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The Dollar Lunch

To brown bag it or eat out, that’s the noon time dilemma facing the working world. To the athlete planning a five o’clock workout or re-stoking from an early morning session, the midday meal takes on added dimensions. However, adequate energy reserves and proper nutrition often take a backseat to the lure of convenient and expensive fast food. Of course budgets being a relative thing, most individuals I know without expense accounts don’t make lunch a five star dining experience. So how can I save some dough and eat wisely? I submit to you the Dollar Lunch.

OK Mr. Doubting Thomas I know what you’re thinking, a buck only buys 20 minutes of long distance using 10-10-220. Well it may do that, but it also provides a surprisingly varied, healthy, and filling repast. If you noticed that the word ‘delicious’ was noticeably absent in that last sentence, keep in mind that we are talking about one dollar. Chances are that if you’re serious about your training you don’t make a Snickers bar lunch anyway.

Accomplishing this feat requires a modest amount of discipline, which we endurance athletes have an abundance of anyway, right? It also necessitates a bit of shopping sagacity to find grocery store bargains to keep the net cost around a buck. The following foods are based on recent prices I’ve found. Produce is especially affected by seasonality. All other prices are probably found year round. So with all that being said, here’s a week’s worth of menus. Bon appetit !

 

Monday

.25  quarter head lettuce normally around $1 a head

.07  one medium carrot 2 lb. bag $1.29 approx. 18 count

.10   small baked potato. 10 lb bag $1.99 approx. 20 count

.50   6 oz. can tuna   2 cans for a buck often

.09   2 fig bars   Mrs. Allison’ 2 lb pkg. 48 count $2.19

Calories 606.45 2900 20.91%
Pro (g) 53.59 63 85.06%
Fat (g) 7.11 96.67 7.35%
Carb (g) 82.96   --
Fiber (g) 9.12 30 30.4%
Cal (mg) 137.15 1000 13.72%
Iron (mg) 11.34 10 113.4%
Na (mg) 835.06 2400 34.79%
Pot (mg) 1587.56   --
Phos (mg) 636.7 700 90.96%
Ash (g) 6.97   --
vitA (IU) 15723.13 5000 314.46%
vitC (mg) 35.29 90 39.21%
Thia (mg) 0.29 1.2 24.17%
Ribo (mg) 0.37 1.3 28.46%
Nia (mg) 14.86 16 92.88%
satF (g) 1.62 32.22 5.03%
monoF (g) 2.41 32.22 7.48%
polyF (g) 2.21 32.22 6.86%
Chol (mg) 72.24 300 24.08%

 

Tuesday

.10   1 stalk celery .89 pkg. 9 count

.14   2 hard boiled eggs .79 dozen

.50   cup of yogurt prairie farms @2 for $1

.10   Ramen noodle soup .10 per pkg. or less

.20   2 oz. raisins 24 oz. canister @$2.39

( little high in sodium and chol. )

Calories 850.3 2900 29.32%
Pro (g) 39.96 63 63.43%
Fat (g) 18.4 96.67 19.03%
Carb (g) 136.39   --
Fiber (g) 5.5 30 18.33%
Cal (mg) 490.11 1000 49.01%
Iron (mg) 6.27 10 62.7%
Na (mg) 5132.41 2400 213.85%
Pot (mg) 1479.07   --
Phos (mg) 678.97 700 97%
Ash (g) 17.83   --
vitA (IU) 813.47 5000 16.27%
vitC (mg) 13.34 90 14.82%
Thia (mg) 0.68 1.2 56.67%
Ribo (mg) 1.24 1.3 95.38%
Nia (mg) 4.97 16 31.06%
satF (g) 6.16 32.22 19.12%
monoF (g) 6.67 32.22 20.70%
polyF (g) 2.51 32.22 7.79%
Chol (mg) 452.35 300 150.78%

 

Wednesday

.39    ½ can fruit cocktail .79 per can

.32    2   bagels   Lenders 6 pack .99

.30      2 oz. turkey breast    10 oz. pkg. $1.50

Pro (g) 27.53 63 43.7%
Fat (g) 3.53 96.67 3.65%
Carb (g) 118.57   --
Fiber (g) 2.34 30 7.8%
Cal (mg) 43.71 1000 4.37%
Iron (mg) 6.27 10 62.7%
Na (mg) 1281.38 2400 53.39%
Pot (mg) 560.58   --
Phos (mg) 262.57 700 37.51%
Ash (g) 4.66   --
vitA (IU) 539.54 5000 10.79%
vitC (mg) 5.03 90 5.59%
Thia (mg) 0.61 1.2 50.83%
Ribo (mg) 0.49 1.3 37.69%
Nia (mg) 9.88 16 61.75%
satF (g) 0.67 32.22 2.08%
monoF (g) 0.54 32.22 1.68%
polyF (g) 1.17 32.22 3.63%
Chol (mg) 23.25 300 7.75%

 

Thursday

.20   1 small banana         .59 lb. usually 3 sm.-med ones

.56   4oz. spaghetti         sauce $1.50 per jar 16 oz. pkg. noodles .79

.24   1.5 oz. sunflower seeds       $1.99 per 12oz. pkg. of shelled seeds

Calories 606.67 2900 20.92%
Pro (g) 27.53 63 43.7%
Fat (g) 3.53 96.67 3.65%
Carb (g) 118.57   --
Fiber (g) 2.34 30 7.8%
Cal (mg) 43.71 1000 4.37%
Iron (mg) 6.27 10 62.7%
Na (mg) 1281.38 2400 53.39%
Pot (mg) 560.58   --
Phos (mg) 262.57 700 37.51%
Ash (g) 4.66   --
vitA (IU) 539.54 5000 10.79%
vitC (mg) 5.03 90 5.59%
Thia (mg) 0.61 1.2 50.83%
Ribo (mg) 0.49 1.3 37.69%
Nia (mg) 9.88 16 61.75%
satF (g) 0.67 32.22 2.08%
monoF (g) 0.54 32.22 1.68%
polyF (g) 1.17 32.22 3.63%
Chol (mg) 23.25 300 7.75%

 

Friday

.25 small grapefruit 4 for $1

.79 15 oz chili .79 per can Chili Man

Calories 519.08 2900 17.9%
Pro (g) 25.99 63 41.25%
Fat (g) 24.98 96.67 25.84%
Carb (g) 56.59   --
Fiber (g) 19.96 30 66.53%
Cal (mg) 215.74 1000 21.57%
Iron (mg) 15.48 10 154.8%
Na (mg) 2368.02 2400 98.67%
Pot (mg) 1701.53   --
Phos (mg) 702.78 700 100.4%
Ash (g) 6.41   --
vitA (IU) 1653.34 5000 33.07%
vitC (mg) 18.48 90 20.53%
Thia (mg) 0.23 1.2 19.17%
Ribo (mg) 0.49 1.3 37.69%
Nia (mg) 1.69 16 10.56%
satF (g) 10.66 32.22 33.09%
monoF (g) 10.57 32.22 32.81%
polyF (g) 1.64 32.22 5.09%
Chol (mg) 77.11 300 25.70%