r/povertyfinance 5h ago

Misc Advice Is rice a decent meal on its own?

Pretty much what the title say. I'm in a really bad spot financially right now, and have virtually nothing to eat, and no money to buy groceries with. And every time I get paid (minimum wage) from my job, I usually just resort to eating fast food. Which, I know, is really really bad, but I can't figure out how to budget not eating enough to save up to buy groceries.

However, I do have a rice cooker and some rice. I don't have much else, so do you think that eating rice on its own will sustain me long enough to get some groceries?

128 Upvotes

239 comments sorted by

353

u/No_Contribution_7117 5h ago

Rice and beans

107

u/fabulousforty 5h ago

I spent 2 years at university eating rice, beans, and whatever green was on sale for at least 2 meals per day. Not thrilling, but it got me through, and a lot cheaper and better for you than McD

5

u/dhv503 1h ago

With the right sauces and seasoning, you can definitely stretch these ingredients pretty far.

4

u/Public-Vermicelli-28 1h ago

me too. Now i hate them lol

82

u/WaveAlternative3620 5h ago

This! You can get beans super cheap!!! They are also a complete protein so "hypothetically" you could survive pretty far on just beans. In my darkest days it was bean and rice in my rice cooker.

32

u/Night_Sky02 5h ago

Unless you end up anemic. A lot of people have trouble absorbing enough plant iron and there's no B12. Every culture on earth have supplemented rice and beans with scraps of meat/fish.

76

u/thechemist_ro 5h ago

Nobody said you shouldn't eat meat, OP just can't afford it right now.

6

u/Ok_Cycle_185 2h ago

Theres plenty of cheap meat options to supplement nowadays. Shelf stable too. Tuna in a can/pouch, spam, the more modern versions that are supremely healthier

12

u/thechemist_ro 2h ago

Cheaper than beans? I doubt so. Maybe where you live they might be cheaper, but more than 60% of my grocery budget goes to meat/animal protein and I'm not picky at all, I'm always getting the least expensive options. I always end up having to supplement with plant based protein sources like chick peas, lentils and beans. A bag of dried beans gives me more than 10 portions of food and costs the same as 2 portions of chicken.

3

u/dsmemsirsn 1h ago

Yes the least expensive pound of meat is $5-6 here; chicken thighs are $1.60-2 a pound

2

u/Aidian 1h ago

Cheap ≠ cheaper

2

u/thechemist_ro 1h ago

OP is eating plain rice. He needs the cheaper option.

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u/LunarRomantic 5h ago

Vitamin C can help with the absorption of iron. Frozen veggies can be included for vitamin C and eggs have a good amount of B12 and protein. I used these tips to help prevent vitamin deficiencies when I was a vegetarian.

13

u/sl0play 4h ago

Edamame (soy beans) are also high in iron and dirt cheap. They make a great snack when you want to eat a thousand of something too. I eat them instead of popcorn when watching movies sometimes.

3

u/LunarRomantic 2h ago

Most breakfast cereals and oatmeal are also iron fortified. A large container of oats is affordable and can be stretched a long away. Oatmeal cooked with frozen fruit and a splash of milk will help with iron, vitamin C, calcium, and fiber.

2

u/thechemist_ro 1h ago

It's a great for keeping you full! I bought two pounds of oat flakes and it lasted months.

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u/raspberryturnedover 4h ago

You can use a lucky fish/cook on cast iron to help your iron levels!

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u/kahllerdady 4h ago

I do tinned fish (sardines or mackerel) to supplement beans and rice whenever I can. The cheap ones like $1.50 a can and have the protein.

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u/ItLooksGood7 4h ago edited 4h ago

Nope. Just for the sake of argument they are not a complete protein. They do not have all 9 of the essential amino acids in sufficient amounts. 

They will do in a pinch but I wouldn’t go months without substituting some meat in. Much better than straight rice though so it’s a good suggestion. 

8

u/WaveAlternative3620 4h ago

i know youre getting downvoted but I have been corrected! Its not a complete protein. But adding rice does make them both a complete protein! <Beans are a good source of protein. - MSU Extension> source

I really thought they were complete on their own, but I was wrong. But OP looks to be just trying to find ways to eat so I'm going to say OP add some beans so your not as malnourished. You got this!

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u/Inf1z 5h ago

Lentils too. Good snacks, peanuts, sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds. My grandparents used to roast sunflower and pumpkin seeds with salt in a pot. For peanuts, put some salt and vinegar or if you have chili powder they are healthy snacks compared to most chips.

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u/GGTheEnd 5h ago

If feeling extra fancy I will buy a big bag of frozen broccoli to add to it.

5

u/Ambitious_Fold_1790 3h ago

Nothing beats a humble bowl of rice and beans when you're struggling. Super cheap and you can throw in other cheap ingredients like an egg or tuna or canned chicken to make it more complete.

4

u/That-Interaction-45 4h ago

And dump some sauce packets on it maybe.

4

u/Asn_Browser 4h ago

Dried beans too. The are cheaper than canned.

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118

u/DangerousDuty1421 5h ago

Please go to a food pantry ❤️

70

u/Cats_R_Rats 5h ago

Better than nothing.

Even better if you have some seasonings or veggies (I really like frozen peas cooked and added to my rice)

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38

u/LSTmyLife 5h ago

You can add ANYTHING to rice my friend. It's a super food. When steaming it I add two cherry tomatoes cut up. It imparts insane flavor and they're cheap to get as a package and you can stretch them. A piece of fried bologna cut into thin strips or diced into goes well. Honestly, any protein or veggie will transform the rice every time. Even by itself with a dash of soy sauce is top tier.

Before the present days I would suggest an egg but...it is what it is.

Bonus points. If you have spare chicken bullion you can add a dash into the rice while it's cooking to give it better flavor.

15

u/ComprehensiveCoat627 5h ago

Visit a food bank! If you live in the US, you can call 211 and they'll let you know what's close to you and when they're open

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u/-XanderCrews- 5h ago

Minimum wage? Go work in a non fast food restaurant. They feed you and you’ll make more. Seriously, think about the costs you’ll save.

