If you plan to start bodybuilding, effective exercise is undoubtedly important for building and sustaining lean muscle. Losing body fat so these muscles become more visible–and getting adequate nutrition to sustain this–all boils down to cardio and an effective diet, however.
I ran into quite a conundrum when I first started bodybuilding–I could barely afford to buy a package of chicken breasts! I quickly began researching–and frantically searching all the grocery stores in my area–for alternative eats that weren’t as expensive. The foods listed below are now my main eats, with plenty of protein and slow-digesting carbs to spare.
If you’re on a tight budget, here are some cheap bodybuilding foods you can purchase that won’t break your wallet:
5 Cheap Bodybuilding Foods to Get You Ripped
Canned tuna: Canned tuna is a great (and cheap) bodybuilding food because it’s rich in protein, low in carbs, and usually very low in bad fats. I like to mix it with a pinch of plain yogurt and chili seasoning for a zesty kick. If you’re watching your caloric intake, go for the “light” versions, which contain less than 100 calories per serving. At my local Cub, canned tuna usually sells for $0.70 per can.
Cottage cheese: Cottage cheese is almost the perfect bodybuilding food–not only is it low in carbohydrates, it’s packed with muscle-building protein. I prefer to eat this as my last meal, usually with a side of peaches, so that it slowly digests while I’m sleeping, which helps fight late-night hunger pangs. I prefer the cottage cheese sold at Trader Joe’s, simply because it’s cheaper and tastes better–last week I bought two tubs for around $4.00.
Eggs: You’ve probably already had this on your grocery list, but eggs serve as a wonderful source of protein (and good fats) if you can’t afford lean beef or chicken, making it a great cheap bodybuilding food. If you live near a farmer’s market, you can get eggs there for fairly cheap. If you don’t, try to locate a local Asian market for great deals. I regularly snag carts of eggs from my local Asian market in St. Paul for around $1.00 each.
Natural peanut butter: Lo and behold my surprise last week when I visited my local Trader Joe’s–natural peanut butter currently sells there for under $2.00. As far as peanut butter goes, that’s dirt cheap. I love peanut butter because it’s rich in good fat, high in protein and has a naturally sweet flavor. Mix it with your post-workout shake, have it with bread for a filling meal, or dip fruit in it to sustain your energy levels. It’s the perfect bodybuilding food for staying satisfied.
Potatoes: Although sweet potatoes are generally better for bodybuilders, regular potatoes still contain slow-digesting carbs, which keeps you satisfied. Regular potatoes are always a favorite cheap bodybuilding food of mine because of its versatility–I can cook it as is, slice it into strings for homemade fries, or mix it in the blender for instant mashes potatoes. It always tastes good with a serving of protein, too! I can usually snag a bag of potatoes for around $2.50 at my local Cub, and it usually lasts for a week or more.
Although this isn’t an exhaustive list of cheap bodybuilding foods you could possibly purchase, these are the ones I prefer the most, due to taste, cost and its high protein, good fat and carb content.
