Cheap Home Lunch Options for an Adult, for $1 or Less?

GreenLego on 10/07/2024 - 03:29

For Saturday lunch at home, I used to put 500g of frozen chips in the air fryer. Since the bags were $2 per kg, it worked out to be $1 per serve (not including the cost of electricity etc). Now that hot chips and potatoes are expensive (due to shortage?), they are now $4 per kg. I'm looking for suggestions on alternatives.

I tried a can of baked beans/spaghetti which are less than $1, but they weren't filling enough for me.

I don't mind cereal, but having milk for just 1 meal a week is not cost effective for the milk component. I guess I could use powdered milk?

A loaf of bread is $2.40 (?) with 21 slices, so I could eat 8 or 9 slices. Although I eat 4 slices every morning.

I could eat rice, which is about 15 cents per serve and does fill me up, but it is bland.

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • screensaver on 10/07/2024 - 04:20
    +32

    Get an easy fried rice recipe,you can add frozen peas etc

    • BOGOF on 10/07/2024 - 07:06
      +18

      Good suggestion Pam.

    • jugsy on 10/07/2024 - 11:00
      +2

      Nats What I Reckon has a great easy one. Mostly Uncle Roger approved except no wok

    • wjb on 12/07/2024 - 00:30
      +1

      OP needs a bag of Ajinomoto msg

  • Ash-Say on 10/07/2024 - 04:20
    +119

    Life is short - Eat healthy and enjoy it.

    • Smol Cat on 11/07/2024 - 13:34
      +24

      But you can make it even shorter by eating these 'hack' meals!!

      • frewer on 11/07/2024 - 18:00
        +2

        Da dark humour is stronk with thee

      • serpserpserp on 13/07/2024 - 08:29

        Grim Reaper 5 star rated

        • Bap1337 on 14/07/2024 - 16:38

          Lol

  • Stone Monkey on 10/07/2024 - 04:20
    +16

    Buy a bag of brushed potatoes and make your own chips. I’ve seen 5kg bags going for $5-7 at most fruit and veg shops.

    • Carbon Door on 10/07/2024 - 21:21

      Why brushed potatoes

      • Stone Monkey on 11/07/2024 - 08:38
        +4

        I find that brushed potatoes store better for longer, when kept in a cool, dark place, with adequate ventilation to keep the potatoes dry.

        • Tleyx on 11/07/2024 - 11:18

          Brushed might be newer since they dont need to do the wash process right

          • lateralus45 on 12/07/2024 - 08:32
            +1

            @Tleyx: I Hear Brushed potatoes actually get washed then have extra dirt added back to them just so they do last longer/get protected from light etc.

        • GachaGamer on 13/07/2024 - 11:15

          U can just prep them all at once and freeze, peel (if you want) and then cut and par boil for 5-6 minutes, then let COMPLETELY dry, then put them in a container and put in the freezer. You can take them out and do a single fry (start low, then finish high and the result is a damn good chip) or double fry if ur feeling fancy (not required since we par-boiled them).

          I do this all the time, its cheap and doesn't take much effort/time if you do them in large amounts at a time.

    • ATTS on 12/07/2024 - 17:56

      Whats your recipe for home made chippies? Does it taste like store bought ?

  • screensaver on 10/07/2024 - 04:24
    +3

    I make sandwiches sometimes, peanut butter and banana, tomato with black pepper, baked beans is nice, ieatit cold but you can toast it

    • sharkyoz on 10/07/2024 - 10:32
      +3

      peanut butter and cheese is great, even better toasted

      • bargainluvr on 10/07/2024 - 15:41
        +2

        Seriously underrated

      • birnie on 10/07/2024 - 18:13
        +3

        Love peanut butter sambos
        Love cheese sambos
        I would never of thought of combining the two….particulalrly toasted.

        Thanks for the suggestion

      • txb on 10/07/2024 - 19:25
        +1

        As in toasted sandwich toasted or pb+cheese on toast?