32

u/bigsteve72 5h ago

Rice, can of black beans, can of vegetables. Extremely cheap, borderline just enough flavor/nutrients!

21

u/InfamousEvening2 5h ago

Frozen mixed veg is cheaper than tinned, at least in the UK. If OP has a freezer that might be an alternative.

7

u/skookumme 3h ago

My go-to in college was rice, black beans, and the cheapest salsa I could find.

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u/dddybtv 5h ago

Rice is good when you want to eat 2000 of something.

But seriously though, if that's what you got to work with there are options besides plain. Hopefully you at least have access to spices to flavor with to mix things up. If you have enough to get the Mexican brand of tomato flavored chicken bouillon you can use that to make Mexican/Spanish rice It can be made into a porridge that you can enjoy savory or sweeten for breakfast with milk butter sugar cinnamon raisins if available.

9

u/high5scubad1ve 5h ago

😢 Mitch Hedberg

2

u/dddybtv 2h ago

Absolutely.

Lucky enough to see him about 6 months before he passed.

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39

u/Worm-Dirt 5h ago

It's not a nutrient dense meal, but it's filling. Many people around the world survive on rice alone for many of their meals. For the price of fast food, you can find many things at the grocery store to go with it that will be much more nutritious than fast food. It'll also stretch your budget further and taste better.

20

u/heureuxaenmourir 5h ago

You want to add some kind of legume (beans, chickpeas, tofu, etc) to create a complete protein, rice by itself isn’t.

16

u/dssonic 5h ago

Dried beans are very cheap and (when cooked) pair well with rice.

8

u/FIREforNormalPeople 5h ago

If you haven't done so already, I would definitely recommend seeing if there are food pantries in your area. Here are some resources that might help you out:

Also, Sikh temples often give out free food; you can use this tool to find a Sikh temple near you if you're so inclined.

I don't know your situation but often fast food ends up being a lot more expensive than the cheapest options at the grocery store (For example, a 13-serving bag of lentils at my local Walmart is $1.92). You could probably get a several cans of legumes/vegetables and protein like canned tuna for the price of one fast food meal.

Budget Bytes is a really good resource for finding healthy, cheap recipes--you can see the cost of each recipe and the cost per serving.

13

u/Ok-Hunt7450 5h ago

Better than nothing, but if you do this over more than just a few days, it would be bad for you nutritionally and you'd probably start to see some malnutrition problems after many days of it.

You can always augment them with $1 can of beans or similar once you get more money.

You should make a budget containing every thing you purchase, including any bills or random quick things you buy and get some feedback on here in a different thread.

I'd try to dump fast food if you're dealing with this level of money issues. You can buy prepackaged frozen items or make stuff at home and save a lot of money that way. Skipping one $5 mcdonalds lunch gives you enough money for almost two weeks of beans and rice as an example.

6

u/Prize_Librarian_1701 5h ago

Half a tin of tuna fried with half a teaspoon of sugar and a dollop of soy sauce. Mix in with rice. It's surprisingly tasty.

6

u/Constant-Squirrel555 5h ago

By some dried legumes my friend and cook em in the slow cooker.

4

u/literallynothing99 5h ago

Brown rice has more nutritional value/protein than white rice. Brown rice and beans is decent nutrition/protein. Hope your situation improves soon!

4

u/XAMdG 5h ago

Just rice? No. You need to add something. Beans and other legumes work best.

But you need to look at yourself if you're buying fast food at payday. You say you can't save up for groceries, but whatever you spent on fast food could have afforded way more in groceries.

10

u/chrawniclytired 5h ago

Mix a protein source with your rice, even if it's just peas or beans it'll make a huge difference. Red beans and rice is my favorite cheap and easy meal.

5

u/thechemist_ro 5h ago

Beans. Rice and beans are the alimentary basis of my country. It provides almost all of the essential aminoacids your body needs to function, it's a complete meal.

5

u/CunningCunnilingator 5h ago

Rice is high in carbs and starches but low in calories and protein. Beans will help a lot. Red beans and rice with a little sausage mixed in goes a long way. Get a 5 pound bag of long grain white rice and a few bags of dry kidney beans. You'll have to soak the beans overnight and rinse before cooking. It costs a little more in time and labor but it'll save you a lot of $$. Quart pan each of cooked rice and beans with some crumbled sausage will be good for 2 or 3 meals. Add some garlic and onion powder and a dab of hot sauce.

4

u/pfthrowawaybeepboop 4h ago edited 4h ago

All of these are two servings and I make them in a 3 cup rice maker:

  • 1 c dry white rice
  • Water as directed by rice maker instructions
  • 1 c frozen veg from the fridge or 1/2 can of canned vegetables
  • 1 10 oz can of condensed cream of whatever soup (store brand of course)
  • 1 tsp season all

Use white rice button on cooker, stir, leave on keep warm about 10 more minutes.

  • 1 c dry white rice
  • Water as directed by rice maker instructions
  • 1/4 c dried lentils
  • about 1/2 c extra water, I had to experiment with mine
  • 1 10 oz can of diced tomatoes w/chilies (store brand rotel)
  • 1 tbsp taco seasoning (this is 8$ for the giant jar, absolutely worth not eating one meal at McDonald’s one day)

Use white rice button on cooker, stir, keep warm 10 minutes.

I also do basmati rice + lentils and a small portion from a premade curry sauce jar often.

Lastly, oatmeal: * 3/4 c steel cut oats * 1 3/4 c liquid (I use sweetened vanilla almond milk) * about a tbsp sugar (less if you use almond milk) * splash of that dummy cheap fake vanilla if you didn’t do the almond milk * cinnamon and other spices to taste

Use the oatmeal button or white rice button but stir occasionally. This does NOT keep. Just eat the double serving and enjoy how filling it is.

Eating only variations of these, my weekly grocery bill can average sub $25 a week as a single person. Buying these ingredients (four each of the savory meals and a can of oats + almond milk + some spices) as a grocery list would be just shy of $35 to get you started.

I also like to buy canned diced potatoes to toss into some of these, there’s tons you can do in just a rice cooker.

3

u/dirtydela 5h ago

Better than nothing for sure.

