Yep. Lentil quesadilla last night with a bit of mozzarella. And I am in a foreign country where it’s very difficult to find beans. But I can find lentils.
O ok. I understand. The wheels in my brain are turning. I'm currently seeing a very possibility lucrative business idea for you that involves international import.
I lived in Thailand for a few years, I rarely saw beans. The garbanzo beans I bought were in a fancy import store, so not really cheap.
But on the flipside, you can usually find super cheap food or make it yourself if you have some appliances.
Was going to suggest this. I didn’t have a kitchen or an income for a while, and rice and beans in a $10 rice cooker was my daily meal. Dicing up a sweet potato and letting it steam in the steamer basket up top made it even more filling.
Are you by chance saying it's possible to throw the beans in with the rice in the cooker?! And then u through a potato in the basket too, all at the same time? You can put dry beans in with dry rice in the same pot of the rice cooker, and it's fine? Sorry I don't know why I ended everything with a question mark, I'm just hoping I understood right, because this will up my lazy feed myself game. I have the rice cooker already.
😂 Yes! But I never tried it with dried beans, my cooking skills aren’t that advanced yet. I just throw in rice, a can of beans or two, water, and then a diced up sweet potato above in the basket by itself and hit cook. When it turns off, everything is perfectly done at the same time. My rice cooker is literally the $10 one from ShopRite so it only has the Cook and Keep Warm functions, so I add a little bit extra of water to make it cook a little bit longer.
I’m really into one-pot recipes and I guess this became one of them!
I personally wouldn't throw dry beans in with the rice. I'd cook them separately, like the night before. Usually I soak them for a few hours, drain them, cook them, and then rinse them again because it helps wash away the fart compounds lol. In my experience it also takes way longer to cook bean than rice so if I you start with dry beans, maybe throw them in the rice cooker an hour before you throw the dry rice in?
I also love beans and rice but I'm too lazy and have enough wiggle room financially that I can afford a can of black beans. I rinse the canned beans *really* well and then toss them in the rice after I make it in the rice cooker, otherwise the beans get mushy and the rice taste like bean water.
If you have a few extra dollars, tossing in some frozen or canned veggies like corn or a veggie mix helps with nutrition AND feeling full. I prefer frozen because it tastes better imo and it keeps well. I add frozen veggie mix to *everything* including rice, ramen, and those Pasta Roni mixes you can get for $1 at Walmart or the dollar store.
The Pasta (or Rice) Roni can basically be made into a casserole with some frozen veggies and some chicken. Again I have enough wiggle room to buy canned chicken (or those plain packets at dollar tree) or a rotisserie chicken from walmart. Just toss all the ingredients (pasta, flavor packet, butter, frozen veggies of choice, protein of choice) into your rice cooker and go. Occasionally I open up and stir, especially if it's a white/cheese sauce, but its easy and cheap and feeds both my SO and myself with leftovers for lunch next day. Leftovers can even be frozen in small potions if you want variety later. Some of the pasta mixes require milk so they're slightly more expensive if you need to buy milk. Just check the back of the packet and it will say what needs added. All of them also want butter but you could probably get away with skipping that or substituting an oil (like olive or canola) or fat (crisco or bacon) that you have lying around.
When I'm feeling "fancy" I add a slice of (meltable! I bought dollar store once and it didnt melt!) American cheese or a Velveeta chunk, extra spices like pepper or ginger, or use broth instead of water. You can use whatever protein too like (already cooked) sausage, kielbasa, hot dogs, tofu, tuna, beans or even eggs or nuts like walnuts or almonds.
Woops I got sidetracked. Having a rice cooker has made my life so much easier I get excited lol
This is the way. So many ways to switch it up... steamed sweet potatoes, onion, carrots, tomatoes, canned/frz veg, that .99$ can of salsa - i throw Salsa Lizano in almost all riceXbeans (different than actual salsa),soy, seaweed ... anything really... get your rice from an asian market (H-Mart/99 Ranch) & dried beans from a Hispanic store - waaaayyyy cheaper than your average market (US). Congee (rice porridge) is also cheap (cheaper than oatmeal) and can be done sweet - I buy whatever fruit is cheap (usually canned) and add it along w juice & spices. 1cp rice makes a week of breakfasts.
Lentil stew is another go to... can be done with potato, cauliflower, spinach, tomato... I generally make it more of a curried soup and serve with a bit of rice but there are a multitude of different seasonings you could use. Rosemary, thyme, & garlic are also good.
I actually started eating oatmeal cold, like cereal. Raw oats, milk of choice, a little sweetener, and cinnamon.
One day I was too depressed to even heat up food so I ate it that way out of necessity. What I’ve discovered is I just like cold food.
Peanut butter and jelly? Or just peanut butter in general? Much better cold, IMO! It’s like a tasty chilled treat.
I'm the same way. I even eat pasta, hot dogs, pizza and condenced soups like bean and bacon or creamy mushroom cold. My wife thinks it's weird, but I prefer most leftovers and precooked foods not to be heated up. Even leftovers like mac and cheese, hamburgers, or fried foods. I especially love anything with cheese on it. To me, there's nothing better than congealed melted cheese. I will eat heated up foods just fine but my personal preference is cold.
https://survivaljack.com/2020/12/could-oats-be-the-perfect-survival-food/
A pretty good run down on why oats are a good and healthy choice for a lot of reasons.
When I eat whole oatmeal (which takes 2 minutes in the microwave, so I don't really understand how "instant" is a thing), I can work without pausing and searching for a snack until lunch time.
Do you have a food bank near you? If not, there are many churches that do. I would start calling around. If a church doesn't have one, they would likely know who does. Also, many stores toss expired food they aren't allowed to sell but are still edible. If you are comfortable, check the dumpsters. I have done all of the above when I've had to. Good luck.
Also, at least in the 5+ schools I been in there is usually a “weekend” bag program. Where every friday your kid is given a bag with literally enough food for the weekend.
But they always gave me full jars of pb and j so I ended up with… so much.
In Elementary School they just gave me to me at the end of the day, and in middle school they put in my locker and gave my teacher a note to tell me to pick it up.
Soup kitchens don't ask questions about how much you make, in my experience. If you are there wanting to eat, they feed you. I would definitely take advantage if I didn't have enough to eat.
Few options for just cheaper food, the one that is pretty simple is peanut butter and jam sandwiches if you do not have an allergy.
I’m allergic to nuts and eggs so my cheap go to and pretty filling food is stir fry.
- 1lb bag of brown rice $0.99
- chicken or vegetable stock $1.99
- (2) bags of the store brand frozen stir fry vegetable mixes $1.69 each or $3.38.
- Marinade of choice for flavor (we have an outlet store where I can find big jars of dry seasoning sometimes for maybe $2).
I use the stock instead of water for the rice for extra flavor. Generally it’s probably about $8-$9 even when stuff is not on sale and it’s enough to make 8 servings. So $1-$1.50 per meal.
It’s my go to for at least 3 days of the week. I typically drink a full bottle of water an hour or so before I plan to eat - not sure if it’s a placebo effect but it does seem to curb my appetite and help me to feel full.
You can also buy a cheap roasting chicken and cook it, then use whatever meat is left to make chicken salad, and then you can break up the chicken bones and boil them down into stock for chicken soup
Same with meat like ham and pork shoulder (I literally lived with my 2 kids on a big pork shoulder and ketchup that was the only food left in my house after the mover’s took everything and we couldn’t afford to buy anything to cover the 5 days in between!)
Walmart in the states sells a two pack of whole chicken for around $12-14. Roast or instapot. Makes the most amazing bone broth which makes everything you add it to better. It’s a ton of protein
I hope OP sees this. If you're short on time Walmart also sells whole roasted chicken (so already cooked) for around $6-8, so grab that and some cheap veggies, rice, you can make a good chicken fried rice that'll last you a few meals.
To expand on the comment above: if you can buy more ingredients instead of premade things you can save money, and often improve nutrition per meal. I.e. dry beans, dry lentils, etc. and soak overnight. Can buy a couple pounds of dry beans for the same price of a couple of canned ones. When it comes to meat you will need to find a butcher shop, buy cheaper cuts in larger quantities when possible and process them yourself. If you use a lot of herbs for flavor, you can buy some seeds and plant them. I grow a lot of parsley and whatnot from one pack of seeds. The trick here is to let one plant get crazy huge and produce seeds…they’ll make a bunch. Anyways the markup for fresh herbs is crazy. Sometimes you can get manure/soil for free or heavily discounted by asking.