        • sharkyoz on 10/07/2024 - 19:47

          toasted pb + cheese sangas, let cool for 5 mins, awesome edible

          • Jabewabe on 11/07/2024 - 09:30
            +1

            @sharkyoz: Awesome AND edible? We might be onto something here

      • koplik8 on 12/07/2024 - 10:47

        @sharkyoz haha this is great. I use to make my little one peanut butter and cheese! It's actually really nice

    • seabombs on 10/07/2024 - 19:11
      +2

      Peanut butter and honey!

      • itsme56 on 12/07/2024 - 00:03

        Add it to crushed weetbix. Peanut butter cups.

    • Charybdia on 10/07/2024 - 20:04

      Great suggestions!

    • MattyD on 11/07/2024 - 10:36
      +4

      Peanut butter, honey and banana has like 3 superfoods on one sandwich.

      You could survive on them, I reckon.

      • Usernames on 12/07/2024 - 08:37
        +1

        The holy trinity

  • screensaver on 10/07/2024 - 04:25
    +1

    Pancake shaker mix, home brand

    • JimB on 10/07/2024 - 10:20
      +10

      why not make your own? cheaper and healthier.

      • MITM on 10/07/2024 - 13:36
        +1

        Milk cost for 1 meal a week.

        • screensaver on 11/07/2024 - 13:11

          its mixed with water

          • brad1-8tsi on 12/07/2024 - 07:43
            +2

            @screensaver: It's still cheaper and not much slower to DIY. Healthier too as DIY doesn't contain anti-caking agents etc.

          • MITM on 12/07/2024 - 15:07

            @screensaver: Jim B is suggesting making your own pancake mix - which requires milk.

    • koplik8 on 12/07/2024 - 10:51
      +2

      This is the most fluffiest home made pancake recipe I've tried. So cheap and easy to make:
      https://www.livingonadime.com/easy-homemade-pancakes-recipe/

      Ingredients

      2 Tbsp. sugar
      2 cups flour, all-purpose or wheat
      5 tsp. baking powder
      1/2 tsp. salt
      1/4 cup vegetable oil
      2 eggs
      1 1/2 cups milk

      Instructions

      In a bowl, mix all of the ingredients just enough to moisten the dry ingredients. The mixture will be thick and lumpy.
      Heat a griddle or frying pan over medium heat and lightly grease.
      Pour or spoon the batter onto the griddle to form pancakes.
      Cook the pancakes on a hot greased griddle.
      Flip when bubbles break on the surface and the edges begin to dry.

      • dutch on 12/07/2024 - 11:48
        +1

        Baking powder is so good for the fluffy pancakes, but such a balancing act between sad bitterness and mega-floof.

      • flywire on 12/07/2024 - 17:12
        +1

        2 eggs

        impossible

      • Loopholio on 14/07/2024 - 02:54

        That's a lot of work compared to add water, shake, cook.

    • mapax on 10/07/2024 - 09:10
      +24

      Nice, irrelevant, but nice…

    • Charybdia on 10/07/2024 - 20:02
      +6

      So you planning on mailing some to the OP?

      • AustriaBargain on 10/07/2024 - 20:10
        +6

        I can hook him up if he wants.

    • brad1-8tsi on 12/07/2024 - 07:45
      +1

      We get given gourmet pies by the lady 2 doors up. Her son owns a bakery in the next suburb and drops them into her and she can't eat them all.
      They are truly excellent! (they'd want to be for $8 each)

    • tunzafun001 on 13/07/2024 - 20:39

      Always think there is missed welfare and or homeless shelter opportunity here.So many bakeries chuck out so much.

      My old local gives their old buns to a farmers cows (allegedly). Used to do a mates rates (mixed tray at closing for $10).
      New local bakery not interested unfortunately…

      • AustriaBargain on 13/07/2024 - 21:04

        I've spoken to them about that. Problem is who is going to pay someone to pick up, hygienically transport and store and then serve this food? You volunteering to do it?