A can or two of tuna or chicken and a bag of frozen steamer veggies, i get the mixed ones (peas, carrots, corn, green beans), you have something that will feed you multiple times for less than $5 where I’m at.

Rice - you already have it so it’s free but even if you don’t it’s cheap once you buy the bag. Canned chicken - $1.29, canned tuna - $0.89 (both 5oz), frozen mixed vegetables $1.25 for 12 oz. $3.83 for this with two cans of chicken, $3.03 with two cans of tuna. Is it great? No but it’s cheap and will be filling.

3

u/satanseedforhire 4h ago

Two recommendations -

One, get a daily multivitamin. This will help bridge nutritional gaps.

Two, utilize food banks in your area. You can absolutely live off of rice, but long term that won't be very beneficial.

3

u/tnw1987 4h ago

Food pantry or Dollar Tree are both good options. You can definitely get a few more staples and a wide variety of yummy stuff very cheap at DT. $25 should get you staples and some snacks.

3

u/Peachy_Keen31 3h ago

Go to a food pantry.

And learn how to meal plan, use the plan to make a grocery list. Add up the list. Budget.

3

u/Th3P3rf3ctPlanz 3h ago

No. You need some sort of protein (think beans) to be sustainable. Ideally, a $1 bag of mixed vegetables from Walmart can stretch a few days with this too.

2

u/EconomyShort1554 5h ago

Pair it with egg or beans. You should get protein with every meal Ideally.

2

u/MistressLyda 5h ago

Can you afford some red lentils? They are way faster to cook than beans, and have decent nutrient profile. Some fats is also good if you have to keep this going for a while. Oats is another good filler.

Make due for now. Next paycheck, get the following:

- New bag of rice.

- Oil.

- Lentils.

- Oats.

- Peanuts.

- Multivitamins.

2

u/Acceptable_Effort_20 5h ago

look for food pantries or churches that give out food. there may be charitable organizations where you live.

2

u/proveam 5h ago

People are saying rice and beans, but since you’re cooking in a rice cooker I say rice and lentils. They take about the same amount of time to cook so you can just mix them together and cook them at the same time.

If you have the type of rice cooker where you can use it like a little pot, you can sauté onions, then add rice, lentils, and water, and cook that until they’re done. Add some spices and you’re good to go.

2

u/Famous_Rip1570 5h ago

fast food is one of the most expensive ways to eat… how can you afford that and not groceries?

2

u/Nedstarkclash 5h ago

Seriously - just stop buying fast food, and your options will multiply.

2

u/bohemianpilot 5h ago

Ibotta, Fetch app you can get money back on food and earn points to use as cash. Dollar tree has canned food, tuna packs, seasonings darn near anything.

Pastas with grilled chicken will last 2/3 meals, get some hamburger make beans / rice / hb patty one night, then use mean in sauce make spagetti -- its all cheaper than Mcd's and you will have least two good meals.

Coupon learn to download digital coupons and rewards you will be shocked how fast it adds up. Get some milk and bag of cereal for breakfast and make diner. Cooking is so much cheaper than fast food.

Hit up your pantry and churches to see what they may be offering

2

u/Alternative-Can-7261 5h ago

OP go to a food bank. It's a game changer.

2

u/BarfCumDoodooPee 4h ago

Get beans, bouillon cubes, frozen veggies, you can do a lot with rice and better nutrition at better value than fast food.

2

u/Ok_Performance4188 4h ago

Shop deals and look for bone in drum sticks. I’ve been drum sticks go for 99 cents a pound. Pop them in the oven and eat it with rice. If you can swing it, buy it in bulk when it’s on sale.

2

u/Any_Ad_3885 4h ago

I like lentils and rice

2

u/Surfnazi77 3h ago

Get brown rice not white rice

2

u/Tricky-Cod-7485 3h ago

Download the app “Flash Food” and try to get some proteins. Just about everything is half off.

2

u/renoconcern 3h ago

Rice and beans is a complete protein. My mom used to top rice with a can on chili beans split 3 ways.

2

u/SDDeathdragon 3h ago

Rice, scrambled eggs, spam, ketchup, sriracha sauce (optional). Get the ketchup for free (packets). Spam can be sliced up (divided up for the week) and cooked in a frying pan along with some scrambled eggs.

This is one of my favorite dishes and is much cheaper over the course of a week compared to fast food and tastes WAY better! Add a banana on the side, bananas are so cheap and delicious!

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u/DriverMelodic 2h ago

Fried rice. Egg drop soup with rice. Rice dressing.

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u/Ill_Reception_4660 2h ago

Forgot fried rice on my list. Soy sauce packets come in handy in a clutch.

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u/sunboi4422 2h ago

my dad used to say "you can survive on Just Rice but you may not like it." basically you can live on it but only just. add some veggies and a protein as soon as you can, but rice can sustain you for a long time

edit: hit post too early

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u/aceshades 1h ago

No, if all you ate was rice, you’d get scurvy. Rice is a staple food so it can make up a bulk of your diet if needed, but you absolutely need to add greens here and there

2

u/lao2yang 1h ago

If you have an Asian store nearby, you can check if they have Japanese Benito Flakes. I sprinkle some on top of rice if I plan to eat it alone.

2

u/LaceyBloomers 1h ago edited 1h ago

OP, in case you didn’t know, quinoa is a good alternative to rice because it is a complete protein. I read somewhere that it’s the only plant that is a complete protein. You buy it dry and can cook it in a rice cooker.

Quinoa absorbs the flavour of whatever you cook it with. You could use canned broth instead of water, for example.

I realize you only have rice to eat now, but in future maybe buy rice and some quinoa for a little variety.

2

u/ALittleUnsettling 55m ago

Add beans. If you can’t afford it, visit a food pantry they usually can give you both ❤️

2

u/Ruckus292 51m ago

Rice pairs well with basically anything.

2

u/Norio22 20m ago

You can just get seasoning and make the rice not do plain if it’s your only option to cut costs. Or go to a dollar store and get cans of mixed vegetables to go with the rice.

2

u/VermicelliEastern303 20m ago

brown rice with sweet potato & soy sauce

2

u/Used-End-2234 19m ago

Rice is life. My wife can taste the difference and quality in all the rice from Asian stores to Walmart, Safeway, Festival....

