Counting Calories AND Pennies

I’ve been stress eating for a few months now and managed to pack on 5 extra pounds onto the 10 lbs I already needed to lose. I joined a local healthy weight loss program a about four years back and lost 30 lbs while doing it so I’ve learned how to take the weight off in a positive way through portion control and a balanced and nutritious calorie count. But now I find that I not only need to do it in a healthy way, but in a frugal way too.

It’s so easy to just buy the pre-packaged diet foods; the bars and shakes and fat free this-and-that but they jack up the prices so much that you have to hock something just to lose the weight.

But there is no reason for all the expense. There is a healthy and cheap way to eat low calorie foods without breaking the budget. So I thought I’d throw a few ideas out there for you to get your wheels turning if you find yourself packing around a few extra pounds, just like me, and want to stay on budget while taking it off.

Assuming that you are buying in season produce and using your thrifty shopping skills, all of these ideas are low calorie and low priced…


2 eggs scrambled (use Pam, not butter or oil) with ½ cup veggies thrown in = 200 calories. Add a piece of wheat toast for 100 more calories.

4 oz of water packed tuna (drained) and mixed with 2 TBS of fat free mayo is about 200 calories. Add 1 cup of your favorite raw veggie for only 20 calories more.

Oatmeal (1/4 cup quick oats cooked in water with 1Tbs milk and 1 Tbs brown sugar = 180 calories add ½ oz of raisins or a small chopped apple (yep, you can have the whole apple) and it only tags on 40 more calories.

Water = 0 calories and Free

A small orange/peach/pear/apple, ½ cup berries or pineapple, 1 cup melon chunks all equal 40 calories

For a sweet tooth…

Homemade Angel Food Cake only 124 calories per slice.

Fruit Smoothie (1 fresh banana, 1 cup low fat milk (or soymilk), optional chocolate sauce, 3 ice cubes. Blend in blender. To make thicker add a few more ice cubes.

Meal ideas…

Senate Bean Soup 107 calories per serving

Turkey Wraps (you won’t even miss the bread these are so good!) 14 CALORIES!

SO these are just some idea to get your wheels turning.

You don’t have to starve yourself to diet. Just eat the right low calorie foods and you can still eat big meals.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to diet. You can make quick, low calorie, frugal foods at home.

I’d love to hear your thrifty diet ideas too!