this post was submitted on 29 Oct 2025
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I'm sad that this is worth mentioning. But if you are dealing with hunger amid threats to SNAP benefits, rice and beans are very cheap per meal and can be bought in bulk. Here's some tricks I've learned:

If you get dried beans, make sure you follow the directions to pre-soak them. Canned beans are easier to prepare, just dump in near the end of cooking to heat them up. Dried lentils don't need to be pre-soaked, but I prefer to cook them separately and drain the water they boil in.

Brown rice, barley, or other whole grains have much more protein than white rice and I find them more filling. Whole grains take longer to cook than white grains.

Frying diced onions in the pot before adding the grains and water is an easy way to kick the flavor up a notch. Use a generous amount of cooking oil (light olive oil is healthiest) for cost effective calories and help making the meal more filling.

Big carrots or celery in bulk are pretty cheap too. I like to dice carrots by partially cutting length wise into quarters, but leave the small end intact to keep the carrot together to make it easier to dice down the side. Add them to the same pot as the grains after the grains start to soften. Beets are also great; skin and cube then boil separately until soft. Change up your veggie to get a mix of vitamins

Get some bulk garlic powder, hot sauce, paprika, cumin, crushed red pepper, black pepper, etc. Season and salt the pot to taste.

You'll only need 1-2 pots and a cutting knife/board for veggies.

I recommend Harvard's Nutrition Source for science-based nutrition information and they have some recipes too

Edit: discussing big changes in diet with a primary care doctor or registered dietician is generally a good idea.

Probiotic supplements may help with gas.

As a bonus this sort of meal has a very small environmental footprint.

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[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

I just want to note that you should make sure to verify that rice is actually cheap where you live, before going with it.
This post seems aimed quite specifically at american audiences (without actually stating such), but up here in the frozen wasteland of scandinavia rice is actually not that cheap at all, quite expensive even unless you go with literally the absolute cheapest brands available.

If you live in europe i'd wager potatoes are the actual ideal cheap carb, especially during harvest time when the market is flooded with such an absurd amount of potatoes that the price tanks and might even literally reach 0. Another option to look at is as you say, barley or other whole grains.

Frozen peas are also a nice alternative to beans (though obviously less appealing as the main protein), which can simply be tossed into the food while warm or a bowl of them can be put in a microwave oven at full blast for a minute to get fully thawed.

[–] starlinguk@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Beans aren't cheap where I live either (southern Germany).

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 3 days ago

i'm a lot more okay with the blanket recommendation of beans, because it's almost certainly the cheapest meat "substitute" and makes very good stew.
Home-made seitan is presumably the cheapest option basically no matter where you are, but that also takes a lot of work..

[–] Tm12@lemmy.ca 121 points 5 months ago (6 children)

Lentils are another good legume. Look up a daal recipe for any lentil you find, and basmati rice

[–] RaoulDuke85@piefed.social 41 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I’ve been making a Lebanese dish. It’s lentils mixed with rice and sautéed onions. Top it off with a dollop of sour cream.

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 16 points 5 months ago

That sounds pretty good

[–] BurntWits@sh.itjust.works 20 points 5 months ago (3 children)

I’m anaphylactic to lentils and peanuts, and less allergic to other legumes too. If I ever became vegetarian or vegan I think I’d starve to death.

I’m not currently requiring budget protein (I’m still poor-ish but not as bad as some) but my bills are about to skyrocket soon (need to upsize apartment, looking at around ~$600 increase per month) so I might need to look at budget options soon.

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[–] chillpanzee@lemmy.ml 62 points 5 months ago

Skip the olive oil. If you're buying it on a beans and rice budget, its gonna be fake olive oil anyway. Just use corn/canola/veg oil.

[–] ExtremeUnicorn@feddit.org 56 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (10 children)

Imagine living in a country with 900+ billionaires, with growing tendency, where regular people are discussing about the best ways not to starve.

Not that it's much better where I live, but damn, what the hell is wrong with this world?

[–] Poojabber@lemmy.world 10 points 5 months ago

The elite have always been vampires living on the blood of us peons.... it feels new to us because we are living it now, but history shows its been this way a long time, and it was probably the same in prerecorded history too.... we, as humans tend to suck....

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[–] xyro@lemmy.ca 46 points 5 months ago (2 children)
[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 26 points 5 months ago (2 children)
[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 4 days ago

it entirely depends where you live, here in sweden freshly harvested potatoes are almost literally free in the summer (i think they were sold for 1 SEK per kg last year) whereas the cheapest rice costs as much as normal pasta.

I read on the news recently that some eastern european country had such an absurd potato harvest just now that the potatoes were literally worthless, to the point that farmers were basically weeping at the prospect of finding someone to take the potatoes from them.

[–] starlinguk@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

Not where I live.

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[–] Ephera@lemmy.ml 36 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Dried lentils don’t need to be pre-soaked, but I prefer to cook them separately and drain the water they boil in.

