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I don't buy bulk and lost ALL of my weight being the poorest I have ever been in my life due to disability. I lost weight while on food stamps.. So thats a set of poor excuses... don't excuse the pun.
(This was as close as I could get to finding anything. It isn't a $1 a day but if you ration it out you might be able to do it.) Yes, beans and rice are on here.
Oats. High in heart-healthy soluble fiber, oats are a quick and tasty meal. A dollar will get you more than a week's worth of breakfasts.
Eggs. About a dollar for a half dozen, eggs -- once given a bad rap for high cholesterol -- are now back in the good nutrition fold.
Kale. Roughly a dollar a bunch, kale and other dark leafy greens are packed with nutrition.
Potatoes. As long as you don't fry them or slather them in fatty condiments, potatoes can be a part of a nutritious diet. Sweet potatoes have the added benefit of beta carotene.
Apples. Most varieties are very inexpensive and can satisfy a sweet tooth with their crunchy goodness.
Nuts. A great source of healthy fats, nuts might seem expensive, but since their portion size is small, many varieties (such as peanuts, walnuts and almonds) land well under a dollar per serving.
Bananas. High in potassium and fiber, bananas are a nutritious and inexpensive food.
Garbanzo Beans. Beans, in general, are a healthful and ridiculously-cheap food. Plus, they're a great protein-rich replacement for high-cost meat. Garbanzos are a versatile and healthful choice.
Broccoli. Delicious raw or cooked into a wide variety of meals, broccoli is well under a dollar per serving.
Watermelon. Per serving, watermelon only costs a few dimes. It's great for hydration and contains nutrients such as vitamin C and lycopene.
Wild Rice. A little more costly than white rice, wild rice is well worth the extra cost in nutrition and flavor. And it's still less than a dollar per serving.
When it comes to exercise, going to a gym CAN cost a lot. There are other options, though. Most areas have at least one YMCA, if not multiple. And the YMCA offers a Guardian program based on how much you make, family size, etc. And taking into account that some people can't even afford the little bit that they would have to pay for a YMCA membership, but at the same time, some of those people would still go to McDonalds or Burger King at least once or twice a week, if not more, and that adds up. If they were to budget themselves and not spend that money on fast food, they could put that money towards going to the Y.
That doesn't include everyone, but for those that do fit that situation.
Fast food can be expensive especially if you order the items that are not on the dollar menu. I was at Burger King about 3 weeks ago. Most of the combos were at least 6 dollars or higher. I was driving through Gila Bend, AZ headed to Phoenix.
But fresh, preservative free healthy foods do not last nearly as long as preservative-laden, packaged junk food. If you only had $25 dollars to spend to feed your family for a week(theoretically), wouldn't you stock up on pantry items like cereal, soup, pastas, rice, etc. instead of fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh baked bread, etc. that will spoil quickly??? A box of snack crackers would last a child a week or so as an after school snack vs. say, a green bell pepper.
I was once able to buy a whole wheat box of spaghetti for 1.30. Soup, at least where I live, has gone up in price. I try to make soup myself. Rice, especially brown rice is inexpensive and healthy. Cereal can be healthy as long as you are not buying sugar loaded cereal. Some prepackaged junk food is just as expensive as healthy foods. At the Walmart where I shop, soda costs 3.98 for a 12 pack. I can buy a gallon of orange juice for 3.50. Hot Cheetos are around 3.00 but I can buy a bag of frozen broccoli for 1.50.
I think some poor people are overweight because they view activities such as going to McDonalds as entertainment. If you don't have money, you aren't going to be taking your kids to a movie or theme park. You will likely look for some place cheap to take your kids. You might buy them a Happy Meal because it will be tough to afford anything else. I teach at a poor, rural school and I have a lot of students who get real excited when their parents decide to take them to McDonalds or Burger King. Their parents have been out working 2 or 3 jobs all week so they take their kids out for fast food to spend time with them.
The intro to that site says the meale are "nutritious and healthy," but I'm not seeing it. Pancakes and syrup ... hot dogs ... macaroni and cheese ... French toast ... corn fritters ... refried beans.
Yes, this food is cheap, but there's a lot of saturated fat in there. I also didn't see nearly enough fruits and vegetables.
I think poverty just makes you poor. I've been living on very little lately. I ate an entire box of mac & cheese yesterday. Mixed in some frozen vegetables. I basically fed myself for $1. Being poor does not make me eat a lot or obsess on food. You just eat what you need and get through the day.
If you are willing to cook every meal you can eat healthy on the cheap.
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Still looking for the $1 a day list.
