12 ms·

Let's say you don't care about the "lasts N years" part, but you want to construct a least-cost diet which is not significantly less nutritious than a more expe

Let's say you don't care about the "lasts N years" part, but you want to construct a least-cost diet which is not significantly less nutritious than a more expensive food selection. What foods would be included? To keep it simple, presume shopping to be limited to Costco/Sam's/etc. I did some math at Costco after examining a 50 lb bag of rice. Someone earning minimum wage must work five minutes to purchase 2000 calories of rice. While I know one can not live on rice alone, has there ever been a time or place in the world's history when so little effort was required for sustenance?

TheEzEzz 16y ago
Beans are nearly as cheap as rice when bought in bulk. Beans and rice are a complete protein. Potatoes are cheap too, and are a complete protein by themselves. You could throw in some fish oil and a multivitamin and still be paying around a buck a day for food. I would much prefer that diet to living off of canned goods.
- autarch 16y ago
  So you've accounted for protein, but you need a lot more than that. For example, without vitamin C, you'll get scurvy. Without B12, your nervous system can be permanently damaged. I'd highly recommend a diet of more than just beans, rice, potatoes, and fish oil. You need to include some fruit and vegetables, and if you're going to be totally vegan, some sort of B12 source (fortified foods or a vitamin pill).
  - TheEzEzz 16y ago
    Sure, that's why I suggested a multi. If you want to get the vitamins naturally I'd suggest some cabbage and the occasional egg to get your C and B12. Actually, eggs and cabbage will pretty much cover all your nutritional needs but aren't the cheapest way to bulk macronutrients. Still, 50 cents worth of cabbage and eggs a day would be enough to cover your vitamin and mineral needs. I wouldn't eat that diet, personally. I'm a paleo guy and value quality veggies and meat. I'm on a student budget and I invest most of it in food. If I were raising a family of 6 on my current wage though, I think rice/beans/eggs/cabbage/fish oil would be a pretty solid, reasonable diet on the cheap, throwing in as much extra meat and veggies as I could afford.
- fractallyte 16y ago
  Potatoes - PROTEIN?? 2% is hardly worth mentioning. They're mainly starch.
- fezzl 16y ago
  Don't forget eggs too. Eggs + beans + rice + salt/chili/other spices = tasty and fairly nutritious meal

TheEzEzz 16y ago

Beans are nearly as cheap as rice when bought in bulk. Beans and rice are a complete protein. Potatoes are cheap too, and are a complete protein by themselves. You could throw in some fish oil and a multivitamin and still be paying around a buck a day for food. I would much prefer that diet to living off of canned goods.

autarch 16y ago
So you've accounted for protein, but you need a lot more than that. For example, without vitamin C, you'll get scurvy. Without B12, your nervous system can be permanently damaged. I'd highly recommend a diet of more than just beans, rice, potatoes, and fish oil. You need to include some fruit and vegetables, and if you're going to be totally vegan, some sort of B12 source (fortified foods or a vitamin pill).
- TheEzEzz 16y ago
  Sure, that's why I suggested a multi. If you want to get the vitamins naturally I'd suggest some cabbage and the occasional egg to get your C and B12. Actually, eggs and cabbage will pretty much cover all your nutritional needs but aren't the cheapest way to bulk macronutrients. Still, 50 cents worth of cabbage and eggs a day would be enough to cover your vitamin and mineral needs. I wouldn't eat that diet, personally. I'm a paleo guy and value quality veggies and meat. I'm on a student budget and I invest most of it in food. If I were raising a family of 6 on my current wage though, I think rice/beans/eggs/cabbage/fish oil would be a pretty solid, reasonable diet on the cheap, throwing in as much extra meat and veggies as I could afford.
fractallyte 16y ago
Potatoes - PROTEIN?? 2% is hardly worth mentioning. They're mainly starch.
fezzl 16y ago
Don't forget eggs too. Eggs + beans + rice + salt/chili/other spices = tasty and fairly nutritious meal