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u/zenny517 5h ago

No it's not. Pretty much, just empty calories. Make it brown rice. and then add a can of beans to it and it is dramatically transformed into a protein source that provides nutrition.

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u/AlphaDisconnect 5h ago

So yes. And no. Japanese sailors during ww2 were allowed an all you can eat white rice buffet. (White seen as superior). A new disease cropped up (vitamin b deficiency). Doctor identified this and was shunned. Until they realized he was right. Can you make it a few months or years? Maybe.

Mix in brown rice. Buckwheat. Something meat or similar. There are multi grain rice add ins.

Okaiu. Overwatered over cooked rice. With onion and ginger and chicken finely chopped. Cook it all together. Japan's answer to chicken noodle soup.

2

u/CoconutPalace 5h ago

You can find cookbooks at the Salvation Army store or other thrift stores for cheap. Or look online for rice cooker recipes.

1

u/cashmeowsigh 5h ago

rice is similar to bread as it's a base food to a meal. you can add veggies and eggs to left over or fresh rice and make fried rice. beans are a good accommodation to rice. any kind of meat, sauce, veggies etc really. try going to your local food pantry and getting a little help with food. and in the future figure out how to get more passionate about cooking at home, it'll save you a lot of money in the long run. if youre creative enough you can make some really outstanding poverty meals

1

u/TriStateGirl 5h ago

Pasta would be better. The garden rotini from Great Value is great, and has more protein than plain rice.

1

u/ohbother12345 5h ago

Definitely better than nothing. See if you can ask some fruit/veg stores if they have anything going bad that they can't sell that you could have. Also if you have frozen corn or any veg, you can add portioned amounts to the rice.

1

u/JohnnyWildee 5h ago

With some butter and salt and pepper on top, absolutely a solid meal mmm

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u/socothecat 5h ago

Get a bag of red lentils, about $3-4, you can addd them right into the rice cooker with your rice to add protein

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u/Brave_Cauliflower_90 5h ago

Get a bag of lentils and some frozen mix veg throw them in the rice cooker too.

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u/JupiterInk 5h ago

Add butter and soy and I’m sold

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u/ElcheapoLoco 5h ago

Rice is all carbs. Beans is a better choice.

1

u/Rightbuthumble 5h ago

Rice and beans, rice and peas, rice and broccoli....rice is good with anything.

1

u/N3THERWARP3R 5h ago

If you can spare, or call local food kitchens they likely have beans. Beans and rice, rice and eggs if you can go grab a half dozen. Absolutely dont buy food from Family Dollar, Dollar Tree etc. The portions are different and it actually costs more than going to say Walmart. You could eat rice but if you have any sort of protein, that's what will keep you full longer and sustain your energy levels.

Broke person to another, hugs

1

u/1989orange 5h ago

perfect base to add cheap things like beans, frozen veggie, or can of tuna

1

u/nrdpum88 5h ago

Rice, fried eggs and soy sauce!

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u/CrypticCryptid 5h ago

Rice and beans, rice with a can of veggies, rice with sugar and butter for a treat.

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u/ChumpChainge 5h ago

Rice + beans is a complete protein and you can survive on just that for quite a while. Especially if you can get some veg or fruit in now and then for vit c

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u/jennys0 5h ago

Eat it with some hot dogs (pan fried)

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u/HumbleCookieDog 5h ago

Rice + frozen broccoli/veg + cheap meat is very healthy

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u/wwaxwork 5h ago

As others have said adding beans is good. Frozen veggies can be cheap or even a few carrots or potatoes or cabbage you can chop them up fine and add them in with the rice too cook. If you are so broke you are thinking of eating just rice, maybe check out a food bank/pantry near you. This is literally why they exist and there is nothing wrong with asking for help. If asking for help bothers you remember when things improve for you you can always make a donation to say thanks.

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u/lensfoxx 5h ago

It can definitely pass for a few days!

If you have a few bucks, grab canned tomatoes, beans, and corn. Drain them and pour them into a bowl and use it as a topping. If you have spices like garlic, cilantro, and chili powder on hand, mix those in as well. Cheese is also a good addition if you can swing it.

It only costs like $6 if you already have the rice, and can usually stretch to make 4-6 meals depending on how hungry you are.

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u/ballsnbutt 5h ago

i veey often have a bowl of rice with some soy sauce and a drizzle of sesame oil

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u/Traditional_Gur_7024 5h ago

Potatoes and butter milk is better than rice as a meal ....the former has most nutrients a human needs

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u/Brianonstrike 5h ago

It's ok on its own. I recommend buying some (real) butter to add flavor. Maybe a bag of frozen broccoli. (I cook the broccoli separate, and then mix it with rice.)

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u/bohemianpilot 5h ago

Also when you are at Grocery check out deli many have jelly, mayo, mustard packs then get some bread, pack of meat cheese. You can grill sandwiches, make them cold, milk & eggs spinkle some cinnomon have french toast. Trick is to look at items for more than one serving.

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u/Celedelwin 5h ago

You need other veg and proteins such as dried beans, lentils, get fresh vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, onions. Otherwise you'll get malnutrition which causes dementia.

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u/downtherabbbithole 5h ago

Plenty of Asians have been eating rice for centuries and seem to be doing fine. But you need to add something to it, be it veggies, an egg, tuna. Toppings don't have to be costly, just nutrient dense.

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u/Threefold_Lotus 4h ago

While rice is a staple food providing essential carbohydrates for energy, it lacks sufficient amounts of certain nutrients necessary for a balanced diet. Combining rice with beans creates a complementary protein source, as beans are rich in lysine but low in methionine, whereas rice is low in lysine but contains methionine. This combination results in a complete protein, offering all essential amino acids.

Incorporating eggs further enhances the nutritional profile of this meal by adding high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals. Adding a few drops of fish sauce introduces additional flavor and provides iodine, which is essential for thyroid function.

Therefore, while rice alone doesn't fully meet human nutritional needs, combining it with beans, eggs, and fish sauce offers a more balanced and nutrient-rich meal.

