Low-Calorie Meals On A Budget – Overview
So, you have finally decided to start along with that ‘low calorie meals on a budget but don’t know how to go about it? Relax!
While opting for a low-calorie meal plan under a budget, you have to take care of a lot of aspects like the nutritional value, your specific fitness goals, and so on.
Hence, it is always required to go wisely towards the same while planning your grocery list and other key elements in the best manner possible.
Grocery list for low calorie meals on a budget
- Brown rice– Can be used for side dishes or rice salads, soups and stews
- Whole wheat pasta-Can be utilized for all of the hot or cold pasta dishes
- Whole wheat bread– Can be used for sandwiches, toasts or even puddings
- Non-fat Greek yogurt-Can be used as a snack meal or be mixed with a perfect fruit smoothie
- Oats-One of the most sought-after breakfast options across the globe
- Frozen vegetables-Perfect for side dishes, salads or stews
- Canned beans-Can be used as a good side dish and with salads
- Canned Tuna-Use it for sandwiches, side dishes, salads or your customized snack
- Eggs-Perfect and most affordable protein source on the planet
- Lentis-Can be used in boiled or cooked form and contains a lot of proteins and healthy carbohydrates
While the abovementioned grocery list is quite perfect for your low calorie meals on a budget, you can always make some changes as per your needs and preferences.
Guidelines and tips to follow during low calorie meals on a budget
- Always opt for bulk buying of the food items in your grocery list as that would bring you some great discounts and offers alongside
- Go for Frozen veggies and fruits instead of fresh ones as that would come cheaper. Also, the nutritional value would remain the same in both options
- Prepare your meals in advance on a weekend and pack them in airtight containers to avoid that hassle during the busy weekday period
- Always ensure enough consumption of water during the period
- Avoid sugary and processed food items as that would carry a lot of calories without any nutritional value alongside
- You can consume coffee or tea at regular intervals but do take care of the sugar and dairy content within
Sample weekly meal plan for low calorie meals on a budget
Day 1.
Breakfast- 1 serving of Cinnamon apple oatmeal
Snack- 2 medium-sized apples
Lunch- 2 Banana with peanut butter and raisins
Snack –1 serving of peanut butter and celery
Dinner- 1 serving of Ceaser salad
Day 2.
Breakfast- 2 slices of buttered toast with cinnamon
Snack – 1 cup of strawberries with non-fat greek yogurt
Lunch- 2 servings of Carrots with hummus
Snack- Granola 1 oz
Dinner- 1 serving of grilled tuna and cheese sandwich with 1 serving of quinoa
Day 3.
Granola
Breakfast- 2 servings of Breakfast fruits smoothie with 1 apple
Snack- 1 serving of non-fat Greek yogurt and strawberries
Lunch- 1 serving of peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Snack- Granola (1 oz)
Dinner- 1 serving of cheesy chicken and spinach
Day 4.
Breakfast- 2 cups of oat bran and cinnamon with 2 servings of whole wheat toast
Snack- 1 serving of scrambled eggs with veggies
Lunch- 1 serving of salsa tuna wrap
Snack- 1 medium-sized apple
Dinner- 2 servings of mozzarella and hummus on a multigrain flatbread
Day 5.
Breakfast- 1 serving of peanut butter and banana oatmeal
Snack –2 medium-sized apples
Lunch- 2 servings of carrots with hummus
Snack- 1 serving of banana almond butter
Dinner- 1 serving of healthy Ceaser salad
Day 6.
Low calorie meals on a budget – Tuna sandwich
Breakfast- 4 hard-boiled eggs with 1 apple
Snack- Strawberries(2 cups)
Lunch- 2 apples with almond butter and 2 stalks of celery
Snack- Granola(1 oz)
Dinner- 1 serving of BBQ tuna sandwich with 1 serving of sautéed garlic green beans
Day 7.
Breakfast- 1 serving of egg toast with salsa and 1 medium-sized banana
Snack- 1 serving of whole wheat pita bread with hummus
Lunch servings of canned beans with 1 serving of cucumber slices
Snack- 1 apple with almond butter
Dinner- 1 serving of balsamic chicken salad with 2 servings of green beans in olive oil
Summing it up
Going for low-calorie meals on a budget is quite easy. You have to prepare a list of all the required food items in advance and stay a bit wiser during their purchase.
You can also opt for heavy discounts on online grocery shopping and save some good money.
See Also
Best Healthy Meal Delivery Services
What Can You Drink During Intermittent Fasting
Best Intermittent Fasting Apps
Damla Sengul, a seasoned Food Editor at Dietsmealplan.com, boasts a 5-year worth of expertise as a digital editor, with a specific focus on authentic recipe content. Her expertise extends to various crucial aspects of the cookery world, including in-depth research on renowned chefs worldwide and innovative recipe development. Additionally, Damla is an enthusiastic baker who dedicates part of her time crafting delightful celebration cakes for her friends.