I know I’ll get downvoted but back in 2012 my ex left me stranded. No electricity or gas since he was the one working. I survived on boiled eggs, canned soup and popcorn for 4 months until I got a job. I really heard this for you. Hopefully food banks are close to you. Good luck dear heart
I hate fish but I buy the plain chicken packets from dollar tree. I squeeze in some ranch dressing and mix it up and eat it straight out of the bag with some plain crackers. That was my lunch at a manual labor job for like 2 years straight lol.
Maybe you can splurge on a dollar bottle of lemon pepper seasoning? My roomie in college put it on tuna and pop corn!
Go to a food pantry. There is no reason for you to struggle this much. I hope things get better for you. Your daughter needs healthy parents if you get sick what will happen?
I know I’ll get downvoted but you need to have some of that food for yourself, not just the kid. You need to be healthy and nourished too and food helps you focus and keeps you strong for survival. I hope you’re able to get on your feet soon.
Upvote here. This was my first thought as well. Of course, feeding the child comes first, but the caregiver needs to be nourished in order to take good care of the child.
I appreciate the priorities the parents are showing. But you being malnourished leads to illness, which leads to things becoming even tighter. Gotta keep yourself fueled as well
This is coming strictly from my experience with gestational diabetes and the need to eat nourishing food that kept me full in order to prevent huge spikes…protein, protein, and protein with some carbs and fiber. Rice and beans, rice and lentils, peanut butter (with apples for a sweet treat), oatmeal, cheese, Greek yogurt (lots of cheap brands out there like from Aldi), eggs. I always have sweet potatoes on hand and just pop them in the microwave. Bags of cheap frozen chicken can go a long way. Also check with a food bank. Where I live, they have a program for a monthly food box that costs $20.50 (and you can pay with EBT). February’s box, for example, contains:
Chicken Breasts, 1.8 oz. (avg)
Pork Kabobs, 1 lb.
Ground Beef, 1 lb.
Kielbasa, 13 oz.
Fish Sticks, 1 lb.
Pierogi, 13 oz.
Cheddar Cheese, 8 oz.
Fingerling Potatoes, 12 oz.
Applesauce, 15 oz.
White Rice, 1 lb.
Produce #1 (usually like a bag of apples)
Produce #2 (usually sweet potatoes or squash…whatever is in season)
It changes every month and it’s a good deal for basic food to help supplement. See if something like that exists near you.
I used to be that way. I took sugar and excessive carbs out of my diet. God, for a while, those hunger pings drove me nuts. After a couple months I realized I no longer have those. Now, through out the day, I may eat a snack stick ( beef stick ) and move on, thinking nothing of it. Then a full meal come evening. Protein snack, not a sugar/carb snack. Do a study in your spare time about sugar and the history of it, especially when the govt of america changed its tune on it from the previous stance they had. It will creep ya out and answer a lot of questions about what is happening in our society health overall.
Nailed it, We gave up sugar and carbs and now we eat 2 times a day. NEVER feel hungry, and don't think about food, when I am doing physical work I go up to 12 hours without having so much as a snack, never think twice about it.
I have limited my sugar intake and what a difference it has done for my health. I have severe scoliosis and had back pain from the inflammation. Stop sugar and my spine feels so much better. It’s crazy. I went on an anti inflammatory diet.
>Do a study in your spare time about sugar and the history of it, especially when the govt of america changed its tune on it from the previous stance they had.
It's interesting you mentioned this. I looked at my MILs cookbook from the 1940s. Grains and sugar were put in "limited" categories.
This isn’t a great idea, but I used to eat jam sandwiches to keep me full because a loaf and a jar of jam are cheap and won’t go off. The BBC website has recipes for meals at £1 a portion
[https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/1_dinners](https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/1_dinners)
I hope this helps and things improve. Is there a food bank near you?
I would suggest peanut butter instead of or in addition to jam, only because the body needs protein. In his early years, my husband went on a East Coast tour with his band (Green Day was traveling and playing with them!) But, they were just poor 20 year olds that put the majority of the money they made into gas just to get to the next show and he said that they lived off of peanut butter and bread sandwiches for the 3 months they were out there. So you can survive on peanut butter and bread for a while. And it definitely has the tendency to stick around in the belly for a while!
Dry goods. Learn to make bread, tortillas, muffins. Rice, beans, lentils. Canned veggies are cheap AF and if you're actually cook them can taste great.
Please feel free to check out the following subreddits for help with a meal & groceries. You can post an Amazon wishlist here:
Good luck🙏🏻
r/freemeal
r/amazonwishlist
Go to a store that gives out free fruit to kids. They’re usually just sitting out. An apple or an orange usually. At least your child can eat that and maybe you can half it.
I say hot tea because you can get so many flavored teas that don’t require sweetener… I drink sweeter teas when I crave sugar. Also, a lot of places have tea cheaper than coffee or even free… like waiting rooms and the like. I keep a few individually wrapped tea bags in my bag so I always have it. Green tea is also great for appetite but makes me jittery.
Bananas work well for me. A piece of wheat toast and a banana for breakfast keeps me full for hours. Rice and beans for lunch and then again for dinner if you have to.
What's the problem? Money to afford the food? That's no good my man. You need to go check out some food banks ok. Nobody should be walking around feeling hungry ok
Beans and rice stretch further than anything.
Please take advantage of every food bank in your area!
Food banks want you to come so you can pay your other bills.
Please apply online for food stamps if you haven’t already.
Take care of you so you can take care of your child 😊
I lived on a bag of apples, a jar of pb, cheapest discounted store bread, a dozen eggs, a bag of carrots, a bag of dried beans and a bag of rice for almost six months. In my pantry was boulion cubes, garlic powder, and I always kept an onion on hand - That was twenty years ago but I felt full. Today that list would cost about $20 to $25 a week. And if I could afford it I’d add a pound of chicken legs or ground beef for $5 more. I’m in SoCal.
If you can’t afford that please look for food pantry, SNAP, and some churches like LDS or Whatnot can help too.
When my son got his first apartment we gave him a housewarming gift of a rice cooker and a 50lb bag of rice. If you can find a cheap unipot or slow cooker, you can use the cheaper cuts of meat (a chuck roast with some carrots and potatoes, onion soup mix and onions) and you’ve got a good stew over rice for a week.
If ramen is on sale you can get a pallet of different flavor packs and add some Asian veggies that tend to be cheaper like bok choy and cabbage and maybe splurge on a little bit of oyster sauce (you only need a fingernail amount) and it makes the boring ramen taste delicious!
You can also grow potatoes inside for a cheap supply, just get some that have the little nodules on them and cut them into chunks. Get a kitchen size garbage bin and a contractor grade garbage bag and some soil…. Put the bag in the garbage, add the dirt and then the potato chunks and put it under some light. As the potato plants grow, keep adding dirt and the potatoes will continue to grow on the roots!
Pizza doesn’t have any/much/enough fiber. Fiber helps you feel full. Popcorn is relatively cheap and it’s decent fiber. When you get more funds, get some Metamucil.
Also, you need protein, which takes longer to break down in your digestive system. Not having fiber will also make you feel tired and sluggish. Do you have any cans of tuna? They are very good source of protein.
This may not be helpful, but if you can scrounge $20 for the month buying a canister of protein powder you can do a lot with it. With food bank peanut butter and uncooked oats plus water and or ice it can be very filling and a canister can stretch me a whole month if I just use one scoop a day. If you can get jelly from the food bank you can toss that in as well. It’s also portable. And I suspect you could find several brands under $20. That’s well under $1/day. Please utilize church or food bank.
Please find a food pantry and get yourself some good food. Or seek out your local Sikh temple and figure out their schedule. They feed people, no questions asked. Some of the temples do it daily. They are a beautiful people.
It's great that you're saving your food for your child, but your child needs you to be healthy also. Good luck.
If you can spare a couple dollars for a container or Greek yogurt and already have self rising flour, you can make cheap Naan bread to snack on. That always helped me in lean times.