        You can't give them away to customers because who is going to buy a cream bun at 3pm when they know they can get a whole tray of them for free at 5pm.

  • morse on 10/07/2024 - 04:36
    +33

    That’s a lot of carb, which there’s nothing wrong with but you probably need some protein and veg in your diet too. Maybe add something with your rice, pasta or bread. Soy sauce and/or chilli oil with the rice make it less bland. Things that would be less than $1 that you could add to your cheap carb:
    2-3 eggs (might be harder to buy at the moment)
    1 piece of crumbed frozen fish eg https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/700541/woo…
    Lentils (either cook yourself or grab a tin, Aldi tins are less than a dollar)
    Chickpeas
    2 chicken tenders eg https://www.aldi.com.au/groceries/price-reductions/reduction…
    One chicken thigh https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/354118/chi…
    25-50g cheese

    For veg add some frozen peas or mixed veg which is $2.50-3/kg or some chopped or grated carrot ($2/kg). You can also get sweet potato at times for $2-$2.50/kg. Bags of avocados can also be very cheap this time of year so one small avocado would be less than $1 and can have mashed on toast or on top of rice.

    So a $1 lunch could look like
    2 eggs on toast
    Omlette with rice and a side of veg
    Pasta with fish and carrot sticks
    Lentils with rice (just add some seasoning like curry powder to the lentils and heat in a pan or microwave)
    Fish with rice and peas
    Chicken tender sandwich
    Sweet potato and fish
    Loaded sweet potato (melt some cheese on top if you can fit it in your budget) can just microwave whole potato
    Home made sweet potato fries
    Pasta and peas with grated cheese
    Air fried chicken thigh with rice and veg

    This is all assuming you’re not food prepping and freezing meals and you’re looking for convenience options. If you go this way it gets a whole lot easier/cheaper. Then there’s countless curries, pastas, rice dishes, soups etc that you can’t make for $1 per serve. I’ve also assumed you’re limited to a budget for each week, but if not buying bulk quantities helps in the long run. I’ve also assumed keeping a larger tin of tuna and using across meals isn’t an option, but if it is that would also be less than $1 per serve to add to pasta or rice.

  • mskeggs on 10/07/2024 - 07:29
    +8

    If you are prepared to eat some repeats there are plenty of options, but you have to buy several meals of ingredients at a time.
    E.g. grilled cheese on toast is tasty, but you need to buy the $10 1kg block of cheese for it to be economical.
    I lash out and add a slice of ham or some tomato so I am satisfied with 2 or 3 slices.
    Soup is cheap to make and stores well. Also nice with toast!
    Rice is cheap, but add some flavours - look at how nasi lemak uses small amounts of costly ingredients to turn rice into a great meal.
    Pasta with cheap jar sauce made better with an onion, mushrooms and a rasher of bacon can run to $6 for 6 meals.

  • mskeggs on 10/07/2024 - 07:40
    +6

    Reading your message again, it is specific to Saturdays, which makes it tricky to hit the price point if it is just one meal a week. What are you eating other days?

    • MITM on 10/07/2024 - 13:39
      +23

      Eating out at 5 star Michelin restaurants.

    • umoddbro on 10/07/2024 - 19:36

      Grill'd unlimited free burgers

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 10/07/2024 - 08:31
    +57

    Try a risotto. To keep costs down, cook on a public BBQ.

    • Muzeeb on 10/07/2024 - 09:36
      +16

      Using public BBQ's save cents. Cheers

    • moar bargains on 10/07/2024 - 12:56
      +12

      It's so good when bits of the Ozbargain canon just pop up from time to time like this. 😂
      Much better than when they get done to death (a la the response to every post about someone having a problem: "Bikies?")

    • curtturtle on 11/07/2024 - 12:42

      You win the internet for today. I tip my hat to you good sir.

  • DingoBilly on 10/07/2024 - 08:43
    +1

    2 minute noodles or similar?

