4 ms·

I like to optimise for 3 things: speed, cost, and health. In this case I have found recipe books to be generally pointless since they're not able to meet those

I like to optimise for 3 things: speed, cost, and health. In this case I have found recipe books to be generally pointless since they're not able to meet those specific requirements. Speed: If I have to spend more than about 15-30 seconds in preparation, then it's out. Somewhat longer cooking time is ok if it's mostly unattended. I buy ingredients pre-cut/tinned and this tends to be location dependent. Cost: This is entirely location dependent. I start meal design with what is cheap/good/suitable at my local supermarket. It has to be a regular item because I'm not going to waste time looking for deals each week. My average meal cost is less than 2 euros and that's with ingredients that are not the cheapest. Health: This is dependent on what you want to believe, but I've gotten exceptional results from merely avoiding sugar and processed carbs of any sort. It's not extreme in any way but it ends up limiting your choices broadly because vendors sneak sugar and processed carbs into everything.

ahnick 8y ago
What are your go to foods Health wise?
- cageface 8y ago
  Lentils pack a huge nutritional bang for the buck and are very easy to cook. One of my favorite one pot meals is to toss some lentils and brown rice in a pot and simmer for 40 minutes. Just add your own choice of seasonings and some leafy greens on the side and a handful of nuts and you have a very cheap and healthy meal.
  - firethief 8y ago
    If you're in the US and the rice is from a former cotton state (not California), you could be getting a high dose of arsenic by using brown rice as a staple. A sane government would set limits on arsenic at least on par with China's, but that would be costly to American agriculture, and it's easy to ignore chronic arsenic poisoning because it causes cancer or heart disease, not an identifiable syndrome that would generate bad publicity for politicians. My favorite alternatives are millet (cheap, has flavor if you toast it) and quinoa (price on par with rice if you can find it not packaged for yuppies).
    - Mikeb85 8y ago
      Maybe it's because I'm Slavic, but buckwheat is where it's at. Cheap, packed with protein, has a pleasant nutty flavour.
    - cageface 8y ago
      Yeah that’s a valid concern. I’m in Asia and usually stick to organic Thai riceberry which also has a high antioxidant content.

ahnick 8y ago

What are your go to foods Health wise?

cageface 8y ago
Lentils pack a huge nutritional bang for the buck and are very easy to cook. One of my favorite one pot meals is to toss some lentils and brown rice in a pot and simmer for 40 minutes. Just add your own choice of seasonings and some leafy greens on the side and a handful of nuts and you have a very cheap and healthy meal.
- firethief 8y ago
  If you're in the US and the rice is from a former cotton state (not California), you could be getting a high dose of arsenic by using brown rice as a staple. A sane government would set limits on arsenic at least on par with China's, but that would be costly to American agriculture, and it's easy to ignore chronic arsenic poisoning because it causes cancer or heart disease, not an identifiable syndrome that would generate bad publicity for politicians. My favorite alternatives are millet (cheap, has flavor if you toast it) and quinoa (price on par with rice if you can find it not packaged for yuppies).
  - Mikeb85 8y ago
    Maybe it's because I'm Slavic, but buckwheat is where it's at. Cheap, packed with protein, has a pleasant nutty flavour.
  - cageface 8y ago
    Yeah that’s a valid concern. I’m in Asia and usually stick to organic Thai riceberry which also has a high antioxidant content.