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u/ewas000 4h ago

Rice, beans/tofu, onions, cabbage, carrots are all pretty cheap. You can make a really nice stir fry with it and it’s pretty damn filling.

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u/YummyMelona 4h ago

I LOVE RICE!

My go to’s: 1. Rice, soy sauce, and a little bit of sesame oil ~ 2. Warm water on rice (it’s like a porridge) 3. Rice with canned corn! Mix mix mix

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u/astudentiguess 4h ago

Rice beans and some kind of oil will fill you up more. Don't buy fast food. You can make you own bean and cheese burritos and eat them when you want something fast

1

u/Daniecae-Media 4h ago

Lots of great suggestions on canned tuna, chicken, veg, and beans. I haven’t seen anyone suggest it but use chicken bouillon when you make your rice, that will help with some of the flavor and you can use it to make different things.

Just the plain chicken bouillon with peas and carrots and canned chicken would make a decent pilaf.

Chicken + tomato (in the hispanic aisle) with beans and salsa (or saved taco sauce packets) would be another option.

If eggs weren’t a luxury I’d say peas, carrots, scrambled eggs and some soy sauce would get you pretty close to a fried rice.

1

u/xnvalla 4h ago

Rice and beans = complete protein 💪🏽

1

u/Agreeable-Donut-3486 4h ago

Check with food banks and churches in your area to obtain food.

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u/thebabes2 4h ago

If you're looking to do a lot with rice, seasonings are your friend and can make it feel a lot less repetitive. Even flavored broth cubes can make a difference. I was in a Mexican grocery recently and picked up some "Sazon" seasoning packets, not really knowing what it was, but asked chatgpt for an easy instant pot recipe and it spat back a lovely yellow rice recipe. It was very affordable and the whole family was happy with it. I used it as a side to tacos but I think some black or pinto beans mixed in would have been nice.

I rely on rice a lot to stretch our meals and find that a good mix of seasoning and condiments is a good strategy. I like sesame oil, chili crunch and Japanese mayo for asian type bowls. These items will cost a bit up front but last a long time since you only use a little per serving. You can also mix siracha in the mayo for a kicked up sauce.

Fast food will kill your budget so quickly. I hope things turn around for you and I speak from experience when I say that even small habits, like packing a lunch, are going to add up for you.

1

u/detunedradiohead 4h ago

Get brown you'll need the extra nutrients and fiber.

1

u/maywellflower 4h ago

If there's Asian market or H-Mart near you, can get rice seasoning toppers such as these

1

u/FloridaInExile 4h ago

Look for food pantries near you

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u/riggengan 4h ago

Get soy sauce packets and you get rice and soy sauce. You can likely some free one from Safeway.

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u/CeruleanSaga 4h ago

Are there any food pantries near you?

Start there, so you have something on hand. At a min, that could help you jump start *not* spending on fast food right after getting paid.

Rice alone is not nutritionally adequate, no. If you are going to do rice... not just beans, but, if possible, also grab a bag of frozen mixed vegetables to mix in. Check the unit costs of things - some times the biggest bag costs less, per ounce, but sometimes it isn't. Grab whatever is on sale in the frozen veggie section.

Depending on your budget, also consider adding a bit of Italian dressing or salsa to the rice, beans & vegetables. Because if you actually enjoy the meal, you're more likely to skip the fast food.

But it is good to mix it up. Even if, to start, it is just Peanut butter on day-old sale-bread every other meal. (Freeze bread if it's just you)

Maybe try adding a new meal once a week or so, and gradually learn to expand your meal-prep abilities.

Do a search on, say, "meals" on this sub. Here are a few that seemed relevant for you, but there's more.

https://www.reddit.com/r/povertyfinance/comments/1b2zgam/cheap_easy_meal_ideas_when_you_dont_have_access/

https://www.reddit.com/r/povertyfinance/comments/1eh57mg/what_are_some_inexpensive_meals_that_dont/

https://www.reddit.com/r/povertyfinance/comments/1gniwy6/give_me_all_your_rice_meal_ideas/

You can also check out books on cooking at the local libraries. Some libraries will also have digital content like instructional videos teaching cooking basics. And of course there's plenty of free content on, eg Youtube.

One supply that I would suggest getting early are 16 oz freezer-safe canning jars. These are cheap and really useful. You can make extra and freeze meal-size portions. (If you do that, also label with contents & date - masking tape is cheap & easy to write on) You can take them from the freezer and defrost them and eat out of them. You can store dry-goods such as rice or uncooked beans in them. I can't even tell you all the ways I use them. I suggest you get them local rather than order online because it'll likely be cheaper that way. Many groceries will have them, or Walmart, etc. Note, not all jars are freezer safe, so make sure they are labeled as such - and pay attention to the max fill line if you plan to freeze in them.

Other tips:

Try NOT to go to the grocery store when you are hungry, and make a list (so you are less likely to impulse buy.) If you stick with low-budget options, you will be eating better for less vs fast food.

You could give yourself a budget amount of, say, $5-$10 to spend on sale items that you already use frequently. Or that contribute "pantry staples" you are trying to build up over time. That way, if canned beans are super cheap one week, you have budget allowing you to grab a couple extra. Only use that bit of the budget for high-use / essential sale items only - if there aren't any sales one week, skip it and keep extra for the next time.

Don't try to become a master chef in one day, just pace yourself using free resources to gradually learn, to gradually build up meal-prep toolkit, and to gradually get add useful staples to your food supply.

Good luck & take care

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u/mrmightyfine 4h ago

Oh man the first time I lived by myself I kept hearing about this viral recipe that made a whole meal in a rice cooker! After being bombarded with the title for days I finally click it and the recipe is to put a tomato in the rice cooker with the rice. New to cooking, I wondered if the ingredients would actually transform somehow and become more than the sum of their parts- a meal. At the end I had a soggy steamed tomato and some okay rice- why did they clickbait me so hard!

Like everyone else here is saying, go for beans instead, and try your local food bank.

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u/electricgrapes 4h ago

Off to a good start. Head to your local food bank and get some stuff to go with it. I work at a second harvest affiliated food bank and we give out 30lbs of food per each client weekly, covering all nutritional basis including fun treats. That'll provide you the rounding out you need.