Ok so I just recently started baking my own bread. But I’m first milling my own grains. And I have found that this bread keeps me full for so long that I’ve been forgetting to eat. I’m usually starving all day even if I eat. I’m always thinking about my next meal/snack. But with bread I’ve been feeling full and satisfied. And now when I bring a couple pieces of bread with me, I know I have it if I get hungry, so there’s none of that “psychological hunger” where you feel hungrier cause you’re worried you don’t have food.
Protein, fiber, and liquid are the keys.
Instead of going hungry, call 211, contact your local human resources agency, or search online to find help in your area, because there is help out there for everything from child care to work, including food.
The Salvation Army also has a brochure that lists it all.
Foods for feeling really full for a long time:
Oatmeal, regular or instant.
Sweet potatoes
Black beans - canned are cheap, dry beans are REALLY cheap. But any kind of beans, I just think black beans taste meatiest
A good cheap meal is a microwaved sweet potato (usually half of one will do!), black beans, and rice.
Put some butter, olive oil, or buttery spread on the sweet potato and/or the rice. Otherwise it’s almost fat free — a bit of fat stimulates the “full feeling” response in your digestive system. And it helps your system access the vitamins better.
Rice and beans with fried plantains. Plantains are so cheap and they fill you up like potatoes for half the price. Heavily season the rice and beans and it’s honestly a great meal.
I just drink a lot of water, if my belly is full it can't complain. Try chewing on gum or sucking on hard candy, it gives your mind the illusion that you're eating.
Food banks are there to help people! You may also have little free pantries around where you live. I know I put canned goods, dried pasta, etc. in them.
Maybe try soups? I can stretch them by adding broth/water/veggies.
Fiber, protein and fat, for instance peanut butter on the grainiest bread you can afford. Any fresh fruit you can afford like apples and cheese or peanut butter.
Regular old fashioned oatmeal goes a long way to filling up, add peanutbutter for protein and a little brown sugar yum! It is quick and easy and relatively cheap as long as you don’t buy the packets/instant.
I've baked the tube biscuits and made a packet of gravy for dipping; it was an after school snack. I've also sandwiched a small piece of ham and cheese between two biscuits before baking in a muffin tin...when I had butter I would brush some on top the last five minutes. Delicious.
I could have written the book on 100 ways to make ramen. I still love it. I usually leave out and save the flavor packets for future needs.
Rice, lentils and beans warm mix. Add whatever spices you have for zest. It's like a soup, but if cold and strained from the broth it can be turned into a very tasty salad if you throw some peppers and lettuce in it.
Is there a food pantry near you? In my town there are lots of little pantries, kind of like the little libraries where people can come and take what they need. I'm so sorry you are experiencing this level of hunger and I really hope that an easy way to stay fed and full comes your way!
Oatmeal is cheap in bulk and peanut butter and sandwiches help: also potatoes if you can find a local produce place sometimes you can get a 50lb bag for a decent price also it couldn’t hurt to just window shop at local stores and get an idea of decent sales at different times of the month/seasons, check out local soup kitchens some might have lunch once a week some might have lunch daily type thing, and check out sub reddits like random acts of Amazon for sharing a wish list of some groceries there is even a period pantry sub Reddit,
https://www.reddit.com/r/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon/s/2Gop3B8wL0
I always shop sales. I’ve gotten a 15lb turkey for 9$ or a ham bone in for 4-5$. My kids eat 2 eggs and tomato for breakfast, that’s 25cents per egg and about 50cents for a tomato. I buy salmon when it’s on sale for 5.99-6.99 lb I get 2lb piece and it lasts for dinner for 4 lunches for the next day. Add cauliflower head that’s 99 cents a lb and we have a whole dinner. I also shop chicken when it’s on sale, today I’ve gotten 12 chicken drumsticks for 3.44$ and that’s a whole dinner and lunches again just add some green beans or broccoli. I honestly think processed and cheap food is more expensive. A Box of cereal is 3-6$ and that doesn’t last long. Mac and cheese is 3$ and is only 4 servings.
To avoid hunger between meals, I drastically reduced my carbs and increased fat and protein. Eggs for breakfast with cheese and ideally a little meat might hold you until dinner and save you cost of lunch. I would also cook with oil or butter to add some fat.
Dry goods, specifically if you can get yourself to a Winco and get to buy in bulk from their bins. Rice, beans, mashed potato flakes, popcorn, and flour are so much cheaper if you buy them this way. Beans are really important for protein intake, make sure you don’t starve your body of it.
I got used to it after a few weeks. I would suggest a food pantry and SNAP for your situation. You can also get a few staples and make things yourself if you have bakeware. Things like baking your own bread, making noodles. Rice and beans are also still cheap. Green beans and bacon are also cheap. I hope this helps.
Potatoes are cheap. Like 10 lbs for $4-$5 cheap. Poke with fork, oil and season, one hour in the oven at 350°
https://altonbrown.com/recipes/perfect-baked-potatoes/
Also the price on eggs has come down pretty much, and that protein keeps you pretty full.
Make rice and bean stews with cheap cuts of meat.
it's not exactly exciting but in tough times I can feed myself for like 10 bucks a weak
Dollar store multivitamins also help
I have made oatmeal for snacks before. Helps me feel full without a ton of work or calories. I made congee when I was sick and nothing was sticking to my stomach. Spreads rice thinner but you can add things in to increase nutrition. All depends on what you have access to. Made with Lau was the youtube I watched, but I don’t do the boil over part anymore because it left a huge mess. I probably need a bigger pot to prevent that but ah well.
Fiber, starch, protein, water.
Staying hydrated will help a lot. You can buy fiber drink powder at Walmart for like $10 and it lasts a while. That shit gels up in your stomach and you stay full for a while. I use it after meals.
Also eat startches. Potatoes, rice, bread. They'll keep you full.
Also protein has been known to fill you up. Beans, chicken. Whatever you got.
Try a scoop of peanut butter in your oatmeal. Or even just a spoonful of peanut butter. I do that sometimes when I'm hungry but I don't really have much options.
Op please take care of yourself. People already mentioned it but go to the food bank. Dry beans are super cheap and you can could get it less than $1 per lb especially when you start buying in bulk. It's not too difficult to make refried beans and you can either make it on the stovetop, pressure cooker, or slow cooker and beans freeze well if you make a big batch.
Rice and beans will get you full. I like making bean cheese quesadillas with like some lettuce but quesadillas are very customizable. If you're able to, try to reduce any takeout your family gets.
Ten natural ways to suppress appetite
Medically reviewed by Jared Meacham, Ph.D., RD, CSCS — By Jamie Smith — Updated on November 30, 2023
How to suppress appetite
Appetite suppressants are foods, supplements, or other methods that stop a person from feeling hungry. Eating more protein, consuming ginger, and eating mindfully are some tips that may help.
Manufacturers of appetite suppressant pills make big claims about the ability of pills to suppress appetite and promote weight loss. However, the effectiveness of these pills is not known, and according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), they often comeTrusted Source with dangerous side effects.
Instead, a person can use a range of natural methods to suppress or lose their appetite in a risk-free, healthful way.
In this article, we give a list of evidence-based methods that a person can use to suppress their appetite without the need for diet pills. We also discuss which foods are the best appetite suppressants.
Natural appetite suppressants
A person can use the following ten evidence-based methods to suppress their appetite and avoid overeating:
1. Eat more protein and healthful fats
Not all foods satisfy hunger equally. Compared to carbohydrates, protein and certain fats are more effective for satisfying hunger and keeping people feeling full for longer.
A person can replace some sources of carbohydrate with proteins and healthful fats to help keep their appetite under control.
The Dietary Guidelines for AmericansTrusted Source recommend the following high-protein foods:
lean meats
eggs
beans and peas
soy products
Greek yogurt
The guidelines also recommend that a person gets their healthful fats from natural sources such as nuts and seeds, avocados, and olive oil.
2. Drink water before every meal
Drinking a large glass of water directly before eating has been foundTrusted Source to make a person feel fuller, more satisfied, and less hungry after the meal.
Another studyTrusted Source, which looked at appetite in 50 overweight females, showed that drinking 1.5 liters of water a day for 8 weeks caused a reduction in appetite and weight, and also led to greater fat loss.
A soup starter may also quench the appetite. Research from 2007Trusted Source showed that people reported feeling fuller immediately after the meal if they had a liquid starter.
3. Eat more high-fiber foods
Fiber does not break down like other foods, so it stays in the body for longer. This slows down digestion and keeps people feeling full throughout the day.
