Low budget recipes for weight loss

There is a common misconception that eating well comes with a higher price tag, but there’s no need for income to be a barrier to a healthy life. In fact, whole foods like fruits and vegetables are often more budget-friendly than harmful ultra-processed foods and ‘convenience’ foods. Discover our favourite low budget recipes for weight loss below.

Low cost ingredients for weight loss

Once you know the basics of the best low cost ingredients for weight loss, you can unlock a range of delicious, low budget recipes. Not only are they budget-friendly, many of them also have a longer shelf life which can cut down on wasted food and wasted cash.

• Canned beans: Canned beans are rich sources of fibre and plant-based protein, which are key components of a weight loss diet.¹ Chickpeas, butter beans and cannellini beans in particular make for tasty additions to any low budget recipes.
• Seasonal vegetables: Wherever you live, ensure you buy vegetables and fruits when they’re in season. They can better assist in a health journey as they are picked at peak nutrient density and provide the nutrients and trace elements our bodies need at particular times of year. Plus, the abundance of them makes them lower in cost.
• Frozen vegetables: Opting for frozen vegetables is often a cost-effective way of buying staple ingredients for low budget recipes like carrots, onion, celery. They save money, save fresh food waste, and save cooking time as they are pre-chopped and peeled. Plus, they can be healthier than the fresh alternative, as they lock in nutrients by being frozen straight after harvest.²

• Supermarket own-brands: Avoid paying for the brand name rather than the product. Supermarket own-brand foods frequently contain the same ingredients as top food brands, but with a vastly different price tag. Good examples include own-brand dairy products like cottage cheese or Greek yogurt.
• Frozen or tinned fish: Fish like mackerel, salmon and sardines are all rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids which aid in weight loss. Opting for tinned or frozen fish is a cost-effective alternative for your low budget recipes while still providing those same health benefits. We recommend choosing fish tinned in spring water or olive oil over brine to reduce your sodium intake. Tip: If using fish in olive oil, save the oil for a delicious salad dressing!
• Shop at the end of the day: Supermarkets often sell fresh whole foods at discounted prices at the end of the day if they’re close to their ‘best before’ dates. Check the packaging and if they’re suitable for freezing, it’s a great cost-saving option.

Low budget recipes for weight loss

• Coronation Inspired Quiche: This keto-friendly dish contains plenty of budget-friendly ingredients. Frozen spinach is often cheaper than fresh, and check for supermarket own-brand milk, ricotta and cheddar cheese to save an extra few pennies.
• Low Carb Minestrone: This minestrone soup is packed with nutrients and budget-friendly ingredients. Celery, onion and edamame beans are often sold pre-chopped and peeled in the frozen aisle, making it easier on your budget and your food prep.

• Mushroom and Mixed Bean Chilli: A great opportunity to make use of tinned beans is this Mushroom and Mixed Bean Chilli. It’s one of our favourite low budget recipes for vegetarians as it’s high in fibre and protein, and low in cost.
• Dhal with Halloumi: This low budget recipe takes just five minutes to prepare but provides over a third of your daily recommended protein for weight loss. As with most dhals, lentils are the hearty main ingredient, which are a cupboard staple that can be bought in bulk to save even more money.
• Chickpea Tagine: This tagine is full of gut-loving fibre that feeds the microbiota in charge of boosting your mood and your immune-system.^{3 4} Like lentils, chickpeas are a budget-friendly cupboard essential so make sure you give this one a go.
• Thai Baked Fish: The star of this fasting-friendly dish is the succulent white fish in its creamy coconut curry sauce. White fish is low calorie and low cost, it can be found in most frozen food aisles and is ideal for keeping on hand ready for tasty low budget recipes like this one.
• The Fast 800 Programme houses hundreds of delicious, low budget recipes for weight loss, alongside meal plans that help you save time and money. The Programme provides all the tools you need to achieve healthy weight loss, including guided workout videos and mindfulness resources so you can also save money on other costly aspects of many people’s health journeys, like private personal trainers.

Sign up to your 7-day free trial and find out how it can help you save on your weight loss journey today.