And the most underrated, high protein, healthy, and dirt cheap food is...?

[ke0ki]

BEANS!

Fresh beans are extremely healthy for you, dirt cheap, and have lots of protein. A 2 lb bag of beans at Whole Foods is about $1 and can last for 5-6 meals.

Here are some nutrition facts on a couple types of beans:

1 cup Black Beans
Fat: 0g
Sat Fat: 0g
Sodium: 10mg
Carbohydrates: 121g
Fiber: 29g
Sugar: 4g
Protein 42g

1 cup Lentils
Fat: 2g
Sat Fat: 0g
Sodium: 19mg
Carbohydrates: 110g
Fiber: 6g
Sugar: 10g
Protein: 54g

1 cup Lima Beans
Fat: 1g
Sat Fat: 0g
Sodium: 12mg
Carbohydrates: 31g
Fiber: 8g
Sugar: 2g
Protein: 11g

1 cup Soy Beans
Fat: Fg
Sat Fat: 0g
Sodium: 10mg
Carbohydrates: 6g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 0g
Protein: 10g

These are values for raw, uncooked beans. The numbers change slightly when you cook them of course, but not much. I love a big bowl of cooked black beans, topped with cheese, and organic chips on the side.

Beware though of canned beans. Often times they add all sorts of junk that makes them unhealthy. Case in point the average can of baked beans has almost 100g of sugar. Just be sure to inspect your nutrition labels.

[sawastea]

Beans are a carbohydrate source for me. It contains incomplete protein. Incomplete protein is found in nuts, pasta, rice, beans, oats, etc. It does NOT contain the full spectrum of amino acids. If I were to eat beans, I'd have a complete protein source like: salmon, fish or chicken breast with it

[ke0ki]

Please define "incomplete" protein

[FFactory]

if you eat the beans with a grain food like bread, chips, tortillas, ect. then it's a complete protein. What he means is that beans don't contain all the amino acids you need. Neither do grain foods, but if you put them together you get the full spectrum of AA

[buffdan]

turkey! buy a whole turkey, cut it up, and freeze it...It'll last a hella long time...

I also like blackeyed peas seasoned with a little bacon, with some rice thrown in....

[musclemidget]

Originally posted by sawastea
It does NOT contain the full spectrum of amino acids. If I were to eat beans, I'd have a complete protein source like: salmon, fish or chicken breast with it

i prefer to simply eat beans w/brown rice to make it a complete protein source. they are so damn good too! i know there are better foods, but its not a horrid choice to stop by a popeyes and get the red beans and rice if youre in a pinch on the run.