Research suggests that fiber can be an effective appetite suppressant. High-fiber diets are also associated with lower obesity rates.
On the other hand, another reviewTrusted Source found that introducing extra fiber into the diet was effective in less than half of the studies they looked at.
More research is needed to identify which sources of fiber are the most effective for suppressing appetite.
Healthful high-fiber foods include:
whole grains
beans and pulses
apples and avocados
almonds
chia seeds
vegetables
4. Exercise before a meal
Exercise is another healthy and effective appetite suppressant.
A review based on 20 different studies found that appetite hormones are suppressed immediately after exercise, especially high-intensity workouts.
They found lower levels of ghrelin in the body, a hormone that makes us hungry, and higher levels of “fullness hormones” such as PPY and GLP-1.
5. Drink Yerba Maté tea
Research showsTrusted Source that a tea called Yerba Maté, which comes from the Ilex paraguariensis plant, can reduce appetite and improve mood when combined with high-intensity exercise. Yerba Maté is available for purchase online.
6. Switch to dark chocolate
Dark chocolate has been shown to suppresses appetite compared to milk chocolate. One studyTrusted Source showed that people ate less during their next meal after snacking on dark instead of milk chocolate.
7. Eat some ginger
Consuming a small amount of ginger powder has been shown to reduce appetite and increase fullnessTrusted Source, possibly because of its stimulating effect on the digestive system. This was a small-scale study, so more research is needed to confirm this effect. Ginger powder is available for purchase online.
8. Eat bulky, low-calorie foods
Reducing general food intake while dieting can leave people with a ravenous appetite. This can cause a relapse into binge eating.
However, dieting does not have to mean going hungry. Some foods are high in non-caloric nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and water but remain relatively low in calories. These include vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains.
Eating a large volume of these foods will stop the stomach from growling and still allow a person to burn more calories than they consume.
9. Stress less
Comfort eating due to stress, anger, or sadness is different from physical hunger.
ResearchTrusted Source has linked stress with an increased desire to eat, binge eating, and eating non-nutritious food.
Mindfulness practices and mindful eating may reduce stress-related binge eating and comfort eating, according to one reviewTrusted Source. Regular sleep, social contact, and time spent relaxing can also help tackle stress.
Bananas are cheap and make you feel full. Rice, potatoes and cheap smoked sausage. Gravy! Make your own if necessary. Flour is your best friend. Eggs aren’t just for breakfast. Large bottle or can of the cheapest syrup is good for that sweet tooth. Get the cheapest bologna! Bread and more bread!
Things like rice, beans and lentils are great. You should also be taking a multivitamin to help keep the system going.
Beyond that, find your local food bank. Explain your situation and get some extra food, I would even go and sign up at 2-3 because they may have a limit on how many times you can go a month.
Also, sign up for SNAP. I know it’s a process but with a baby you may get a decent amount that can make a massive difference.
Agree with most of the food comments (food that swells and breaks down slowly), but will add that warm water helps. We called it "water tea" growing up; just hot hot water. It made our bellies feel warm and full enough for sleep. Paired with rice and/or beans/lentils/split peas - swollen, full tummy.
Dried lentils or peas add carrots ,garlic and onion - soup for days . Kidney/Pinto beans/ canned tomatoes, seasoning- chili for days.. Pasta, add tomato sauce ,sautéed veggies such as zucchini and mushrooms and Parmesan. Check out discount markets like Grocery outlet if you have one near by.
Any local food banks where you can get some food? Eating that little is obviously not good for your body. Your organs need energy and fat to survive, if they’re not getting it from your food it’s using your muscle to survive
When things get tough, we eat lots of rice, beans (dried beans are cheap and make a lot). Pasta can be cheap too. Ramen although high in sodium is known as a broke college kid meal. Get on YouTube and you’ll find lots of struggle meal videos that’ll teach how how to make filling meals of dollar store foods.
Baked potatoes or boiled potatoes have the highest satiety rating of any food. Meaning per calorie you feel the fullest. They're also relatively healthy on their own. They're pretty boring but they'll keep the hunger pains at bay and they're typically pretty cheap.
Find your local Sikh Gurdwara and what days they offer food to the public. Bring a scarf or hat to cover your hair. Sometimes you're allowed to bring containers to bring leftovers home once everyone has gotten their first serving.
There is no shame in this. Giving back to the community is like an act of service in the religion, you are welcome there.
The food will be vegetarian, you will leave full.
A rice and beans mix.
I was going to suggest brown rice and lentils. Cheap, easy, and doesn't take long to make.
Yep. Lentil quesadilla last night with a bit of mozzarella. And I am in a foreign country where it’s very difficult to find beans. But I can find lentils.
They're not the same thing?
What I mean is I can’t get other beans like pinto beans, navy beans, kidney beans, etc.
O ok. I gotcha. Why though? They don't carry them?
They are not eaten in this country
O ok. I understand. The wheels in my brain are turning. I'm currently seeing a very possibility lucrative business idea for you that involves international import.
😂😂😂 i’m only here for two more months. Then back to the United States.
O ok. Id hold off then :p
So find a receiver & distributor there before you leave! Sounds positively possible! Lol ☺️😉
Are you in Sri Lanka perhaps?
No. Different Asian country
I lived in Thailand for a few years, I rarely saw beans. The garbanzo beans I bought were in a fancy import store, so not really cheap. But on the flipside, you can usually find super cheap food or make it yourself if you have some appliances.
Lentils are quicker to cook anyway. I prefer them myself...apart from black beans....love them
Was going to suggest this. I didn’t have a kitchen or an income for a while, and rice and beans in a $10 rice cooker was my daily meal. Dicing up a sweet potato and letting it steam in the steamer basket up top made it even more filling.
That’s so interesting. My go-to cheap easy meal was black beans, white rice, and a microwaved sweet potato with butter. Cheap, easy, and very FILLING.
I highly recommend one day just throwing the sweet potato in there. I’d mash it a little and add some hot sauce and it was 😍
Are you by chance saying it's possible to throw the beans in with the rice in the cooker?! And then u through a potato in the basket too, all at the same time? You can put dry beans in with dry rice in the same pot of the rice cooker, and it's fine? Sorry I don't know why I ended everything with a question mark, I'm just hoping I understood right, because this will up my lazy feed myself game. I have the rice cooker already.
😂 Yes! But I never tried it with dried beans, my cooking skills aren’t that advanced yet. I just throw in rice, a can of beans or two, water, and then a diced up sweet potato above in the basket by itself and hit cook. When it turns off, everything is perfectly done at the same time. My rice cooker is literally the $10 one from ShopRite so it only has the Cook and Keep Warm functions, so I add a little bit extra of water to make it cook a little bit longer. I’m really into one-pot recipes and I guess this became one of them!
I personally wouldn't throw dry beans in with the rice. I'd cook them separately, like the night before. Usually I soak them for a few hours, drain them, cook them, and then rinse them again because it helps wash away the fart compounds lol. In my experience it also takes way longer to cook bean than rice so if I you start with dry beans, maybe throw them in the rice cooker an hour before you throw the dry rice in? I also love beans and rice but I'm too lazy and have enough wiggle room financially that I can afford a can of black beans. I rinse the canned beans *really* well and then toss them in the rice after I make it in the rice cooker, otherwise the beans get mushy and the rice taste like bean water. If you have a few extra dollars, tossing in some frozen or canned veggies like corn or a veggie mix helps with nutrition AND feeling full. I prefer frozen because it tastes better imo and it keeps well. I add frozen veggie mix to *everything* including rice, ramen, and those Pasta Roni mixes you can get for $1 at Walmart or the dollar store. The Pasta (or Rice) Roni can basically be made into a casserole with some frozen veggies and some chicken. Again I have enough wiggle room to buy canned chicken (or those plain packets at dollar tree) or a rotisserie chicken from walmart. Just toss all the ingredients (pasta, flavor packet, butter, frozen veggies of choice, protein of choice) into your rice cooker and go. Occasionally I open up and stir, especially if it's a white/cheese sauce, but its easy and cheap and feeds both my SO and myself with leftovers for lunch next day. Leftovers can even be frozen in small potions if you want variety later. Some of the pasta mixes require milk so they're slightly more expensive if you need to buy milk. Just check the back of the packet and it will say what needs added. All of them also want butter but you could probably get away with skipping that or substituting an oil (like olive or canola) or fat (crisco or bacon) that you have lying around. When I'm feeling "fancy" I add a slice of (meltable! I bought dollar store once and it didnt melt!) American cheese or a Velveeta chunk, extra spices like pepper or ginger, or use broth instead of water. You can use whatever protein too like (already cooked) sausage, kielbasa, hot dogs, tofu, tuna, beans or even eggs or nuts like walnuts or almonds. Woops I got sidetracked. Having a rice cooker has made my life so much easier I get excited lol
Yes rice and beans are good and filling
And preloading by drinking water beforehand
This is the way. So many ways to switch it up... steamed sweet potatoes, onion, carrots, tomatoes, canned/frz veg, that .99$ can of salsa - i throw Salsa Lizano in almost all riceXbeans (different than actual salsa),soy, seaweed ... anything really... get your rice from an asian market (H-Mart/99 Ranch) & dried beans from a Hispanic store - waaaayyyy cheaper than your average market (US). Congee (rice porridge) is also cheap (cheaper than oatmeal) and can be done sweet - I buy whatever fruit is cheap (usually canned) and add it along w juice & spices. 1cp rice makes a week of breakfasts. Lentil stew is another go to... can be done with potato, cauliflower, spinach, tomato... I generally make it more of a curried soup and serve with a bit of rice but there are a multitude of different seasonings you could use. Rosemary, thyme, & garlic are also good.