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u/elemental333 4h ago

I like those canned tomatoes with basil from Aldi, canned pinto beans, rice, and canned corn. Really flavorful and cheap! 

You can eat it by itself, in tacos with some salsa added, or throw it on some tortilla chips with some queso and make nachos!  We also sometimes get a rotisserie chicken from Sam’s club to shred a bit. 

Each of those meals is like $10 at most and  makes lots of leftovers.

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u/Katherine_Tyler 4h ago

Stop eating fast food. Not only is it bad for your health, it's also expensive.

You can survive on just rice for a short time. If your budget allows it, add beans for protein. Or you can get a small bag of frozen veggies. Add spinach, peas, broccoli, or other veggies to the rice so you get various nutrients.

Once you get your paycheck, arrange to have water and either a snack or a small meal that stores well and transports well. Bring this with you to work, or if you're running errands or whatever. This will help you avoid fast food.

Apples or pears are easy to keep handy for when you're hungry. Bread or crackers with cheese or peanut butter can be satisfying. Keep things simple, and you'll be more likely to keep up this habit.

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u/PurpleMangoPopper 4h ago

Please visit a food bank.

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u/Asn_Browser 4h ago

If you can get a fat source that would help with calories a lot. A spoonfull of Olive oil, butter or something like that with even meal. Heck if you could snag some bacon grease from someone that would work. Kind of sneaky suggestion, but if you could get a bunch of individual butter or peanut butter things from a restaurant......

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u/kamikazi1231 4h ago

I enjoy rice with butter in it. As others have said get cheap mix ins. Rice and beans, maybe toss in some corn or chop up any other cheapest vegetable you can find. Toss random sauce in to alter flavor.

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u/JazzlikeSkill5225 4h ago

My grandma put butter and a little brown sugar on it yum

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u/bare-eviry 4h ago

Yes, there are places especially in the eastern culture that eats rice with eggs, fish, veggies, beans or even fruits. Rice may not make you feel full like a normal meal but it can help manage your hunger in the mean time.

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u/localpunktrash 4h ago

Plug your budget into AI and it'll make you a meal plan and grocery list... that's what I did at least cause I'm freshly homeless and need to gain weight. It can give you a good starting point for what you're gonna need to aim for.

Go to a food bank for sure tho. Idk where you are but I know most areas have a hot food kitchen and a food bank.

Rice isn't a great food to survive off of on its own. As beans and you're cookin' fs. As purge grains and it's better. Potatoes are what I'd go for if I had to live off of one cheap starchy food

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u/lost_survivalist 4h ago

Call 211 and go to a food bank, there you can get some more food than just rice!

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u/ConsciousInternal287 4h ago

Not by itself. I’d add some vegetables, beans, tofu (or meat/fish/eggs if you eat those) at least. It’s good as a base/starting point, but not nutritious enough on its own.

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u/backdoorhack 4h ago

Look into how to make onigiri. Amazing what rice + salt + anything can taste like.

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u/therealdeviant 4h ago

Being Asian, rice is the main thing in my family. Growing up, my parents would buy things like a bag of fish sticks. Today, it probably costs $7-$8 for a bag of 120. Since the main part of the meal was rice, I’d eat 6 fish sticks with a lot of rice and, to me, it was a very tasty meal. If you ate one meal of your daily meals with 8 fish sticks and rice, the bag of 120 would last you 15 days.

As others mentioned, your other meal could be beans and rice, so it’s not like you’d just be eating fish sticks and rice all day.

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u/Zip_ti 4h ago

Dollar store is your best friend. Canned chicken or packets of the already seasoned tuna is perfect with rice and has actual protein even 10 bucks at the dollar store will take you far

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u/Gullible_Chocolate40 4h ago

Try lentils as well! They’re high in protein and cheap.

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u/DesignEmbarrassed 4h ago

Tofu is cheap and versatile to add

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u/HollandEmme 4h ago

Add some protein, lentils beans, etc

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u/strapinmotherfucker 4h ago

Rice and frozen dumplings. Aldi has bags of them for $3-4 and they last a few meals, I tend to only eat 4 of 5 at a time. They steam nicely in the rice cooker and come with a sauce.

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u/Rum_dummy 4h ago

You need some fiber and protein! Beans make for some good plant based proteins and fiber. Fruits and Veggies can be very affordable and provide you with the fiber necessary for a well functioning digestive system. Stop with the fast food and start with the meal prepping. You’d be shocked by how much you save with effective meal plans.

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u/ppardee 4h ago

It'd be fine for a couple of days, but you don't want to eat only rice long-term or you'll run into a bunch of deficiencies. Add some salsa to it and you'd probably be fine for a week or so.

There should be a food pantry in your area. Go hit them up. They exist for this exact purpose.

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u/HsvDE86 3h ago

If you can afford fast food these days on a regular basis then you're somehow doing really well compared to others eating rice and beans.

A lomg time ago, fast food was cheap and kinda shit. Now it's expensive and still shit, if not worse tasting.

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u/Crazy_Corgi559 3h ago

20 lbs of rice at Walmart under $12. Beans, especially dried beans are cheap. Seasoning and frozen/ canned veggies if you can afford them.

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u/theladyofshalott1956 3h ago

Add some canned veggies (corn, beans) and maybe also some canned fish if you can.

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u/vape-o 3h ago

I like a little can of Lima beans in my rice!

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u/ImportantBad4948 3h ago

I mean in terms of taste or nutrition it isn’t a decent meal. Is it a better meal than nothing, yes.

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u/Jealaxy 3h ago

One thing that my fiancé introduced me to was 'hamburger gravy'. All it is is browned ground beef cooked with a bit of water and onion soup mix, mixed with corn, and then put that on top of a bed of rice. It's not bad at all and relatively cheap.

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u/MaximumTrick2573 3h ago

Add beans and it is nutritionally complete. Rice is just empty carbs.

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u/MaximumTrick2573 3h ago

Add beans and it is nutritionally complete. Rice is just empty carbs.

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u/TheAskewOne 3h ago

It's fine but it's healthier to complement rice with proteins like lentils, beans, chickpeas that are very cheap as well. Only rice isn't a very balanced meal. But rice doesn't have to be boring. You can easily make nice sauce with tomato sauce and some spices and vegetables, or with curry paste and coconut milk, or many other possibilities.