Pre-soaking lentils (and pouring the water away) makes them easier to digest, in particular it makes them bloat you less.

https://farmhouseguide.com/benefits-of-soaking-lentils/

An exception are dehulled lentils, like red lentils. They don't need pre-soaking and are quicker to cook, too. I often throw red lentils into the cooking water with my noodles or rice, just to add some protein into the meal.

[–] starlinguk@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

You have to bring lentils to a rolling boil for 10 minutes to get rid of toxins.

[–] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 32 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (10 children)

Bean stew is one of the most delicious things you can cook whether you can afford more or not. Here's my recipe. Everything but the beans, onions, carrots, paprika, oil and salt is optional and mainly improves the taste profile. Works with almost any kind of bean. Can be done with dried beans too but you gotta handle softening them up first.

Bean stew/soup v4.1

  • 3x beans cans - 540ml
  • 2x onion heads
  • 2x carrots
  • 2tbsp paprika, 1tbsp smoked paprika
  • cooking oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt (or less) and 1/2tsp of MSG
  • 2x chicken or beef cubes
  • marinara/tomato puree/diced tomatoes/vinegar/some other acid

  • Add beans with some water in a pot. Use OG bean water too.
  • Chop onions and carrots in small pieces.
  • Fry onions and carrots in a pan with oil.
  • Once fry is done, add all the paprika and stir for 10-20s then pour into the pot, let it boil once.
  • Add the beef/chicken cubes.
  • Add spearmint, lots.
  • Add some more oil if needed. Olive is great.
  • Add 3-4tbsp marinara, diced tomatoes or balsamic vinegar.
  • Add 1/2 tsp salt (or less) and 1/2tsp of MSG.
  • Test for salt, it might be good enough.

Eat it with some bread or by itself. It goes well with any type of hot pepper too.

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[–] termaxima@slrpnk.net 30 points 5 months ago (5 children)

As a vegan, this has been my main meal because I'm pretty lazy (usually wrapped in a tortilla with guacamole, but I also eat it plain)

The gas issues are only a problem for a few days / weeks until your gut biome adjusts !

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[–] wyrmroot@programming.dev 29 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

Also, if this sounds too boring to anyone - do not underestimate the power of keeping a bunch of fun hot sauces around. They don’t have to be too spicy, but something similarly vinegar based will have a decent shelf life and be pretty cheap per serving.

I’m not just eating pantry staples again, I’m enjoying a smoky chipotle bean stew on top of some fragrant mango-lime-habanero rice.

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 4 days ago

As someone who isn't into chili spice, i can also recommend using extra stock and drizzling on some sort of acid (lemon juice is my fave) when you serve it

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[–] JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.social 22 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

Brown rice, barley, or other whole grains have much more protein than white rice

White rice is pretty much pre-diabetic junk food that's been stripped of most of its fibre and nutrients. I'd recommend always replacing with something like the above, or my favorite, steel-cut oats.

If you get dried beans, make sure you follow the directions to pre-soak them.

When cooking from dried, some baking soda in the heating process can greatly speed things up. The use of a potato masher here and there can also speed up the softening of the beans, and makes it easier to tell how far along they are.

Get some bulk garlic powder, paprika, cumin, crushed red pepper, black pepper, etc. Season and salt the pot to taste.

Don't forget MSG, which boosts up the savory / umami taste. It's cheap, you don't need a lot, and there is no such thing as an MSG allergy. (altho very occasionally people can have sensitivity)

[–] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 19 points 5 months ago (2 children)

or my favorite, steel-cut oats.

If we're talking about cheap meals steel-cut oats have almost excluded themselves these days. I used to be able to buy organic SCO in bulk for about $1.45/lbs. These days I can't find any SCO for less than $3.50/lbs and that conventional, not organic.

Where are you getting cheap SCO these days?

[–] JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.social 12 points 5 months ago

Nowhere. It's always been fairly pricey, at least for me.

So to summarise-- that was just me stating my personal pref, not recommending them to anyone as 'cheap meal food.' That said, it's possible that rolled oats are a better, cheap alt to rice. They tend to turn out too mushy for me, but may indeed retain much of their fibre and nutrients...

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[–] YoSoySnekBoi@kbin.earth 11 points 5 months ago (3 children)

If you prefer white rice to brown but actually want some nutrients I highly recommend trying out basmati rice - it's relatively easy and inexpensive to get in bulk and I almost never eat any other type of rice anymore

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[–] RBWells@lemmy.world 21 points 5 months ago

My kids call me "bean lady" for my love of beans. They are a perfect food.

Red beans and rice (red beans cooked with small chopped veg, long grain white rice)

Pinto beans on brown rice, with tahini.

Pinto beans on brown rice, with chili paste.

Pinto beans refried with breakfast.

Lentil dal with coconut milk and spinach (or lately with Hong Tsoi because it grows here, spinach is too fussy. )

Garbanzo bean soup with potatoes and chorizo.

Ful mudamas with pita and feta cheese and scallions

Channa masala so spicy, with chopped onion and mixed pickle, on white basmati

Red lentils and greens on sourdough toast. East with knife and fork.

