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Help a college student with his budget/meals

TexasLifter89

TexasLifter89

Well-known member
Ok, so I am looking to go into this next semester full blown. I honestly have never had a set bulking or cutting diet, and I really want to attempt at least for awhile to hold a fairly solid diet for bulking.

My plan is to budget $25-$35 a week. My meal plan and stress last semester caused me to become sick quite a bit, so my main concern is for health wise to get adequate macro nutrients in all categories.

Current Cart:
  • Purchase about $10 worth of chicken breast a week (the big bag at walmart).
  • Frozen Mixed Vegetables
  • 1 bunch of Banana
  • 16 oz Brown rice
  • 1 dozen Eggs
  • Natural PB
  • Jelly
  • white bread

What else can be added onto my grocery list to spruce it up?
_________________________________________________________________

Meal 1: 4 scrambled eggs, 1-2 toast
Meal 2: 2 PB & J Sandwhich
Meal 3: Protein Shake Banana
Meal 4: Chicken, Rice, 1 handful of almonds (I plan to cook all my chicken the first day of the week and put it in the fridge.)


These are the only amount of "meals" I will be able to get in throughout the day and they feel very blah.... I can of course prepare snacks, but what are good ideas for snacks? This past semester I would carry around bags of Almonds, but I now have resorted to eating those before bed.
 
My budget is only slightly more than yours ($45/week) and my food list is this:
5 dozen eggs
2.5 lbs chicken breast
2 lbs Basmati rice
6 bananas
1 can pineapple slices
3 cans green beans
2 lbs ground turkey

That's about 80% of my meals without protein powder, post-WO drinks, etc. I occasionally buy some red potatoes for breakfast and rice noodles for dinners. I also make sure to have some raisins on hand for a cheap fruit source.
 
Rodja said:
My budget is only slightly more than yours ($45/week) and my food list is this:
5 dozen eggs
2.5 lbs chicken breast
2 lbs Basmati rice
6 bananas
1 can pineapple slices
3 cans green beans
2 lbs ground turkey

That's about 80% of my meals without protein powder, post-WO drinks, etc. I occasionally buy some red potatoes for breakfast and rice noodles for dinners. I also make sure to have some raisins on hand for a cheap fruit source.
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Rodja would you mind showing me your general meal combination of those to last a full week? How many calories per day do you usually get?
 
When I wake up, I drink some coffee and make 2 cups of rice (dry measure). I eat that throughout the day.

Breakfast: 6 eggs (3 whole, 3 white), 4 oz ground turkey, 1/4 of rice, 1 serving fruit
Mid-day: 8 oz chicken, 1/4 rice, 1/2 can green beans
Pre-WO: 4 eggs (2 whole, 2 whites), 1/4 rice, 1 serving fruit
Post-WO: protein shake, 1/4 rice, 1 serving fruit
Pre-bed: varies

I tend to buy skinless, boneless chicken thighs when they're on sale and eat them before bed or replace that meal with some eggs or chicken. I'll occasionally eat tuna with 1/2 an avocado when I'm dropping carbs. I am always concerned about produce consumption and consume it at 90% of my meals.
 
so for me:
Meal 1: 4 scrambled eggs, 1-2 toast, 4 ounces of turkey
Meal 2: 2 PB & J Sandwhich, 1 serving fruit
Meal 3: Protein Shake, Banana,
Meal 4: Chicken breast, Rice, 1 cup mixed veggies, 1 handful of almonds (I plan to cook all my chicken the first day of the week and put it in the fridge.)