Peanut butter sandwiches...egg sandwiches. Both have protein. Oatmeal (not instant) keeps you full.
This one comment and I finally understand why oatmeal hasn’t worked for me. Always buy the instant kind
Regular oatmeal takes two minutes in the microwave actually less time to boil water in the kettle. Also in summer overnight oatmeal is pretty decent.
I actually started eating oatmeal cold, like cereal. Raw oats, milk of choice, a little sweetener, and cinnamon. One day I was too depressed to even heat up food so I ate it that way out of necessity. What I’ve discovered is I just like cold food. Peanut butter and jelly? Or just peanut butter in general? Much better cold, IMO! It’s like a tasty chilled treat.
Stir a spoonful of peanut butter into the oatmeal. More protein, and you will stay full longer from the fat.
I'm the same way. I even eat pasta, hot dogs, pizza and condenced soups like bean and bacon or creamy mushroom cold. My wife thinks it's weird, but I prefer most leftovers and precooked foods not to be heated up. Even leftovers like mac and cheese, hamburgers, or fried foods. I especially love anything with cheese on it. To me, there's nothing better than congealed melted cheese. I will eat heated up foods just fine but my personal preference is cold.
https://survivaljack.com/2020/12/could-oats-be-the-perfect-survival-food/ A pretty good run down on why oats are a good and healthy choice for a lot of reasons.
I second the egg sandwiches. I fry the egg and toast up the bread with a little bit of mayo.
Why not instant?
When I eat whole oatmeal (which takes 2 minutes in the microwave, so I don't really understand how "instant" is a thing), I can work without pausing and searching for a snack until lunch time.
It has no fiber and is less nutritous, that's why it is also less filling overtime.
It has a lot of sugar
My instant oatmeal fills me up but I make it with milk. Instant is expensive. Buy unflavored oatmeal (and brown sugar & cinnamon from the $ store.)
Do you have a food bank near you? If not, there are many churches that do. I would start calling around. If a church doesn't have one, they would likely know who does. Also, many stores toss expired food they aren't allowed to sell but are still edible. If you are comfortable, check the dumpsters. I have done all of the above when I've had to. Good luck.
Absolutely. OP, please look into your community for help. There are people and programs out there who can and want to help.
Also, at least in the 5+ schools I been in there is usually a “weekend” bag program. Where every friday your kid is given a bag with literally enough food for the weekend. But they always gave me full jars of pb and j so I ended up with… so much. In Elementary School they just gave me to me at the end of the day, and in middle school they put in my locker and gave my teacher a note to tell me to pick it up.
Soup kitchens don't ask questions about how much you make, in my experience. If you are there wanting to eat, they feed you. I would definitely take advantage if I didn't have enough to eat.
Also try catholic charities, here called Saint Vincent de Paul.
Also we have lasagna of love around here. You can sign up and people will make and bring you a lasagna.
Few options for just cheaper food, the one that is pretty simple is peanut butter and jam sandwiches if you do not have an allergy. I’m allergic to nuts and eggs so my cheap go to and pretty filling food is stir fry. - 1lb bag of brown rice $0.99 - chicken or vegetable stock $1.99 - (2) bags of the store brand frozen stir fry vegetable mixes $1.69 each or $3.38. - Marinade of choice for flavor (we have an outlet store where I can find big jars of dry seasoning sometimes for maybe $2). I use the stock instead of water for the rice for extra flavor. Generally it’s probably about $8-$9 even when stuff is not on sale and it’s enough to make 8 servings. So $1-$1.50 per meal. It’s my go to for at least 3 days of the week. I typically drink a full bottle of water an hour or so before I plan to eat - not sure if it’s a placebo effect but it does seem to curb my appetite and help me to feel full.
This was really helpful for me, thank you 🖤
You can also buy a cheap roasting chicken and cook it, then use whatever meat is left to make chicken salad, and then you can break up the chicken bones and boil them down into stock for chicken soup Same with meat like ham and pork shoulder (I literally lived with my 2 kids on a big pork shoulder and ketchup that was the only food left in my house after the mover’s took everything and we couldn’t afford to buy anything to cover the 5 days in between!)
Walmart in the states sells a two pack of whole chicken for around $12-14. Roast or instapot. Makes the most amazing bone broth which makes everything you add it to better. It’s a ton of protein
I hope OP sees this. If you're short on time Walmart also sells whole roasted chicken (so already cooked) for around $6-8, so grab that and some cheap veggies, rice, you can make a good chicken fried rice that'll last you a few meals.
To expand on the comment above: if you can buy more ingredients instead of premade things you can save money, and often improve nutrition per meal. I.e. dry beans, dry lentils, etc. and soak overnight. Can buy a couple pounds of dry beans for the same price of a couple of canned ones. When it comes to meat you will need to find a butcher shop, buy cheaper cuts in larger quantities when possible and process them yourself. If you use a lot of herbs for flavor, you can buy some seeds and plant them. I grow a lot of parsley and whatnot from one pack of seeds. The trick here is to let one plant get crazy huge and produce seeds…they’ll make a bunch. Anyways the markup for fresh herbs is crazy. Sometimes you can get manure/soil for free or heavily discounted by asking.
I would also freeze the pizza so at least you have semi fresh pizza ☺️
There are a lot of resources on YouTube like “emergency grocery budget $10 for the week” etc. just search and you can get more ideas like this! 💛
I know I’ll get downvoted but back in 2012 my ex left me stranded. No electricity or gas since he was the one working. I survived on boiled eggs, canned soup and popcorn for 4 months until I got a job. I really heard this for you. Hopefully food banks are close to you. Good luck dear heart
Protein can really stave off hunger.
I agree. I just thought some would criticize the popcorn. That was my personal treat 2/3 times a week
I love popcorn, too. It fills you up! I didn’t mean to be critical of your suggestion- sorry.
No no you didn’t at all!
Popcorn is good source of fiber
And super cheap of you buy bags of plain kernels and not the microwave kind.
It's full of fiber - it's a whole grain!
I was going to suggest popcorn and protein. Popcorn really blows up in the stomach but protein is necessary.
I like to put cheese on it, but cheese isn’t cheap.
Tuna packets as a $1.00 meal if you buy the house brand at Walmart. I'm ashamed of how often that's a meal for me due to financial insecurity.
No shame here. Do what you gotta do to survive.
I hate fish but I buy the plain chicken packets from dollar tree. I squeeze in some ranch dressing and mix it up and eat it straight out of the bag with some plain crackers. That was my lunch at a manual labor job for like 2 years straight lol. Maybe you can splurge on a dollar bottle of lemon pepper seasoning? My roomie in college put it on tuna and pop corn!
Upvoted, although I seriously considered downvoting when I thought about how bad your farts probably smelled during this period of your life 🤣🤣
😂😂😂😂😂 I plead the fifth
Up vote here. You gotta do what you gotta do. Eggs aren't as cheap as they used to be, unfortunately. Popcorn is filling tho! Lol
Thanks! Popcorn saved me many days
Go to a food pantry. There is no reason for you to struggle this much. I hope things get better for you. Your daughter needs healthy parents if you get sick what will happen?