Brothy enormous white beans cooked in veg broth but with a Parmesan rind or a bone.

I really truly love beans.

[–] Sergio@piefed.social 21 points 5 months ago

Frozen peas are great for that too. Goes with a lot of different dishes. just throw in a handful, or make a side-dish.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 20 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Rice and beans together make a full protein, so eat them together.

Rice takes up arsenic when it grows, if you eat a lot it can add up. It's mostly in the bran which is in brown rice and is removed for white rice. Rinse many times before cooking and you can either boil in lots of excess water and drain (like you do with pasta) or parboil it. https://health.osu.edu/wellness/exercise-and-nutrition/how-to-reduce-arsenic-in-rice

https://sheffield.ac.uk/sustainable-food/news/new-way-cooking-rice-removes-arsenic-and-retains-mineral-nutrients-study-shows

[–] blaggle42@lemmy.today 19 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I just want to add:

If you are in NYC - check out the Chinese and Mexican grocery stores!!! Usually a ton of foot traffic keeps the vegetables fresh. I do most of my vegetable shopping at one particular Chinese store which I find to be the best - [except for the onions (why are the onions so bad - do chinese people not eat yellow onions?)] - and it's fun to try new vegetables!

Also, strange, and I'm not sure what to make of it - fish in the Chinese grocery stores costs 1/2 of what it at white-people ones.

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[–] baldingpudenda@lemmy.world 17 points 5 months ago (1 children)

My go to rice recipe: spanish rice

Add some refried beans and a protein or cheese, kids will clean their plate.

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 14 points 5 months ago

Beans are protien

[–] ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world 16 points 5 months ago (8 children)

It's the return of depression meals, 1930s style

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[–] AnimalsDream@slrpnk.net 15 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Some notes about gas: It's primarily caused by a combination of fiber, and in the case of beans, by the oligosaccharides. The fiber can be handled by gradually increasing intake of high fiber foods. The more you get used to eating them, the less bloated you should feel, and it generally goes down to a normal level of gas that most people experience.

For the oligosaccharides, soaking and rinsing the dry beans does help remove a lot of it. Rinsing canned beans also helps. Taking Beano (or an equivalent) can help too. There are also claims of various spices being able to help as well.

It's also important to note that different types of legumes can cause more bloating, or less. Experiment with different kinds to find what works for you.

If you're willing/able to make the effort, sprouting and even fermenting will significantly help with bloating as well.

As a last resort or easy reprieve, opting for low fiber plant foods like white rice and tofu won't hurt in the short term, though whole foods should generally be preferred because natural sources of fiber of hugely beneficial.

On an unrelated note, I have always hated soaking beans, which is why the Instant Pot has been one of the single greatest cooking inventions I have ever used. Supposedly the pressure cooking also breaks down the oligosaccharides and reduces bloating. I just love it because I can toss in a bunch of beans and oat groats, and have enough of that stuff cooked to easily and quickly prepare meals every day for a week with each batch.

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[–] Dragonstaff@leminal.space 15 points 5 months ago (4 children)

Taco seasoning goes great in beans too.

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[–] chunes@lemmy.world 15 points 5 months ago (6 children)

leave it to lemmy users to disparage the primary staple of 3.5 billion people. "Pre-diabetic junk food" lmao sure ok

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[–] YoSoySnekBoi@kbin.earth 13 points 5 months ago

If you can get a hold of some chipotle chili pepper, adding a little bit to the beans is a great way to get some smokiness and depth of flavor too. It's really strong so one container lasts basically forever

[–] AnimalsDream@slrpnk.net 12 points 5 months ago (4 children)

Also a very underrated flavoring that's unjustly stigmatized because of racism is MSG. You can get really big bags of them for super cheap, and it's an easy way to make any meal taste savory.

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[–] MTK@lemmy.world 12 points 5 months ago (1 children)

To reduce gas with beans:

  • soak with baking soda (1tsp per cup of beans)
  • before cooking boil some water and in a bowl cover the beans with the boiled water, after 5 minutes drain and wash them and throw them in to whatever you are cooking
  • ferment the beans, best results but more work

Also remember that as your body gets used to it, the gas is reduced.

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[–] Scotty_Trees@lemmy.world 12 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Been on lemmy like two years, and this is the first post I'm gonna actually save for later cuz damn this is just useful and nice information to have, thank you so much for sharing!

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[–] Today@lemmy.world 11 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

I got a tray of rotisserie chicken leg quarters (maybe 8 of them) for $5 at Costco!!!

We should have a post of cheap foods!

[–] cymbal_king@lemmy.world 15 points 5 months ago

We should have a post of cheap foods!

[–] NycterVyvver@lemmy.world 13 points 5 months ago

Leanne Brown - Eat Well on $4 / Day

https://archive.org/details/GoodAndCheap/mode/1up

This is a free PDF version of a book she developed while working on her Masters Degree in Food Studies. She still offers it as a free download on her site but I believe you need to subscribe to her online newsletter (also free) to access it.

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