Anything you would add to that? Any reason you prefer canned over frozen?
 
my approach is different. your diet sure is "clean" but doesnt seem overly high in calories to me. it would be nice to know your real specs. you can see mine and i need 4300 cals/d to grow.
I mean, your 8oz skinless breast is only 240cals. Where is the butter, cheese, olive oil? I snack on poptarts and whole milk.
If i were to quote your diet and put my "bulking" spin on it:
(Meal 0: 1000K weight gainer shake)
Meal 1: 4 scrambled eggs, 1-2 toast, 4 ounces of turkey (assload of butter and cheese, no turkey, about 1/2lb bacon)
Meal 2: 2 PB & J Sandwhich, 1 serving fruit (pasta, maybe McDonalds, slim jims, poptarts and milk)
Meal 3: Protein Shake, Banana, (weight gainer shake)
Meal 4: Chicken breast, Rice, 1 cup mixed veggies, 1 handful of almonds (1lb ground beef mixed with pasta and tomato sauce, tons of OO and parmesan cheese)
(Meal 5: cheese)
(Meal 6: weight gainer shake)
that's just how i'd do it, and i have gained 71lbs in just over 20 months. YMMV.
 
the big bag of chicken from walmart in the frozen section is perfect for anybody on the go or has no time to really cook. i am in college and i do that. i make like 4 on sunday to last me 2 days then 4 on wednesday and so on...also, oatmeal to go bars are good snacks.i love them. they also have brown rice in a little microwavable bowl/cup thing.
 
urbanski said:
my approach is different. your diet sure is "clean" but doesnt seem overly high in calories to me. it would be nice to know your real specs. you can see mine and i need 4300 cals/d to grow.
I mean, your 8oz skinless breast is only 240cals. Where is the butter, cheese, olive oil? I snack on poptarts and whole milk.
If i were to quote your diet and put my "bulking" spin on it:
(Meal 0: 1000K weight gainer shake)
Meal 1: 4 scrambled eggs, 1-2 toast, 4 ounces of turkey (assload of butter and cheese, no turkey, about 1/2lb bacon)
Meal 2: 2 PB & J Sandwhich, 1 serving fruit (pasta, maybe McDonalds, slim jims, poptarts and milk)
Meal 3: Protein Shake, Banana, (weight gainer shake)
Meal 4: Chicken breast, Rice, 1 cup mixed veggies, 1 handful of almonds (1lb ground beef mixed with pasta and tomato sauce, tons of OO and parmesan cheese)
(Meal 5: cheese)
(Meal 6: weight gainer shake)
that's just how i'd do it, and i have gained 71lbs in just over 20 months. YMMV.
Click to expand...

I don't like eating junk food it makes me sick. I did not list butter, cheese, EVOO or anything like that. Just the main foods. I'm not into huge weight gainer shakes either, they make me sick. I would rather get my calories from whole food, plus I can grow on 3600-4000 calories nicely.

How do you eat mcdonalds and slim jims? NASTY, IMO of course. That stuff makes me feel like I am going to have a heart attack. I do like your Whole milk though

R1balla said:
the big bag of chicken from walmart in the frozen section is perfect for anybody on the go or has no time to really cook. i am in college and i do that. i make like 4 on sunday to last me 2 days then 4 on wednesday and so on...also, oatmeal to go bars are good snacks.i love them. they also have brown rice in a little microwavable bowl/cup thing.
Click to expand...

That is what I said above, I plan to cook the whole weeks chicken on one day and just keep it in tupperware in the fridge. How much are oatmeal to go bars? Those sound like a good idea.
 
I think you're being way too dogmatic in your approach. Focus only on produce and protein and everything else will come.
 
WHERES THE BEEF? You should be eating at least one beef meal a day. GROUND SIRLOIN SON! Beef makes muscle. Its got the goods, and it tastes good. 6-8 oz ground sirloin, brown rice, and onions. Yummy with sea salt and pepper. easy
 
my parents own a bbq restaurant. I get plenty of beef haha. Also substitute it for chicken and dinner meal will change.
 
I did a benefit BBQ competition in Corpus Christi, where I am from. Where you at in Texas? I am only stationed in San diego. Good about the beef. Top round is great if you are on a budget.
 
you should apply for food stamps if you make less than 500 a month, i get 200 a month and it helps me from starving and dying don't be ashamed to be poor, thats what they want
 
You need to replace that white bread with some wholemeal bread brother, probs give you some more protein and carbs will be more complex and lower GI making it better for more stable insulin levels and better for avoiding fat gain...

