Cheap Eats – Healthy Too

     Rather than a fast food burger that isn’t too healthy and is only good for one meal I often go the the market and get salad fixings.  I try to pick inexpensive produce (which is getting hard to come by) and toss a salad together which is usally good for a few meals.  The other day I bought a bunch of Bok Choy for $1.01 which to me tastes very good, is very thirst quenching as it is aproximately 66% water, has about 9 calories per cup, zero cholesterol and is also loaded with much needed body enriching vital nutrition.  Too many to list.  See the website below for nutritional value of Bok Choy.    http://nutrition.about.com/od/fruitsandvegetables/p/BokChoy.htm

Not to mention the various ways to fix it if you don’t want salad.  I use it mostly in salad but like it steamed or stir fried also.  I always feel the less it’s cooked the more nutritional it is.  Bok Choy is from the cabbage family of vegetables and cabbage is very healthy also and is another inexpensive vegetable that goes a long way both in nutrition and in many meals if you need to streatch your dollars.  A head of cabbage which will keep in the fridge for 10 days or longer can be used in a variety of tasty dishes.  I don’t buy cabbage very often simply because it does last so long and honestly I’m tired of it by the time I finally finish one head of cabbage.   That’s another story in itself.

Back to the  first cheap eats recipe:  Bok Choy $1.01, red bell pepper – $1.50, expensive for me but rich in vitamin C and very flavorable.  Also good for two meals, tomatoe – less than a dollar for the oblong one, garlic – less than a dollar and good for several meals.  Basil.  Throw some grapes in if you have and some nuts if you have.  I usually throw some flax seed on top too.  (helps with hormonal issues such as hot flashes)  Good for men and women.  I most often don’t use salad dressing and this particular salad didn’t need it.  When I do use salad dressing it’s usually olive oil and balsalmic vinegar or a spoon of honey and some mustard.  If the leaves go limp on the bok choy before I use it up that’s when I steam it or stir fry it.  Still very tasty with no dressings.

I often just grab a red bell pepper and eat it like an apple for lunch or an avacado which I like with red hot sauce on it. 

So there’s some of  my favorite cheap eats. 

Tip for today – Try to eat a few nuts daily.   Just a few.