    • SlartiBartFozz on 10/07/2024 - 14:52
      +2

      Instant noodles are a convenient and cheap food, but they may have negative effects on health, such as:
      Increasing the risk of heart disease, stomach cancer and metabolic syndrome due to their high sodium, MSG and TBHQ contents.
      Raising blood pressure due to their high sodium content.
      Causing hormonal imbalance, indigestion and weight gain due to their low fiber, protein and nutritional value.
      Lacking crucial vitamins and minerals that are essential for a balanced diet

      • Switchblade88 on 10/07/2024 - 15:59
        +3

        While all that is true, it is one of the few foods available under $1 per serve

      • kaleidoscope on 10/07/2024 - 23:55
        +7

        How is that any different to having bag of air fried chips?

        • koalabargains on 14/07/2024 - 10:15

          chips is aussie mate

          noodles is asian

      • nobro25 on 11/07/2024 - 05:17

        I normally have it with Tofu and some fish balls.
        Firm Tofu pack 12 = $4 (use one or two)
        1kg fish balls = $10 (serves 15 meals)
        Those cheap bulk plain noodles ($2.50/kg)

        For broth buy that miso box ( use a teaspoon or so) (I use the low sodium one)
        And dried Seaweed flakes (50g) ( soak the seaweed flakes for a few hours before use) and use the water as extra umami bomb.
        A little bit of soy sauce if you want more flavour hit.

        Turns out to be about $4-$5 a serve. But it's extremely filling and healthy. To get the same equivalent eating out is about $30.

      • Brick Tamland on 11/07/2024 - 15:16
        +1

        Apart from that all good though?

      • SarcasticEmu on 11/07/2024 - 22:36

        Dude you had me at convenient and cheap food stop digging for gold.

    • GreenLego on 10/07/2024 - 16:16

      I eat them during the rest of the week.

      • Aleigh123 on 11/07/2024 - 06:42

        Why can't you eat it for another day then? It's not like you're getting much nutrition from chips anyway.

        And may I suggest buying seaweed from a Korean/asian store? You could buy that, some soy sauce, and garlic and make a basic Korean seaweed soup.

        You could also buy misugaru (again, a Korean store), and just mix one or two spoonfuls of misugaru with water and drink that.

        Both options are fairly affordable, and probably a lot more nutritious than eating chips.

        You could also buy some seeds and grow your own stuff to eat, which is obviously not going to be enough, but it's definitely another cost saving. Or if you're into it, you could also just go out and pick some dandelions - which are edible.

        Oats are also an option. I sometimes have steel-cut oats, with some blended frozen fruit, and hemp. Not sure what the unit cost is per serve, but it lasts a while.

        As other people have suggested, you could also have rice. You could have it with some Korean doljaban, or some Japanese furikake.

  • Boioioioi on 10/07/2024 - 08:54
    +10

    Mate you should perhaps try eating healthier

    Anyway chickpeas are healthier and cheap. Buy dried ones from Indian grocer, or if none available the asian aisle in Woolies. Soak then boil them. Eat as is with salt and spices, or fry in a pan to make really tasty

    • SimAus007 on 10/07/2024 - 09:15
      +4

      Great idea, I might prepare mine a little differently.
      I love chickpeas with a little salt, some pepper or herbs & peppers over the top, very yummy and packed full of nutrients (about $1 a meal or less).

      Lentils are a great option with the above extras also.

    • Muzeeb on 10/07/2024 - 09:39
      +5

      Chick peas and roasted cauliflower is my signature vegetarian dish. Bloody beautiful.

      • Worf on 10/07/2024 - 14:42
        +2

        Recipe please

        • Muzeeb on 10/07/2024 - 15:04
          +11

          Your wish is my command

          I delete the mushrooms cos I'm not a fungi.

          I think it was originally from one of the free Woolworths magazines.

          • Worf on 10/07/2024 - 15:18
            +1

            @Muzeeb: Thanks! Will give it a try

  • JimmyF on 10/07/2024 - 09:28
    +1

    For Saturday lunch at home, I used to put 500g of frozen chips in the air fryer. Since the bags were $2 per kg, it worked out to be $1 per serve (not including the cost of electricity etc). Now that hot chips and potatoes are expensive (due to shortage?), they are now $4 per kg. I'm looking for suggestions on alternatives.

