I have a theory that there is a impossible trinity (like in economics), where a food cannot be delicious, cheap and healthy at the same time. At maximum 2 of the 3 can be achieved.
Is there any food that breaks this theory?
Edit: I was thinking more about dishes (or something you put in your mouth) than the raw substances
Some popular suggestions include
- fruits (in season) and vegetables
- lentils, beans, rice
- mushrooms
- chicken
- just eat in moderation
Edit 2: Thanks for the various answers. Now there are a lot of (mostly bean-based) recipes for everyone to try out!
Also someone made a community for cheap healthy food after seeing this topic!
While I also like chicken, the more delicious chicken tends to be pricy (as in the cheap chicken is often bland in taste - but I’ll concede that’s kind of splitting the hair.
But you’re probably right about fruits.
Take some cheap dark meat and make Chicken Adobo. You need vinegar, soy, garlic, sugar, black pepper, and bay leaves and eat it with white rice and steamed veggies. You can use pretty much any vinegar and soy, though there is a traditional Filipino brand.
If you think the cheap cuts of chicken – or pretty much any type of land-animal meat, for that matter – are bland, you’re Doing It Wrong™. Those cuts tend to have the characteristics that make them suitable for low-and-slow cooking methods like smoking, braising and stewing, which can turn out even tastier than the best grilled chicken breast or steak if done right.
For year-round availability, bananas seem the most likely fruit. Prices are pushed down because of a short shelf life. High in vitamins and fiber, high sweetness for deliciousness (warning: must like bananas to proceed)
It requires more effort but buying chicken that is minimally processed is fairly cheap and far tastier. The bones can be saved for soups and stocks and at least breast are really easy to debone.