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

  • randomdude14 on 18/07/2024 - 13:57

    Sorry to hear that it is getting harder out there. We find it is considerably cheaper to buy in bulk, specially if you have a Costco nearby

  • pennypincher98 on 19/07/2024 - 19:55
    +1

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

    I normally don't have to say this, but considering your go to Saturday meal is just 500g chips.. you eat things with the rice. Grab some cheap veggies and legumes. Carrots - $1-$1.50/kg. Peas - $2.50/kg. Potatoes ~$1/kg in bulk. Chickpeas/lentils are so cheap. Cook that over a low heat with a bit of herbs/spice/seasoning. Serve with rice.

    Under a dollar per serve and you will actually get some sort of nutritional intake.

    The problem is you not only want to eat absurdly cheap, you also want to eat quick and lazy.

  • beltdrive on 26/07/2024 - 12:22

    This post gave me depression

    • mapax on 26/07/2024 - 13:25

      Have a steak for dinner, that’ll make you feel better. I think drivers choice is $17/kg at coles in some states and Coles brand rump is $21/kg.

      • beltdrive on 26/07/2024 - 14:46

        I had a sirloin last night. I'm reminiscing about it and feeling better now :)

        • mapax on 26/07/2024 - 14:56

          Nice. I had some of the $21 rump last night and it was pretty good.

          • beltdrive on 26/07/2024 - 14:58

            @mapax: yum. any sauce?

            • mapax on 26/07/2024 - 15:05

              @beltdrive: Funny you ask as I don’t often have sauce on steak, but I had leftover rib sauce from a few days ago so dipped some of the steak in that. Added a nice smokey pork flavour.

              • beltdrive on 26/07/2024 - 15:10
                +1

                @mapax: yeah I don't normally have sauce on steak at home. If I'm at a pub and not sure if the steak is any good I'll go pepper or cafe de paris

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