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Ask HN: Hack a healthy, yet not expensive, meal.

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Re: Ask HN: Hack a healthy, yet not expensive, meal.

#61

Post by rcoder »

A big wok full of veggie stir-fry was my "go-to" dish in college. Frozen vegetables work well enough if money is really tight, but if you're willing to work with whatever is in season (or on sale) at the grocery store, you can get a lot of variety and flavor without spending much.

Fresh ginger and garlic, along with some soy and sweet chili sauce, is really all you need for seasoning; protein can come from tofu, chicken, or really any meat or seafood item; carbs come from rice or ramen noodles that are boiled and then tossed in to sautee once all the veggies are done.

Re: Ask HN: Hack a healthy, yet not expensive, meal.

#62

Post by shawndrost »

sidsavara wrote: post #51
shawndrost wrote: post #18

I cook based on price, ease, health, and how long it takes the materials to go bad. My favorites: Lentils with onions, potatoes, and/or ham. Chop, put in saucepan with water. Salt. Chili with rice. Fry hamburger and onion. Add canned kidney beans, tomato sauce, chopped habanero, and chili powder. Salt. I highly recommend a ricemaker. I also like Thai curry with rice, but it'd be too much hassle if it weren't for the…

Really? First basketball, now a thread about eating, that's where I find you?

this is so weird. if I randomly see you in a coffee shop in an hour, I'm going to freak out.

Re: Ask HN: Hack a healthy, yet not expensive, meal.

#64

Post by rcoder »

rw wrote: post #19

Spinach - lots of spinach. Popeye had it right.

Spinach is great, but if you're on a tight budget, and therefore not getting a lot of trace minerals, the oxalic acid content can actually mess you up pretty badly. (Oxalic acid binds to calcium, iron, etc. to form an indigestible chelate.)

Re: Ask HN: Hack a healthy, yet not expensive, meal.

#65

Post by pchivers »

sidsavara wrote: post #13

I recommend finding someone on craig's list to cook for you, so you don't have to worry about it. Time is at such a premium when you are trying to launch your own business, and if they're shopping for a family, they are probably better at bargain hunting and coupon clipping than you are. I did just that, and I discuss it in this post. Wasn't sure if HN would appreciate it, so I haven't submitted it here: http://sidsa…

I just read your article, and it's a really great idea and very well written. Maybe you should try posting it to HN.

Re: Ask HN: Hack a healthy, yet not expensive, meal.

#66

Post by JesseAldridge »

pg wrote: post #4

Rice and beans. There are 1000 variations.

If you're like me and super lazy when it comes to cooking you should get one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Maxi-Aids-Microwave-Rice-Cooker/dp/B00...

It's really just a plastic, microwave safe pot.

1) Dump in ~5 handfulls of raw beans, fill the pot up with water, leave them to soak overnight overnight.

2) Dump the water. Add ~6 handfulls of rice. Fill it with water again.

3) Stick it in the microwave for 30 minutes.

4) Dump out the water. Add 2 cans of vegetables and some kind of sauce.

5) Bam, done. The pot should keep you fed for the entire day.

If you want to mix it up, you can also cook noodles in the thing. That's even easier cuz you don't need to soak the noodles. Just drop in some noodles, add water, and microwave for 15 minutes. Done! Real noodles are a lot healthier than that Ramen crap.

The pot only costs 10 bucks. I've been using it for about a year now and it still works great.

Re: Ask HN: Hack a healthy, yet not expensive, meal.

#67

Post by kajecounterhack »

dcurtis wrote: post #43
pg wrote: post #4

Rice and beans. There are 1000 variations.

After a summer of YC, I can say that rice and beans, while amazing, get boring after exactly three months.

Did you try adding curry? Believe it or not duck sauce on rice and beans is pretty amazing too.

Then theres always top ramen, but its not exactly on that healthy list, haha.

Re: Ask HN: Hack a healthy, yet not expensive, meal.

#70

Post by kingkongrevenge »

noahlt wrote: post #26

The things poor people eat all around the world: - rice - beans - soy - potatoes - fish - veggies (anything dark but not too expensive) The real key to a good-tasting meal is freshness, even with simple foods. Seasoning is like makeup for food.

> - rice - beans - soy - potatoes

Yeah, and those poor people grow up short with bad teeth and don't live very long. If you can afford good meat and fish you should eat it and avoid starch.

Soy is pretty much toxic. Do some research.

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