Also, half fat cheese, good protein, not too pricey either, and you can use it for sandwiches or for mixing with other foods.

Wholemeal Pita bread/naan is awesome to have with curries or can be broken in half and stuffed with pretty much anything you want to down, low fat cheese, salads, meat, mushrooms, whatever, its awesome, good protein and complex carbs. You could get yourself some oats also, good for bulking and for adding into your own protein shakes and cheap too.
 
Get yourself a brown rice cooker from Invalid Link Removed, there are budget models available from about $25-$35. Mine cost $130 but it's the Cadillac and has timers and ****. Having it will make it easier to stick to your diet which will keep you from eating out so much - which WILL save you money since brown rice is cheap as all hell.
 
Eggs, milk,brown rice, whole wheat/whole grain bread, and/or whole wheat pasta. They're your best bet on a budget.

If you have a friend with a costo card, they have something like 90 eggs for 6.90$ or something.
 
Goat said:
Get yourself a brown rice cooker from Invalid Link Removed, there are budget models available from about $25-$35. Mine cost $130 but it's the Cadillac and has timers and ****. Having it will make it easier to stick to your diet which will keep you from eating out so much - which WILL save you money since brown rice is cheap as all hell.
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wow this is the third post I've seen you posting that website. Must be a good cooker
 
I HAVE cooked Brown rice in a regular rice cooker just fine. I see no reason to spend 130.00 on a rice cooker.
 
alright here is an update as to what I have been doing. It appears to be working good thus far.

Macros
cal: 2600-3000
P: ~200-250G
C: 300-350G
F: 70-80G

Meal
6 eggs + 2 jelly toast (wheat bread)

meal 2
2 PB&J with Fruit cup (wheat bread)

meal 3
Fruit cup (or banana)
potato
(sometimes protein shake)

meal 4
1-2 chicken breast
1.5 cup veggie
fruit cup
potato
 
I'd throw in some tuna, I've found that really beneficial to get in some protein between classes, makes **** smell weird though so don't get it on you and have some gum lol
 
Like Panther said, tuna is cheap and good protien. But to gain weight cals are needed. CUB has ice cream cheap. Throw a couple scoops in the blender with your shake. I also allow myself a cheat day. Wendys fast food doller menu. 3 crispy chicken and a double stack. Add an iced tea and you just over 5$.

Meat is spendy, granted! Have any relatives that hunt? I eat about 2-3 deer a year-butcher my own, saves about $100 per animal. Beef tastes funny to me I eat so much venni! Only drawback is lack of freezer space while in school.

If your on the meal plan @ school you should have some options there?
 
Oops forgot to add that if you watch the sales, ground turkey and gr. chicken can be had for a buck a pound.
 
Unfortunately I am not on a meal plan, they are a ripoff IMO. In my shake I do use 2 tablespoons of PB, 1 banana, 2 tablespoon of EVOO, and ice cream. So I would guess I am alittle higher than what macros I listed. I just went off base diet, not my snacking food, etc.

I got tuna'd out. It is all I ate for two years pretty much when I was in competition mode, now my goals have changed and competition isn't much a reality at the moment.

I would venture to say between my snacks and add-on treats/ingredients I am actually hitting 3500cal, 300gP, 350-400gC, 70-80g fat
 
I have found that pasta meals can be cheap. Add some ground meat to it, and you have a good meal. Dreamfields pasta is great, whole grain, high protein, and fiber. Wendy's has good chili, and not bad for you either.
 
Oh, yes I am. I trained Arms Friday, and was cramping so bad I had to ben gay my forearms. Then today I trained chest, and calves. I had a good breakfast, trained, cell tech, and whey isolate post training, and then Japanese food, then myoplex deluxe, and then 4 crunchy tacos with a lot of beef. Now, one more shake and bed.
 
briefly man. As you know I have been busy as heck lately with my stupid apartment incident and school/out of school activity
 
i just remember the old austin who put training first. i want my training partner back!!!! what apartment incident? text me or facebook me
 
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