    Such a true tight arse….. Can't spend $2 on lunch…. Everything has gone up!

    BTW what do you eat for lunch on the other 6 days of the week?

    • MITM on 10/07/2024 - 13:40

      Eats out at 5 star Michelin restaurants

    • Worf on 10/07/2024 - 14:42
      -1

      It’s a 100% cost increase

      • JimmyF on 10/07/2024 - 17:15

        It’s a 100% cost increase

        Yes it is, from a crazy low starting price……

  • JimB on 10/07/2024 - 10:29
    +12

    Hi GreenLego.

    Geniune question, do you can't afford OR don't want to pay more than $1 per meal?

    For your health, you need to add some veggies into your diet. Carrots, frozen peas and corn and broccoli are cheap enough.

    You should also consider used dried legumes (beans) and tinned tomatoes for soups. Also cheap.

    Chicken wings/drums sticks are a cheap source of protein.

      • JimmyF on 10/07/2024 - 17:15

        buy a bag of rice and eat that then.

      • JimB on 11/07/2024 - 10:38
        +13

        I did feel sorry for you because I thought you couldn't afford it.

        Anyway, spend a bit more and look after your health, you'll regret it in future.

        All the money in the world isn't worth being ill.

      • SuperLate on 11/07/2024 - 22:58
        +5

        Ditch the internet but don't compromise on healthy eating lifestyle. What everyone has suggested here about adding veggies and eating healthy mustn't be ignored. You'll thank us later. I have stopped paying for nbn long ago and used that money to buy a healthy balanced grocery.

      • neoleo on 12/07/2024 - 02:11

        It's cheaper to buy a sim card with yearly plan. Even Amaysim 1 month can be free with 100% cashback and bigger data.

        How big is your data usage per month in average? Is 120 GB to 240 GB a year enough for you? Should aim for $150/year or lower for cheap data.

      • ThadtheChad on 12/07/2024 - 10:59
        +1

        Didn't downvote you, and I am not sure of your personal circumstance, but one would wonder whether you're better off improving your earning potential than living so poorly?

        You can definitely keep costs down, eating beans/lentils and rice etc. What you're doing currently though , will likely lead to poor health outcomes… to what end? To save a pittance on something asinine?

      • gfunk zero on 12/07/2024 - 16:43

        OP please sit down and think about what's important to spend money on, I mean personally I would die without internet but I would also die without a proper diet

  • coffeeinmyveins on 10/07/2024 - 10:33
    +16

    mate you need to eat better. 500g of fried chips? Bread? rice? life is too short for such bad and boring food.

    • s1Lence on 10/07/2024 - 17:53
      +6

      if you are truly hungry, even a simple loaf of bread tastes heavenly when toasted
      bread, rice and potatoes are also healthy so no problems there if the rest of your diet lets you reach your nutritional requirements

      • JimB on 11/07/2024 - 17:20
        +1

        bread, rice and potatoes are also healthy so no problems there IF the rest of your diet lets you reach your nutritional requirements

        Unfortunately in this case there is no other healthy part to his diet.

        • lateralus45 on 12/07/2024 - 08:39

          He's only talking about 1 cheap meal a week, I'd expect his other meals cover his nutritional needs.

  • huggsymersh on 10/07/2024 - 12:58

    Can an air fryer cook chips from raw potatoes? I recently bought a 5kg sack for $4, though usual price is around $6-$9 per kilo.

    500grams would be approximately 40c @ $4 per kilo.

    Get washed or Desiree potatoes that don't have to peel. Use a chipper or cut them into wedges if you don't. A bit more work than frozen chips from a plastic bag, but given the amount of energy in that food it's probably good to do a bit of work.

    • huggsymersh on 10/07/2024 - 14:42

      I meant usual price is $6-$9 per 5kg bag

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