#beanslol

There are several sides to this subject, so pay attention.

Firstly, we want to minimize how much we eat. For the sake of your health and your budget, please spend a few minutes calculating how many calories you need to eat in a day to maintain your current weight.  If that weight is more than you want it to be, take away a couple hundred calories from that number.  You can reduce even more later, but this is a good starting place.  This isn't necessarily about vanity.  We all want to be attractive, we suppose, but we also want to be healthy, because we will live longer and more comfortably if we are healthy and we will spend less time and money in doctor's offices.  We're all about less time and less money, right?

Next, we want to minimize how much crap we eat while maximizing nutrients. Simple, nutrient-rich meals that are easy to prepare are our goal. Removing junk food from our diet is good for our wallet and our waistline.  Don’t just avoid fast food, ban yourself from it altogether.  We’re not going to pretend we’re perfect.  We’ve fallen victim to a curly fry or two in our day.  But as a rule, don’t give yourself any budget entries for fast food and do not get in a drive thru.

Then, we want to minimize how much time we spend making food.  Ok, so nothing is as fast as the drive thru, but you can cook a decent and nutritious meal in 30 minutes or less and probably do it while also watching tv or doing some yoga in your kitchen floor.  Even better, spend an hour a week making a big batch of everything and then freeze it.   Some people are pretentious and like to call this “meal prep”.  We like to call it what it is: leftovers.

Lastly, we want to minimize how much we spend on food.  Since we're broke, we can't just pop on over to Whole Foods and grab whatever organic mush they've got this week.  We need to evaluate our needs and plan carefully.  GMO's won't hurt you.  Canned veggies won't hurt you. Dried beans won't hurt you.  Look to buy in bulk and try going vegetarian a few days a week, as veggies are a lot cheaper than meat products.  Don’t worry, you’re not going to die from lack of protein, we promise.

That was not a jab at Whole Foods, by the way.  We've never been in one, so we don't know what it's like.  But whole foods is exactly what we are looking for when we go grocery shopping.  Don't buy tv dinners, don't buy canned soups or processed cereal bars.  Buy foods that are whole by themselves.  Potatoes.  Carrots. Whole wheat bread.  Milk.  Cheese. Beans.  You get the gist.  Cook your whole foods in your own kitchen, making use of some lovely spices, and you'll always have some noms to look forward to when you get home from work. 

Setting up a minimal kitchen is a discussion in itself, but today take some time to look over your kitchen and evaluate what you've got.  A good foundation is a set of pots and pans, a cutting board and chef's knife, a sturdy colander, a potato masher, a spatula, and a set of measuring cups and spoons.  Check out what you've got, and make a note to grab any missing pieces next time you get paid.  Yeah, we know you've got like thirty seven cents today.  We're right there with you.

If you've never learned to cook, we're sorry your parents failed you, but get on it. Look up a few simple recipes and try them out. There is no better way to get quality, healthy, cheap food than to make it in your own kitchen.  Mashed potatoes, corn, and baked chicken would be a good beginner's plate.  Or a nice crock pot stew.  I know the dollar menu is cheap, but don't go there.  Since this is a huge subject, we are going to make multiple posts about it.  This one is just an introduction, so bear with us.  The next one will be on minimal breakfasts.