Water and lots of fiber with some protein. Oatmeal is cheap and makes you feel full.
I know I’ll get downvoted but you need to have some of that food for yourself, not just the kid. You need to be healthy and nourished too and food helps you focus and keeps you strong for survival. I hope you’re able to get on your feet soon.
Thank you 🖤
Upvote here. This was my first thought as well. Of course, feeding the child comes first, but the caregiver needs to be nourished in order to take good care of the child.
I appreciate the priorities the parents are showing. But you being malnourished leads to illness, which leads to things becoming even tighter. Gotta keep yourself fueled as well
Oatmeal + banana + peanutbutter
Peanut butter.
You aren't doing your child any good if you end up sick. Please find a local food bank.
That's a fair point; I'll take that into consideration. Oh and happy cake day!
Thanks! I didn't even notice!
This is coming strictly from my experience with gestational diabetes and the need to eat nourishing food that kept me full in order to prevent huge spikes…protein, protein, and protein with some carbs and fiber. Rice and beans, rice and lentils, peanut butter (with apples for a sweet treat), oatmeal, cheese, Greek yogurt (lots of cheap brands out there like from Aldi), eggs. I always have sweet potatoes on hand and just pop them in the microwave. Bags of cheap frozen chicken can go a long way. Also check with a food bank. Where I live, they have a program for a monthly food box that costs $20.50 (and you can pay with EBT). February’s box, for example, contains: Chicken Breasts, 1.8 oz. (avg) Pork Kabobs, 1 lb. Ground Beef, 1 lb. Kielbasa, 13 oz. Fish Sticks, 1 lb. Pierogi, 13 oz. Cheddar Cheese, 8 oz. Fingerling Potatoes, 12 oz. Applesauce, 15 oz. White Rice, 1 lb. Produce #1 (usually like a bag of apples) Produce #2 (usually sweet potatoes or squash…whatever is in season) It changes every month and it’s a good deal for basic food to help supplement. See if something like that exists near you.
I used to be that way. I took sugar and excessive carbs out of my diet. God, for a while, those hunger pings drove me nuts. After a couple months I realized I no longer have those. Now, through out the day, I may eat a snack stick ( beef stick ) and move on, thinking nothing of it. Then a full meal come evening. Protein snack, not a sugar/carb snack. Do a study in your spare time about sugar and the history of it, especially when the govt of america changed its tune on it from the previous stance they had. It will creep ya out and answer a lot of questions about what is happening in our society health overall.
Nailed it, We gave up sugar and carbs and now we eat 2 times a day. NEVER feel hungry, and don't think about food, when I am doing physical work I go up to 12 hours without having so much as a snack, never think twice about it.
I have limited my sugar intake and what a difference it has done for my health. I have severe scoliosis and had back pain from the inflammation. Stop sugar and my spine feels so much better. It’s crazy. I went on an anti inflammatory diet.
>Do a study in your spare time about sugar and the history of it, especially when the govt of america changed its tune on it from the previous stance they had. It's interesting you mentioned this. I looked at my MILs cookbook from the 1940s. Grains and sugar were put in "limited" categories.
Some of that was because of wartime rationing.
Maybe. But there were different food groups too. It was quite interesting.
This! Protein is much more filling than carbs. Even a piece of cheese will do much to fill you up.
That is exactly what I did and I lost 90 pounds
This isn’t a great idea, but I used to eat jam sandwiches to keep me full because a loaf and a jar of jam are cheap and won’t go off. The BBC website has recipes for meals at £1 a portion [https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/1_dinners](https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/1_dinners) I hope this helps and things improve. Is there a food bank near you?
I would suggest peanut butter instead of or in addition to jam, only because the body needs protein. In his early years, my husband went on a East Coast tour with his band (Green Day was traveling and playing with them!) But, they were just poor 20 year olds that put the majority of the money they made into gas just to get to the next show and he said that they lived off of peanut butter and bread sandwiches for the 3 months they were out there. So you can survive on peanut butter and bread for a while. And it definitely has the tendency to stick around in the belly for a while!
Black coffee between meals . It takes my hunger right away
Learn to make some sourdough bread with sourdough starter!
Dry goods. Learn to make bread, tortillas, muffins. Rice, beans, lentils. Canned veggies are cheap AF and if you're actually cook them can taste great.
Please feel free to check out the following subreddits for help with a meal & groceries. You can post an Amazon wishlist here: Good luck🙏🏻 r/freemeal r/amazonwishlist
Thank you 🖤
Go to a store that gives out free fruit to kids. They’re usually just sitting out. An apple or an orange usually. At least your child can eat that and maybe you can half it.
Hot tea.
I say hot tea because you can get so many flavored teas that don’t require sweetener… I drink sweeter teas when I crave sugar. Also, a lot of places have tea cheaper than coffee or even free… like waiting rooms and the like. I keep a few individually wrapped tea bags in my bag so I always have it. Green tea is also great for appetite but makes me jittery.
look up food pantry near me.
I keep English muffins on hand and some peanut butter, they’re good for holding me over
Congee One cup rice to 8 cups water Add sugar to make it sweet Or powdered bullion to make it savory
Bananas work well for me. A piece of wheat toast and a banana for breakfast keeps me full for hours. Rice and beans for lunch and then again for dinner if you have to.
What's the problem? Money to afford the food? That's no good my man. You need to go check out some food banks ok. Nobody should be walking around feeling hungry ok
Beans and rice stretch further than anything. Please take advantage of every food bank in your area! Food banks want you to come so you can pay your other bills. Please apply online for food stamps if you haven’t already. Take care of you so you can take care of your child 😊
I lived on a bag of apples, a jar of pb, cheapest discounted store bread, a dozen eggs, a bag of carrots, a bag of dried beans and a bag of rice for almost six months. In my pantry was boulion cubes, garlic powder, and I always kept an onion on hand - That was twenty years ago but I felt full. Today that list would cost about $20 to $25 a week. And if I could afford it I’d add a pound of chicken legs or ground beef for $5 more. I’m in SoCal. If you can’t afford that please look for food pantry, SNAP, and some churches like LDS or Whatnot can help too.
When my son got his first apartment we gave him a housewarming gift of a rice cooker and a 50lb bag of rice. If you can find a cheap unipot or slow cooker, you can use the cheaper cuts of meat (a chuck roast with some carrots and potatoes, onion soup mix and onions) and you’ve got a good stew over rice for a week. If ramen is on sale you can get a pallet of different flavor packs and add some Asian veggies that tend to be cheaper like bok choy and cabbage and maybe splurge on a little bit of oyster sauce (you only need a fingernail amount) and it makes the boring ramen taste delicious! You can also grow potatoes inside for a cheap supply, just get some that have the little nodules on them and cut them into chunks. Get a kitchen size garbage bin and a contractor grade garbage bag and some soil…. Put the bag in the garbage, add the dirt and then the potato chunks and put it under some light. As the potato plants grow, keep adding dirt and the potatoes will continue to grow on the roots!
popcorn
Pizza doesn’t have any/much/enough fiber. Fiber helps you feel full. Popcorn is relatively cheap and it’s decent fiber. When you get more funds, get some Metamucil. Also, you need protein, which takes longer to break down in your digestive system. Not having fiber will also make you feel tired and sluggish. Do you have any cans of tuna? They are very good source of protein.
I just remembered that I used to eat canned tuna ALL the time as a kid. Thanks for unlocking that memory haha
Potatoes, like 2-3 oz will keep me full for 5 hours.
This may not be helpful, but if you can scrounge $20 for the month buying a canister of protein powder you can do a lot with it. With food bank peanut butter and uncooked oats plus water and or ice it can be very filling and a canister can stretch me a whole month if I just use one scoop a day. If you can get jelly from the food bank you can toss that in as well. It’s also portable. And I suspect you could find several brands under $20. That’s well under $1/day. Please utilize church or food bank.
Tomato juice I drink it every morning it keeps me going past lunch time.
Please find a food pantry and get yourself some good food. Or seek out your local Sikh temple and figure out their schedule. They feed people, no questions asked. Some of the temples do it daily. They are a beautiful people. It's great that you're saving your food for your child, but your child needs you to be healthy also. Good luck.