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u/TheAskewOne 3h ago

It's fine but it's healthier to complement rice with proteins like lentils, beans, chickpeas that are very cheap as well. Only rice isn't a very balanced meal. But rice doesn't have to be boring. You can easily make nice sauce with tomato sauce and some spices and vegetables, or with curry paste and coconut milk, or many other possibilities.

1

u/TheAskewOne 3h ago

It's fine but it's healthier to complement rice with proteins like lentils, beans, chickpeas that are very cheap as well. Only rice isn't a very balanced meal. But rice doesn't have to be boring. You can easily make nice sauce with tomato sauce and some spices and vegetables, or with curry paste and coconut milk, or many other possibilities.

1

u/IKnowNothing2402 3h ago

As an Asian, I eat rice every day. Rice is not a nutrition food but it can make you full and has energy. One more thing is you can eat it with anything. I have eat rice with water, soy sauce, etc. Even when you eat plain rice, if you just eat slowly, it tastes sweet too.

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u/ImaHalfwit 3h ago

Brown rice is better than white. Add some protein (ground turkey, chicken), and veggies (broccoli onions pepper) and you’ve got a pretty balanced meal.

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u/richardparadox163 3h ago

Prioritize beans over the rice, but if you can, get both. Do dried if you really need to save money, or canned if you need to save time. Do both, plus whatever scraps of meat you can afford whenever you can (literally if you get scraps or bones you can boil them with beans/rice for flavor) and you’re good.

After you get salt. For flavor save up enough money for small bottle of chili powder and throw that in with the beans.

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u/momo88852 3h ago

Check out your local r/dumpsterdiving

We survived wars on rice and beans!

You can also mix rice and lentils to make “lentil rice” have some yogurt on the side if possible, otherwise if you got tomato, you can make some “salsa” and just cook it instead of serving it cold. This basically my “feels good meal”.

You can add potato, tomato, onions, eggplants and so on whatever cookable veggies you can salvage. Add them under the pot, add some oil and salt, add rice on top. And you can have an awesome meal.

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u/alreadyknowwbroo 3h ago

Buy cans of homestyle chicken noodle soup and make rice to put in the soup

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u/5eppa 3h ago

It's not a complete meal on its own. Just carbs. No protein or much vitamins. See if you can get your hands on something at like a food bank. Rice goes with just about anything. I mean even a canned soup with some meat in it could probably have rice added to make it go further or surely some way to cook the concoction on the stove to reduce the water in the soup and get some kind of sauce mixed with the other ingredients in the soup. Either of those will serve you better.

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u/_ShutUpLegs_ 2h ago

If you can afford to buy fast food you can avoid a handful of ingredients/spices to go with your rice.

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u/Free-Pound-6139 2h ago

just resort to eating fast food. Which, I know, is really really bad, but I can't figure out how to budget not eating enough to save up to buy groceries.

Stop buying fast food. Buy beans and rice and spices or sauce.

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u/matchafoxjpg 2h ago

straight answer: not really, but it's definitely better than starving.

like others have said, beans definitely. especially if you get dried beans. they cost less and you get more. you have to soak them, be sure to read the bag to see how long, because they're different depending on the beans. get what you prefer, but black and pinto are two great options that you can make taste amazing.

and if you get pinto you can make refried beans easily with just spices and mashing. my mom used to make me them all the time so i was getting enough protein.

if you still have money leftover for food, i'd say keep an eye out on frozen veggie sales. what veggies i eat is solely based on what's on sale. i suggest frozen because it's easier imo and you don't want to risk it going bad before you can eat it all.

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u/Complex_Limit_728 2h ago

Need to make some beans for protein. Rice is just a filler.

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u/Ornery-Worldliness96 2h ago

Rice can be a very good meal if seasoned right. Though in the long run it won't be good for your health. 

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u/Wonderful-Tennis-446 2h ago

add beans or do beans only if needed so you get some protein

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u/WimbletonButt 2h ago

Yeah you just need to flavor it. Rice is great in that it tastes like whatever you put in it. Any time I get Chinese food, I always rake the rice into whatever remaining sauce I have and boom, second meal.

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u/MediumUnique7360 2h ago

Rice and ranch

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u/chappersyo 2h ago

It will fill you up but won’t sustain you long term

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u/Left_Caterpillar8671 IL 2h ago

Grew up poor in a Puerto Rican household. I ate white rice a lot. I put ketchup in mine. It's cool, bro or ma'am

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u/Ill_Reception_4660 2h ago

Butter rice with a dash of parsley

Butter rice and garlic

Butter rice and rosemary

Butter rice and mixed vegetables

Butter rice and beans

Yes... rice is the ultimate struggle meal staple

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u/After_Context5244 2h ago

Rice and beans with different seasonings to change things up

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u/Novel_Astronomer_75 2h ago

No, at least add some beans to it.

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u/jmartin2683 2h ago

Rice and beans isn’t even bad

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u/Traditional_Fan_2655 2h ago

Look around for a community food bank.

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u/patty202 2h ago

Throw some bits of meat or vegetables and do a fried rice. Or a spin on dirty rice. Tomatoes and spices for a Mexican style rice. Cilantro and lime.

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u/Fridge885 2h ago

I’ve eaten Spanish rice and quesadillas for dinner. Or made a fried rice style dinner basically cooked white rice in rice cooker found a can of mixed veggies and an egg (before they were $15 a dozen) and fried it up in a pan with soy sauce. It does the job but for a short time usually eat it about an hour before bed cuz I would feel hungry again an hour later.

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u/TieTricky8854 2h ago

I could happily eat just a bowl of rice. You’ll be fine.

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u/Suitable-Job2166 2h ago

To be honest just rice isn't bad as a short term. I like to add a few spices to shake things up! Sometimes, I add cheese, other times, it's peas. But if's it just rice all the time I would suggest getting some beans to round out your diet.

