Roadkill!Or if you need to know where your meat comes from,try the neighbourhood pets.Kitty Chow-Mein is nice but that might be my Asian upbrining talking! :)

Tofu is cheap! Eggs are cheap. Nuts- particularly peanuts & cashews are inexpensive. Trader Joe's has great prices on nuts- as does Costco (depending where you live.)

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Tracy M. De Soto
Femme Designer/CFO/Attorney
De Soto Sport

Peanuts are cheap. Cashews are not cheap.

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John Kenny, Pro Triathlete, USAT Certified Coach - http://www.frenchcreekracing.com
Philly Masters and Open Water
Swim and Multisport Events

How do you prepare tofu? do you bake it? Fry it? I've never actually eaten it, so I have no idea how to prepare it. Can you make sandwiches out of it?

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Proud Member of the Cervelo Mafia.

I was going to say oatmeal and protein powder (50 cents a serving on the one I get). Couscous has a decent amount of protein for a grain. Yogurt if bought in big containers. Taking a fiber supplement like metamucil can also help you feel full and help digestion/cholesterol.

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"don't you know that slow is the new fast? :)" -Turtlegirl
"I'm not a Dr., I just played one with your mom...." Stallion1031

eggs and cottage cheese are cheap if you want just protein. I like whole grain brown rice and black beans, seems to work pretty well for filling me up outside of a meal(always eggs or meat for protein in those)

             Stir fry it with vegies and noodles!Again,my Asian upbringing.

Aussie Nick in Penticton

They make tofu that is already baked and typically marinated, which you can use on sandwiches w/ other veggies. Canned tuna is also cheap and can be made into sandwiches easily- but don't consume too much due to mercury content. I think only 1 can/week (2-3 sandwiches of tuna salad) is suggested for ~150 lb. person.

In preparing tofu, I typically saute it with other veggies (e.g. mushrooms & spinach.) It takes on the flavor of whatever else you're cooking- so if you saute it with garlic and onion, it will taste like garlic & onion (both cheap.) Also- you can add soy sauce, ketchup, sriracha, etc. to add flavor of what you like (I like the latter b/c of the spice.)

Tofu is so cheap. Edamame/soybeans are also pretty cheap & a great source of protein. Dried edamame is handy & boiled edamame is simple.

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Tracy M. De Soto
Femme Designer/CFO/Attorney
De Soto Sport

What about good ol' RICE & BEANS. Burritos got me through 5 years of college.

We also patented the "food mound" at my house in college.

Take a baked potato, cut it open and flatten it out. Pour some baked beans or chili on top of the potato. Now a layer of cooked frozen peas and corn. Then a layer of cheese. Top it off with some taco chips, salsa and sour cream and you have the famous Laguna Lane (our street) Super Mound. Good to eat off of for two days.

Bon Apitite.

Karma

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Dave Stark
dreamcatcher@astound.net
USAC & USAT level 2 certified coach

Cheese, Kefir?
Fiber helps, too. TryTrader Joe's Fiber cakes--13gm fiber, 80 Calories.
Get some low fat burger, add some veggie burger, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, brans, bread crumbs.

For breakfast:
Bran Buds, frozen berries, nuts, lowfat milk, or soy 'milk.'
Or egg, greens, some fruit, cheese.
Very filling

For lunch, cheese and apple. Or, high fiber/lo cal bread, protein du jour, olive oil, spinach, other stuff.

Dinner--Boiled egg (or some chicken, turkey, ham (spam???)), various greens, chopped fruit, some kind of flavorful cheese (bleu, feta, etc), nuts, olive oil, decent vinegar, or lemon juice and maybe some turmeric.

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_________________
Dick

Take everything I say with a grain of salt. I know nothing.

Tuna.
Oatmeal.
Eggs.
Liver.
Chicken.
Rice.

My diet many years ago when I was in college.

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"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream" - Les Brown
"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment" - Jim Rohn

Yogurt, or

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_________________________________
I'll be what I am
A solitary man

My last few long races, I've bailed on the Clif Bars in favor of Fig Newtons. Works for me!

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My business-eBodyboarding.com

Make it brown rice. White rice has very little nutritional value.

Any whole grains are high in protein and give you that satisfied feeling. I like cous cous (light and fluffy) and buckwheat (rich and meaty).

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Maybe I should put something nice here.

I'm absolutely stunned that no-one has yet mentioned




Yes, I know the OP asked for foods that "aren't too processed" - but with all the Cliff bar type suggestions, this really isn't too far off. Besides, it's practically the perfect food. Want protein? Drop in an egg.

You certainly won't find anything cheaper...

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<If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough>
Get Fitter!
Proud member of the Smartasscrew, MONSTER CLUB
Get your FIX today?

Oops...
Also try lentils, squash, and sweet potatoes or yams with plain greek yogurt - so tasty.

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Maybe I should put something nice here.

You are entirely correct there BigH , but unlike you and I , brown rice is "generally" unpopular.

Ditto on the cous cous.

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"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream" - Les Brown
"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment" - Jim Rohn

big bowl of rice
frozen veggies (cooked)
canned chicken if you need the prot.

takes 10-15min and fills you up if you eat enough. on the cheap too.

Hmm, three tablspoons of Meatmucil will fill you up...And clean you out.

Zone 2-

Almonds!!!, Try Nature's Path organic pop tarts (great pre- race food too)---no hf corn syrup; yogurt, tuna, annie's natural pastas (think organic mac and cheese very tasty and cheap).

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http://www.mountainmettle.com

"I need cheap foods that fill you up and aren't too processed. I find eating fruits and veggies doesn't fill me up. Meat is expensive. Trail mix is expensive. But I'm always hungry, and I don't want to live off peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."

I always believe you need to eat to be nourished. That means using all the macronutrients because your body needs them for energy, health, and recovery.

If you won't even buy trail mix because it's too expensive, you have a problem.

Fruits and veggies don't fill you up, but they still need to be eaten.

That being said, I have found great filling meals using the following:

-sweet potatoes with butter and plain yogurt
-high protein whole grain pasta with organic chili on top
-baked potatoes with plain yogurt
-2 egg sandwiches on multi-whole-grain bread
-cottage cheese w fruit
-multi veggie salads, making sure there are avocados and a protein
-tuna (yes - the whole can)
-sardines (purine protein)
-rice and beans (I know someone with an awesome home recipe of additives which makes this scrumptious)
-Kashi Go Lean cereal w raisins (and soy milk)
-eggs

Unfortunately, if you want to fuel yourself FOR REAL for your training and races, you may have to back off on other purchases so you can add that budget money to buy real food. Can you look at your weekly and monthly spending to find out where you can switch your budgeting?

MHO
Lauren

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Lauren Muney
certified physical fitness trainer
certified health coach
wellcoach
http://www.physicalmind.com

There is no escape from your life... solve the problems and get on with it.

"Just tell her you love her and you think she kicks ass" ~AndrewinNH

"I'm moving [Lauren] to guru status" ~Last Tri in 83

Jiffy corn muffin mix. I make pancakes out of it. 45 cents a box plus and egg, some milk and oil.

As mentioned eggs and cottage cheese are good choices

Chick peas are also cheap, filling and good for you.
They are tasty when mixed with some tomato and chicken!

I buy shredded coleslaw in a bag which is pretty filling for a salad base, again with some chick peas, tuna or chicken, and a little cheese, balsamic dressing it is quite good.

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C'mon legs run faster!
Being fast on a crappy bike is cool
Fueled by Guinness, Tuborg, Anchor Steam and Creemore Springs