FORUMS > Gaining Weight Forum Rules

Ok, I'm going to level with you. I work out about 5 times a week, usually doing more strength and mass building, but for the summer I'm going to focus more on staying in shape more than building. I want to lose excess fat and tone up a bit more, but I'm reading this requires a lot when it comes to diet. Now having a healthy diet isn't cheap, and I'm a poor-assed part time worker/college student.

Heres the kicker. I don't have much money to be spending on so much healthy food, and I don't have as much time as I would love to actually cook my food (i love to cook). So my main option is Fast Food Restaurants.

Heres the question. Out of all the fast food places, with their grease and chewable fatty mayo and their french fries, which one would you recommend as the healthiest, or to at least maintain SOME sort of healthy diet? And what should I order from these places?

Well - I'm no dietician - but a salad might be your best bet at fast food joints . But why not just buy a head of spinich or dark green lettuce - and some tomatoes, and make yourself a salad - with lemon juice or a light rasberry dressing? That is less money spent than a fast food salad. You'll also have enough for 3 or 4 salads.

If you have to have a fast food burger, why not scrape all the "secret sauce" off of it - and leave behind the bun. I would suggest one sweet potatoe instead - there are more vitamins in a sweet potatoe than most people know. The other great thing you could eat on a budget is oatmeal - a large bowl each day. Also - large red apples / and low fat yogurt. One more suggestion is salmon - it is not too expensive now - and you can grill it with just lemon juice on it. You can make your own tuna sandwiches - buying tuna and bread on sale.

When I was a student, we all considered Tom Ramen (sp?) to be the cheapest thing we could eat. It wasn't bad - it wasn't good either! I'm just saying I think on an extreme budget, why not shop carefully and eat at home more often rather than using the fast food joints? Seems to me your money will go farther shoping and preparing a few things yourself. Good luck!

There are not healthy options at big chain fast food places like Burger King and the like. The salads come with deep fried meat and dressings that could choke a horse.

My whey protein costs 55 cents a serving, so is quite affordable. In terms of meals, brown rice and lentils or other legume. My brown rice cost $4 for a 5lb bag. Lentils are $1/lb. That is a complete protein with complex carbs and almost no fat (I add a touch of olive oil). Go to an asian grocery store and by a cheap rice cooker. That way your meal is cooked while you are away at school/work/gym.

You can do much, much better than fast food and for less.

Just think outside the lines a bit....

DO you have any potbelly's around you? Get a skinny turkey sub, no mayo or cheese. Actually pretty dman tasty, it's only about 450 cals..

Subway? Try any of their 'Jared' subs.

Jockbod has great advice. Tuna and crackers is a nice lunch for me. I ABHOR fast food. What about the good ole PB & J? Worked for me on a tight budget.

Fast food really isn't that bad for you as long as you can handle eating 'just' a sandwich off the dollar menu.

If you go look at the food information at their websites, you'll find they're actually not to bad. Especially if you eat after a workout.

I'm a big fan of the jr. bacon cheeseburger at wendy's and the double cheeseburger at mcds.

I know its not great, but I work in the suburbs, go to school in the way farther suburbs, and live in the city.

I agree with all of these guys. It's bigger price tag up front to go to the grocery store, but if you work it out it's cheaper and better for you. Not to mention that with some practice you can claim, "Yes, I can cook."

If you mean Whole Foods healthy food, I can't afford that either. Look beyond the label and use the food articles here on RJ as a guide. Get a good cookbook (I love my Abs Diet cookbook) and make it happen.

Ain't a thing wrong with buying cheaper store brands to keep down food costs. Some $0.52 canned green beans are way better for you than those $1.50 french fries.

Over all it's *way* cheaper to buy groceries and make your own food. You get a lot more for you money.

Pick up some tubberwear and ziploc bags, too. Cook some meals up durring the weekend, and freeze individual servings so you have something at hand all the time.

Mac and cheese with a can of tuna, made with low fat butter (most even have directions for a lower fat version on the box) and skim milk, is pretty tasty, and it's less then $2 a batch.

There are a few easy things you can do. By food at costco. Get a bunch of chicken and either cook it for the week or freeze it. Buying in bulk might be pricey at first, but it pays for its self. Also try eating smaller meals. You won't go through groceries as fast.

Healthy food is not more expensive. You just need to be wise about buying things on sale and stocking your fridge correctly. staples tend to be pretty cheap. Look for meats that might be on their way out and are marked down. Also,make sure you are not throwing food away from it spoiling from not being eaten.

Jock had some good advice, but do not buy top ramen. It is loaded with fat.

Recommend something that is healthy and fast food... good luck on that... I can give you choice of cheapest and healthi-ER, but nothing that would actually pass as something I'd actually make myself; unless you want to spend lots and sit down and eat... but that's different.