MuscleDate Joined: December 12, 2015
Posted
Hi mate, I used to live in the UK, get yourself to Aldi, they used to sell 1kg packs of chicken for about 5 or 6 pounds. They also sell tinned mackerel cheaper there aswell. These were my go to when I lived there. (Finding tinned mackerel where I live now is impossible)
Chicken/Turkey/Oily fish (salmon/mackerel) are great and are my main picks, but yea you can add some beef in there a few times a week aswell. I used to treat myself with lamb now and then aswell, its a bit higher in fat, but it balances out.
14 Post(s)Gender: MaleGoal: Gain MuscleDate Joined: January 1, 2017
Posted
Alright buddy, I'll head to Aldi and take a look, thanks for the advice!