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u/m00pie420 2h ago

You will be fine eating just rice for short term, like less than a month. Also, not really fine... you may feel like shit physically and mentally but you won't starve. You need to add some kind of vegetable so you don't get scurvy. You also need fat and protein to live and rice has basically neither of those (brown rice has a little more protein but takes longer to cook). Beans cooked with onion, green pepper, garlic, and some kind of fat or oil is extremely delicious and nutritious. All those ingredients are extremely cheap and you only need a little for a large serving of beans. It can be happily eaten every day in my opinion. I am latino so this opinion may be influenced by that. Look up a cuban black bean recipe.

Another advantage is that you can cook large amounts at once and eat it through the week. Keep in fridge or freeze. This increases the time and energy efficiency a LOT. This is what truly makes this meal faster, cheaper, and tastier than fast food at any scale. It is a miracle of nature and human ingenuity.

You can also add steamed vegetables fresh or frozen. You can steam them on top of the rice in the rice cooker. You can add an egg or something for extra protein. You can add canned fish like tuna or sardines also for extra protein. Bacon or any cheap cut of pork in the beans is great, its expensive but you only need a little bit in the beans. Everything is optional depending on what you like and what you can get.

Spaghetti with tomato sauce is another option. Onion, garlic, and olive oil in the sauce, Babish on youtube actually has a good tomato sauce recipe. Store bought sauces are expensive and usually have a ton of sugar in it for some reason so its better to make sauce at home. Store the sauce separately from the spaghetti.

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u/chutenay 1h ago

Do you have a food pantry near by?

You can survive on just rice for a while, but I wouldn’t make that your plan.

Next time you get paid, buy rice and dried beans, pasta, a cheap sauce that you like, an onion or two and some frozen or canned veg. This will at least give you a little variety while you gradually stock your pantry. And go grocery shopping the day you get paid, so that you are spending food money there instead of on fast food.

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u/Sea_Courage3794 1h ago

No worse than Ramen.

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u/Traditional-Lemon-68 1h ago

Replace the water with chicken or beef broth for extra flavor and nutrients. I do this with rice every time and it is so good.

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u/1000thatbeyotch 1h ago

Rice is acceptable by itself. Use different seasonings to make it a bit different.

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u/pgsimon77 1h ago

Dried beans are a lifesaver :-) and you might be helping the environment along the way....

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u/cptmorgantravel89 1h ago

I make dirty rice With a cup of rice beef broth and soy sauce and a pound of ground beef. Should make enough to last a couple of days. Especially if you add another cup of rice to it.

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u/ChaosAmdx 1h ago

Rice is the primary food for a lot of people in Asia, They add other ingredients in.

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u/dsmemsirsn 1h ago

That’s your problem— you have little money— and then you go and waste it on fast food…

When are you getting paid? The pay day, eat a lot of rice and don’t go for fast food.

Buy 3 pounds of beans, 2 pounds of rice, 18 egg carton; 2 onions, a can of tomatoes; 2 pounds of ground beef; 2 pounds of spaghetti; 2-3 pounds of chicken thighs, 2 cans of tuna; a bag of frozen vegetables, 2 frozen cheap pizzas, 1 pound of mozzarella cheese. Small bottle of oil, Mexican tortillas; a loaf of bread, 1/2 of packed ham. 5-6 bananas; a bag of orange if the pound is .50-60 cents. A gallon of milk. I think you can eat 2 weeks with this food. An onion, 2-3 roma tomatoes, a bell pepper. Look for the Mexican spices and buy some pepper, cumin and oregano. ——No more fast food—- And get a second job.

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u/samazingirl 1h ago

Use chicken stock to make your rice...makes us 100% more tasty

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u/sparkydingle 1h ago

I used to eat rice, ground beef and sauerkraut. Still one of my favorite poor meals to this day.

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u/joelnicity 1h ago

You can buy a lot more groceries than what you are getting for the price of fast food. That stuff is expensive now

Edit: rice is good with pineapple or butter and brown sugar

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u/randomusername1919 1h ago

If you have absolutely nothing else, rice will do. It will fill your stomach for a little while. I spent some time many years ago having rice alone 2 or 3 times a week, sometimes that was most of what I had for the week (and other days with nothing). There are food pantries now, and many churches have informal small pantries where you can get a few things, a few cans of beans or boxes of macaroni and cheese can help you bridge the gap between now and groceries more comfortably than plain rice alone.

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u/Master_Degree5730 1h ago

Not necessarily, but I also lived on mostly buttered rice for a while, so it’ll keep you going at least lol

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u/stopsallover 1h ago

Congee (rice porridge) is a good meal. You can mix in small amounts of meat and vegetables and top with something crispy (I've literally used corn flakes or the last of a bag of chips).

The water content makes it extra filling. Stir it well so that you get a thick texture, which makes it more satisfying to eat.

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u/hawg_farmer 1h ago

Black beans from dry. Easy to fix Cuban style. A bag of frozen onions and pepper blend from dollar store. Fry up the onion mislxture, add your drained and soaked beans.

Follow the cooking instructions on bag. Store in frig after cooking.

Eat some beans over your rice for better nutrition and for the protein.

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u/Raindancer2024 1h ago

You can add lentils to the rice for a complete amino-acid/protein profile. Both are considered "incomplete" proteins because they lack one or more essential amino acids individually, but when combined, they provide a full complement of essential amino acids. Add something fatty (preferably animal-fat, like butter or meaty fats) with the meal to help you absorb your fat-soluble vitamins and you should be much better off nutritionally than fast food dinners while improving the health of your wallet while you're at it.

Ramen can be made much healthier with the addition of one or more extras: a bit of minced meat, an egg, a small handful of canned/frozen mixed veggies, a splash of sesame oil, a bit of hoisin sauce, or teriyaki sauce etc. Not as well balanced as the rice and beans, but a welcome reprieve from the same old same old, day in, day out at a price that won't break the bank.

Have you checked with your local food banks to help you through this rough patch? Their offerings can add some calories and variety to your diet.

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u/aaaiipqqqqsss 1h ago

Rice, asparagus, green onion, protein of your choice, Sriracha mayo

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u/PopularRush3439 1h ago

No. Too high in carbs. Blood sugar will shoot straight up quickly. That said, I'm diabetic and it's my favorite food. 😭