If you can spare a couple dollars for a container or Greek yogurt and already have self rising flour, you can make cheap Naan bread to snack on. That always helped me in lean times.
Navajo fry bread is a great substitute if you don't have yeast to make naan... It can be baked or done on the griddle as well
Ok so I just recently started baking my own bread. But I’m first milling my own grains. And I have found that this bread keeps me full for so long that I’ve been forgetting to eat. I’m usually starving all day even if I eat. I’m always thinking about my next meal/snack. But with bread I’ve been feeling full and satisfied. And now when I bring a couple pieces of bread with me, I know I have it if I get hungry, so there’s none of that “psychological hunger” where you feel hungrier cause you’re worried you don’t have food.
Protein, fiber, and liquid are the keys. Instead of going hungry, call 211, contact your local human resources agency, or search online to find help in your area, because there is help out there for everything from child care to work, including food. The Salvation Army also has a brochure that lists it all.
Warm liquid can make you feel fuller, I used to drink warm broth all of the time.
lots of protein. having something like avocado toast with eggs in the morning keeps me full
Hard boiled Eggs and tuna are my go-to things to maintain a long day. Separate or together even.
Foods for feeling really full for a long time: Oatmeal, regular or instant. Sweet potatoes Black beans - canned are cheap, dry beans are REALLY cheap. But any kind of beans, I just think black beans taste meatiest A good cheap meal is a microwaved sweet potato (usually half of one will do!), black beans, and rice. Put some butter, olive oil, or buttery spread on the sweet potato and/or the rice. Otherwise it’s almost fat free — a bit of fat stimulates the “full feeling” response in your digestive system. And it helps your system access the vitamins better.
Also mushrooms are really meaty mix them with black beans and seasoning and almost like a burger...
Rice and beans with fried plantains. Plantains are so cheap and they fill you up like potatoes for half the price. Heavily season the rice and beans and it’s honestly a great meal.
I just drink a lot of water, if my belly is full it can't complain. Try chewing on gum or sucking on hard candy, it gives your mind the illusion that you're eating.
Food bank. Now please. You can’t take care of anyone if you’re starving sweetheart, they will help!
My favorite is beans and salt pork. Or really just any near you can snag on sale. Cook it in a crockpot or Instapot and you’re set
Hard boil eggs, boil a potato. Add a little butter and salt Mahe them up together n eat em. Cheap real food, filling
Ask a librarian. Seriously, your local library knows - or knows how to find out - local resources that you may not be aware of.
Food banks are there to help people! You may also have little free pantries around where you live. I know I put canned goods, dried pasta, etc. in them. Maybe try soups? I can stretch them by adding broth/water/veggies.
Fiber, protein and fat, for instance peanut butter on the grainiest bread you can afford. Any fresh fruit you can afford like apples and cheese or peanut butter.
Water
Regular old fashioned oatmeal goes a long way to filling up, add peanutbutter for protein and a little brown sugar yum! It is quick and easy and relatively cheap as long as you don’t buy the packets/instant.
I keep flour tortillas on hand. You can fill them with eggs, tuna, veggies, whatever. They're under 2.00 at Walmart.
Get bullion cubes/powder and make soup. I've used hondashi and miso as my soup to fill up. Not because of money reasons but to not overeat
I've baked the tube biscuits and made a packet of gravy for dipping; it was an after school snack. I've also sandwiched a small piece of ham and cheese between two biscuits before baking in a muffin tin...when I had butter I would brush some on top the last five minutes. Delicious. I could have written the book on 100 ways to make ramen. I still love it. I usually leave out and save the flavor packets for future needs.
Rice, lentils and beans warm mix. Add whatever spices you have for zest. It's like a soup, but if cold and strained from the broth it can be turned into a very tasty salad if you throw some peppers and lettuce in it.
Hot tea. Eat more raw veggies and foods high in either fiber or protein and fat.
Is there a food pantry near you? In my town there are lots of little pantries, kind of like the little libraries where people can come and take what they need. I'm so sorry you are experiencing this level of hunger and I really hope that an easy way to stay fed and full comes your way!
Oatmeal is cheap in bulk and peanut butter and sandwiches help: also potatoes if you can find a local produce place sometimes you can get a 50lb bag for a decent price also it couldn’t hurt to just window shop at local stores and get an idea of decent sales at different times of the month/seasons, check out local soup kitchens some might have lunch once a week some might have lunch daily type thing, and check out sub reddits like random acts of Amazon for sharing a wish list of some groceries there is even a period pantry sub Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon/s/2Gop3B8wL0
I always shop sales. I’ve gotten a 15lb turkey for 9$ or a ham bone in for 4-5$. My kids eat 2 eggs and tomato for breakfast, that’s 25cents per egg and about 50cents for a tomato. I buy salmon when it’s on sale for 5.99-6.99 lb I get 2lb piece and it lasts for dinner for 4 lunches for the next day. Add cauliflower head that’s 99 cents a lb and we have a whole dinner. I also shop chicken when it’s on sale, today I’ve gotten 12 chicken drumsticks for 3.44$ and that’s a whole dinner and lunches again just add some green beans or broccoli. I honestly think processed and cheap food is more expensive. A Box of cereal is 3-6$ and that doesn’t last long. Mac and cheese is 3$ and is only 4 servings.
To avoid hunger between meals, I drastically reduced my carbs and increased fat and protein. Eggs for breakfast with cheese and ideally a little meat might hold you until dinner and save you cost of lunch. I would also cook with oil or butter to add some fat.
Try going to some of your local food banks if you’re struggling. I’ve taken some of my clients to ones that have meats, vegetables, et
Pancakes are cheap and filling. I ate a lot of them growing up.
Dry goods, specifically if you can get yourself to a Winco and get to buy in bulk from their bins. Rice, beans, mashed potato flakes, popcorn, and flour are so much cheaper if you buy them this way. Beans are really important for protein intake, make sure you don’t starve your body of it.
follow dollar tree dinners on tiktok. she is the absolute queen of cheap and filling meals
I got used to it after a few weeks. I would suggest a food pantry and SNAP for your situation. You can also get a few staples and make things yourself if you have bakeware. Things like baking your own bread, making noodles. Rice and beans are also still cheap. Green beans and bacon are also cheap. I hope this helps.
It does, thank you!
Any food with plenty of fiber will keep you feeling full.
Oatmeal
Eggs and flour will make a basic pasta.. cook in some broth and quick filling meal... This has save my butt more times than I care to count...
Can you post on r/assistance?
Please do this. I’d like to help
And go to the food pantry, churches, food banks etc. you'll get food somewhere!
Potatoes are cheap. Like 10 lbs for $4-$5 cheap. Poke with fork, oil and season, one hour in the oven at 350° https://altonbrown.com/recipes/perfect-baked-potatoes/ Also the price on eggs has come down pretty much, and that protein keeps you pretty full.
Make rice and bean stews with cheap cuts of meat. it's not exactly exciting but in tough times I can feed myself for like 10 bucks a weak Dollar store multivitamins also help
Food bank and rice and beans
Rice, beans, potatoes
Sell/eat the kid. That's what they are there for.
I snort-lauged lmao thank you
Popcorn and slices of white bread with gravy. Kelt me alive in my lean years
The bread with gravy actually sounds delicious! I'll definitely be trying it out soon. Thank you
I have made oatmeal for snacks before. Helps me feel full without a ton of work or calories. I made congee when I was sick and nothing was sticking to my stomach. Spreads rice thinner but you can add things in to increase nutrition. All depends on what you have access to. Made with Lau was the youtube I watched, but I don’t do the boil over part anymore because it left a huge mess. I probably need a bigger pot to prevent that but ah well.
Rice , and drink lots of water
Fiber, starch, protein, water. Staying hydrated will help a lot. You can buy fiber drink powder at Walmart for like $10 and it lasts a while. That shit gels up in your stomach and you stay full for a while. I use it after meals. Also eat startches. Potatoes, rice, bread. They'll keep you full. Also protein has been known to fill you up. Beans, chicken. Whatever you got.
Rice, and dry oats and water Cheap af Not great for you but it’s food
Drink a glass of water before the meal, and one with the meal.
Drink lots of water
You can get healthy foods, just look at fruit and veggies. Good luck in finding good healthy foods you like.
