A major problem people who struggle financially face is that cheap foods tend to be unhealthier than more expensive foods. It is easier to find unhealthy foods on a tight budget than it is to find healthier foods. Additionally, poor people may have trouble finding enough food of any kind.
It is important for anyone who may one day struggle financially, or who may interact with people who do, to know some basic foods that can inexpensively provide good nourishment.
Some nutritious and inexpensive foods I have found are: pasta, milk (including soy milk), oatmeal, peanut butter, bread and cereal.
The main trick is to avoid foods that have little to no protein, vitamins or minerals. These types of “empty calories” include soda, candy and such.
While snack bars are often tasty and sometimes not even that unhealthy, they are often very expensive per calorie. You will not get as much nutrients per dollar as you will with some of the cheaper foods I previously mentioned.
It is important to try and include fruits and vegetables in your diet also, but they are often not the cheapest way to get calories in your diet. Take your time at the grocery store to figure out whether the canned vegetables or fresh ones are cheaper.
Do you have any suggestions of inexpensive and nutritious foods? If so, please post them in the Hunger and Poverty Forums. It’s completely free, and all viewpoints are welcome.