atkins in college

[samson722]

hey everyone,

i must say, having done atkins before, it's no surprise to me that the diet is effective, and not the worst one out there. my only concern is before i was on the diet at home, with my parents (years ago), thus they paid for everything. now i'm in COLLEGE and trying to make this work on my meager budget. anyone else out there in the same situation? i sure hope not for your sake. what do you think i should do?

cheers!


samson

[SandyL2002]

Hi Samson.. Are you able to cook for yourself? Or do you have to eat in a cafeteria?

[samson722]

Yeah, I can cook for myself. There are two problems here, though. One is that I live an hour away by train from school, so once I go in, I'm on my own. I don't mind eating out at restaurants (I know where I can get low-carb meals), but that gets expensive. I also have a hard time ponying up for all the meat that I need to buy in order to make the diet work. I do it, but grudgingly at best. I just wish I could find a way to make sure that I'd be able to have 3 squares a day on not-too-much cash. What do you think?

Samson

[SandyL2002]

I would make some easy things using Hamburger or chicken....you can get a lot for cheaper compared to Steak..... Check out Linda's recipes.. If you need that link I can post it.. Hopefully you have access to a microwave and would be able to pack a lunch cooler something lightweight to carry..

[guekjian]

I think tuna would be a great portable protein source, any canned fish really, and there are also canned chicken flakes, very portable...and you just need to pack salad fixings and an ice pack! Basic vinegar and oil vinaigrette doesnt have to be refrigerated if you just bring the portion you need for your salad! Good luck!

[MaxsmamaDebbie]

I did a low-carb diet in college and lost 35 pounds, but actually quit when I came home for the summer--my mom is a great cook.

I was lucky enough to have a dorm fridge and microwave in my room, and I used the kitchenette in the dorm a couple days a week. Anyway, I was on a limited budget too...way limited. I would buy tuna fish and packages of chicken legs (they seem really cheap by comparison to breast). You can do alot with chicken legs or thighs. Oh eggs are cheap too so you could boil like a whole dozen at once and keep them in a fridge.

Throw a baked chicken leg, an egg, and an ounce of cheese in a bag and you could have lunch pretty cheap.

Hope this helps.

Deb

Originally Posted by samson722

hey everyone,

i must say, having done atkins before, it's no surprise to me that the diet is effective, and not the worst one out there. my only concern is before i was on the diet at home, with my parents (years ago), thus they paid for everything. now i'm in COLLEGE and trying to make this work on my meager budget. anyone else out there in the same situation? i sure hope not for your sake. what do you think i should do?

cheers!


samson

[hydroflame]

Hey Samson,

It's kind of hard, I tried doing it myself about two months ago when I first started. I pretty much lived off of canned foods. Tons of macarel ( make sure to get the ones that are low in sodium). It kind of got easier now that I am back home for the summer, but I am preparing myself for when I go back in a couple of months.

[AllieRichie]

I did the diet in college and I remember eating hot dogs, tuna salad, eggs, bacon. i don't think it's that difficult. If you're buying fresh produce at a farmers market, that is inexpensive, or just buy frozen veggies if you have a freezer. I know I never looked for things "on sale" when I was in college, but really, it helps a lot!

[GaynorA]

Hey there. Welcome to you. Everyone has given you really good advice. I also tend to do Atkins on budget - not at college - let's just say a little financially stretttttcccchhhheed. What works for me is buying a bulk pack of minced meat. Frying it up with veggies and then putting it in tubs in the freezer. I pull one out, warm it through and have it on a heap of boiled shredded cabbage tossed in butter. Very nice. Also, a nice big salad with anything protein in mayo. Chicken wings are good too. Cook up a whole bunch of spicy chicken wings in the oven and put them in the fridge. Great instant food. Doing low carb or self-made burgers works. Cook a bunch and leave 'em in the fridge. Put your cheese, tomato, onion on top with mayo and wrap in lettuce leaves. You can take the ingredients in lil bags and put them together wherever you need to. Just carry a bottle of squirty low carb mayo in your college bag. Lotsa luv to you.

[samson722]

Thanks, everybody. You have definitely given me some helpful tips that might make this a little easier on my wallet. Sunday will be two weeks for me, I'm considering doing an extended induction, but we'll see once i weigh in. Thanks again, and keep those carbs low.

Cheers!


Samson