Fit: Cheap Eats Guide

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NORMALLY, POLITICIANS HAVE TO choke down more food than they could ever want at lavish dinner parties, catered fundraisers and deep-fried state fair extravaganzas. But Monday night, four members of Congress finished up a very different kind of week.

To draw attention to the difficulties of sustaining oneself on $1 per meal — the amount an average food stamp recipient receives from the government — Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., co-chairmen of the House Hunger Caucus, along with Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, and Janice Schakowsky, D-Ill., slashed their food budgets to just $21 for the week.

Instead of tapas, they had tap water. They replaced pate with PB&J. And smart diet habits? Well, those disappeared as quickly as their breakfasts of a single banana.

But while living healthily on such an extreme budget is nearly impossible (that is, after all, the point these elected officials are trying to get across), it's not entirely out of the question. "Go vegetarian and buy dried beans and rice," instructs Dulcie Ward, a registered dietician on staff at Mint Fitness (1724 California St. NW, 202-328-6468). "It's a cheap source of protein, and it'll fill you up."

That's a tip Ryan probably wishes he had gotten before shopping for groceries last week. His managed to buy Chock Full o' Nuts coffee, but skimped on proteins and produce (he snagged a single head of garlic). "You just can't live on strawberry preserves and tomato sauce. You need vegetables," notes Isabel Clark, founder of Clark Wellness, which offers clients personalized nutrition programs.

While some produce is indeed pricey, Clark advises budget shoppers to go for leafy greens, such as kale, which are low-cost but nutrient-rich.

And if fresh vegetables and fruits are prohibitively expensive even with seasonal specials, there's nothing wrong with opting for frozen or canned, says Ward. Just be sure to rinse off canned vegetables to reduce the sodium and make sure fruits aren't soaked with added sugars.

You can trim more bucks from your bill by staying away from anything that's prepackaged. "Pretty labels mean added cost," Ward explains. If you're comfortable in the kitchen, you can manage to stretch your budget much further. "Buy a whole chicken and use the whole thing — including the bones for stock. If you reduce your waste, you save money," Clark says.

Just because something is inexpensive doesn't mean it deserves a spot on your shopping list. (Schakowsky, we're talking about you and your ramen habit.)
The ingredients in fast food are heavily subsidized by the government, so a buck burger can feel like a bargain. But when all that fat and cholesterol is in your body, it doesn't feel so good anymore. It may keep your food costs low, but it'll make your health care costs skyrocket.

We'll let these politicians enjoy a few salads before we make them live through that challenge.

Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images