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Cheap Eats

What would you eat for a week if you had a budget of just $20? That was the question posed on a r/AskReddit thread, which has since garnered over 450 comments. The ideas went beyond peanut butter, bread, and noodles, and we were surprised to see that we would make a number of these meals — even if we had more to spend. These were some of the ingredients mentioned over and over, plus our favorite ideas for how to make them.


Related: Secrets for Eating Healthy on a Budget

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Potatoes

Potatoes are a surprisingly good source of nutrients, such as fiber, potassium, and vitamins. That may be why the potato diet — where you eat, guess what, nothing but potatoes — has become popular. Many Redditors suggested potatoes as an obvious budget-friendly food choice. "When you're really hungry, a couple of microwaved potatoes (sweet or Russets) with butter and a little salt is absolutely delicious," comments a user.


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Chicken and a Few Basics

One Redditor suggested a couple basics from Walmart can create a week's worth of recipes: chicken, frozen green beans, frozen corn, chicken stock, oatmeal, canned fruit, and dried pasta.  Meals include stew, pasta salad, and chicken salad. “Omg, this is so well planned,” writes a Redditor.

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Lentils

Another Redditor uses lentils or beans to make soups in giant portions that last up to two weeks in the fridge before getting spoiled.

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Frozen Vegetables

"Bags of mixed frozen vegetables are around $1.50, so about 6 of those. Lentils are similarly priced, so about 6 of those. Aldi eggs are $2.30 for a dozen. Pretty easy and nutritious," shares one Redditor.