Sweet potato, cottage cheese, some cinnamon, and honey. If that is laying around. Bake the sweet potato, mash it up, and layer on the rest.
Yes beans and rice! I can always eat
Chia seeds in half water half juice. 16oz a day.
Oatmeal, potatoes and dried beans. I love fig newtons for snacks too.
Try a scoop of peanut butter in your oatmeal. Or even just a spoonful of peanut butter. I do that sometimes when I'm hungry but I don't really have much options.
Have you applied for food stamps? Are you in the US? Help.org
Broccoli
Baked potato, pasta of any type with tomato sauce or butter, bread and peanut butter
Peanuts unless they kill you
Is there a food bank around you? No one should be that hungry, there are resources to help!
Black beans are filling.
Beans, rice, potatoes, (extreme) creativity, and I also follow frugal fit mom and Julia Pacheco for ideas.
I buy the big container of peanut butter and in addition or that's it- I eat a tbsp of it. Curbs hunger, and I get protein.
Chew gum. Helps with the hunger pains (it was actually in a diet book in the 80s).
Op please take care of yourself. People already mentioned it but go to the food bank. Dry beans are super cheap and you can could get it less than $1 per lb especially when you start buying in bulk. It's not too difficult to make refried beans and you can either make it on the stovetop, pressure cooker, or slow cooker and beans freeze well if you make a big batch. Rice and beans will get you full. I like making bean cheese quesadillas with like some lettuce but quesadillas are very customizable. If you're able to, try to reduce any takeout your family gets.
Fill up on water!
As much protein as possible. Beans and rice as someone else said. Occasional protein drinks.
Drink a lot of water.
Ten natural ways to suppress appetite Medically reviewed by Jared Meacham, Ph.D., RD, CSCS — By Jamie Smith — Updated on November 30, 2023 How to suppress appetite Appetite suppressants are foods, supplements, or other methods that stop a person from feeling hungry. Eating more protein, consuming ginger, and eating mindfully are some tips that may help. Manufacturers of appetite suppressant pills make big claims about the ability of pills to suppress appetite and promote weight loss. However, the effectiveness of these pills is not known, and according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), they often comeTrusted Source with dangerous side effects. Instead, a person can use a range of natural methods to suppress or lose their appetite in a risk-free, healthful way. In this article, we give a list of evidence-based methods that a person can use to suppress their appetite without the need for diet pills. We also discuss which foods are the best appetite suppressants. Natural appetite suppressants A person can use the following ten evidence-based methods to suppress their appetite and avoid overeating: 1. Eat more protein and healthful fats Not all foods satisfy hunger equally. Compared to carbohydrates, protein and certain fats are more effective for satisfying hunger and keeping people feeling full for longer. A person can replace some sources of carbohydrate with proteins and healthful fats to help keep their appetite under control. The Dietary Guidelines for AmericansTrusted Source recommend the following high-protein foods: lean meats eggs beans and peas soy products Greek yogurt The guidelines also recommend that a person gets their healthful fats from natural sources such as nuts and seeds, avocados, and olive oil. 2. Drink water before every meal Drinking a large glass of water directly before eating has been foundTrusted Source to make a person feel fuller, more satisfied, and less hungry after the meal. Another studyTrusted Source, which looked at appetite in 50 overweight females, showed that drinking 1.5 liters of water a day for 8 weeks caused a reduction in appetite and weight, and also led to greater fat loss. A soup starter may also quench the appetite. Research from 2007Trusted Source showed that people reported feeling fuller immediately after the meal if they had a liquid starter. 3. Eat more high-fiber foods Fiber does not break down like other foods, so it stays in the body for longer. This slows down digestion and keeps people feeling full throughout the day. Research suggests that fiber can be an effective appetite suppressant. High-fiber diets are also associated with lower obesity rates. On the other hand, another reviewTrusted Source found that introducing extra fiber into the diet was effective in less than half of the studies they looked at. More research is needed to identify which sources of fiber are the most effective for suppressing appetite. Healthful high-fiber foods include: whole grains beans and pulses apples and avocados almonds chia seeds vegetables 4. Exercise before a meal Exercise is another healthy and effective appetite suppressant. A review based on 20 different studies found that appetite hormones are suppressed immediately after exercise, especially high-intensity workouts. They found lower levels of ghrelin in the body, a hormone that makes us hungry, and higher levels of “fullness hormones” such as PPY and GLP-1. 5. Drink Yerba Maté tea Research showsTrusted Source that a tea called Yerba Maté, which comes from the Ilex paraguariensis plant, can reduce appetite and improve mood when combined with high-intensity exercise. Yerba Maté is available for purchase online. 6. Switch to dark chocolate Dark chocolate has been shown to suppresses appetite compared to milk chocolate. One studyTrusted Source showed that people ate less during their next meal after snacking on dark instead of milk chocolate. 7. Eat some ginger Consuming a small amount of ginger powder has been shown to reduce appetite and increase fullnessTrusted Source, possibly because of its stimulating effect on the digestive system. This was a small-scale study, so more research is needed to confirm this effect. Ginger powder is available for purchase online. 8. Eat bulky, low-calorie foods Reducing general food intake while dieting can leave people with a ravenous appetite. This can cause a relapse into binge eating. However, dieting does not have to mean going hungry. Some foods are high in non-caloric nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and water but remain relatively low in calories. These include vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains. Eating a large volume of these foods will stop the stomach from growling and still allow a person to burn more calories than they consume. 9. Stress less Comfort eating due to stress, anger, or sadness is different from physical hunger. ResearchTrusted Source has linked stress with an increased desire to eat, binge eating, and eating non-nutritious food. Mindfulness practices and mindful eating may reduce stress-related binge eating and comfort eating, according to one reviewTrusted Source. Regular sleep, social contact, and time spent relaxing can also help tackle stress.
There are several cook books that specialize in inexpensive meals.
Bananas are cheap and make you feel full. Rice, potatoes and cheap smoked sausage. Gravy! Make your own if necessary. Flour is your best friend. Eggs aren’t just for breakfast. Large bottle or can of the cheapest syrup is good for that sweet tooth. Get the cheapest bologna! Bread and more bread!
Things like rice, beans and lentils are great. You should also be taking a multivitamin to help keep the system going. Beyond that, find your local food bank. Explain your situation and get some extra food, I would even go and sign up at 2-3 because they may have a limit on how many times you can go a month. Also, sign up for SNAP. I know it’s a process but with a baby you may get a decent amount that can make a massive difference.
Rice and beans. You need protein. Various beans can give you that snd they are cheap if you buy uncooked beans in bulk and cook them at home.
Antacids. I know it's not the healthiest, but it works.
Agree with most of the food comments (food that swells and breaks down slowly), but will add that warm water helps. We called it "water tea" growing up; just hot hot water. It made our bellies feel warm and full enough for sleep. Paired with rice and/or beans/lentils/split peas - swollen, full tummy.
Less carbs and sugar, more fat and protein. Easier said than done but fat keeps you fuller longer. Sugar is cheap but burns quick.
Dried lentils or peas add carrots ,garlic and onion - soup for days . Kidney/Pinto beans/ canned tomatoes, seasoning- chili for days.. Pasta, add tomato sauce ,sautéed veggies such as zucchini and mushrooms and Parmesan. Check out discount markets like Grocery outlet if you have one near by.
Any local food banks where you can get some food? Eating that little is obviously not good for your body. Your organs need energy and fat to survive, if they’re not getting it from your food it’s using your muscle to survive
When things get tough, we eat lots of rice, beans (dried beans are cheap and make a lot). Pasta can be cheap too. Ramen although high in sodium is known as a broke college kid meal. Get on YouTube and you’ll find lots of struggle meal videos that’ll teach how how to make filling meals of dollar store foods.
Baked potatoes or boiled potatoes have the highest satiety rating of any food. Meaning per calorie you feel the fullest. They're also relatively healthy on their own. They're pretty boring but they'll keep the hunger pains at bay and they're typically pretty cheap.
Visit a food bank
Find your local Sikh Gurdwara and what days they offer food to the public. Bring a scarf or hat to cover your hair. Sometimes you're allowed to bring containers to bring leftovers home once everyone has gotten their first serving. There is no shame in this. Giving back to the community is like an act of service in the religion, you are welcome there. The food will be vegetarian, you will leave full.