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)
  • lentils
  • LoafyLemon@kbin.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    28
    ·
    2 years ago

    Onion. It’s cheap, nutritious, acts as a low-key anti bacterial solution, can be served in a multitude of ways, or eaten raw.

    Subscribe for more onion facts. 🧅

  • GTac@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    16
    ·
    edit-2
    2 years ago

    You already mentioned them, but I’m a huge fan of lentils. They go with so much stuff and you can combine them with a variety of spices. Give me any leftover ingredients and some lentils, and I’ll cook up something delicious. I can and will eat lentil soup for days.

    They are also a pretty solid crop, they can grow in a variety of climates, require little water and are good for the soil.

  • eduardm@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    15
    ·
    2 years ago

    Well, something being delicious is subjective, but if we assume a “general acceptance” of most delicious foods, potatoes could fit easily. They can be cooked in all kinds of ways, are very nutritious and, again, pretty much everyone says they’re delicious.

    • bitcrafter@lemmy.sdf.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      2 years ago

      Completely agreed, though I’d also add that to get the most nutrition out of them you want to make sure that you are also eating the skins. (Personally I like the skins anyway, and not having to remove them makes them easier to cook!)

    • nijntjefan@lemmy.worldOP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      2 years ago

      That’s a good point, but even within potatoes there is perhaps still a trade-off between “delicious” and “healthy”. As in steamed potatoes without sauces or stuff is kind of meh, while french fries are not that healthy.

  • Chobbes@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    9
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    2 years ago

    So… Are you just unaware of fruits, vegetables, and legumes, haha? In my opinion there’s a huge amount of food that fits all three categories. One of the best example of cheap, delicious, healthy, and easy is beans and rice, spiced up however you like.

    • foggenbooty@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      2 years ago

      Yup. Mexican, Indian, a lot of cuisine from poorer countries figured this out long ago. Beans or lentils over rice with the right spices, incredible. The restaurant version will add a lot of fat and heavy cream but if you make it yourself you can adjust that so it’s not unhealthy.

      • Chobbes@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        2 years ago

        Yeah! Exactly! A huge amount of the best food (imo) comes from these cultures. Plus many of these dishes are also really easy to make in bulk, which is a big win too.

  • UltraHamster64@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    2 years ago

    Well chicken maybe as it is the most cheap meat. And it is subjective, but something like chicken soup (if cooked at home) can be relativly cheap and really delicious.

    Also, just thought about it - fruits and berries also easily break this trinity

    • nijntjefan@lemmy.worldOP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      2 years ago

      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.

      • redonyo@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        2 years ago

        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.

      • grue@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        2 years ago

        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.

      • x4740N@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        2 years ago

        If your in america it is expensive and low quality

        there seriously is something wrong with american foods because I’ve accidentally added them a few time to my nutrition tracking app and they are seriously unhealthy compared to my local countries food

  • macrocephalic@lemmy.fmhy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    2 years ago

    I make a curry of: tofu, green lentils, pearl barley, pearl cous cous, pumpkin, potato, onions, and whatever else is in the vege drawer of the fridge. Then I cook it in a laksa paste with coconut milk. it’s delicious and keeps in the fridge for at least a week with no meat.

  • PaxSapien@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    2 years ago

    When I was in college, I had the rule of not buying anything that is >$1.50 per pound. This is what I was reduced to (prices may be different now due to inflation and geo area):

    1. Apples, oranges, grapes, strawberries when they are on sale
    2. Milk, yogurt
    3. Pork shoulder, chicken quarters, thighs, drumsticks
    4. ground pork, ground beef
    5. Carrots, broccoli, potatoes, cabbage (you’ll be surprised at how good thinly sliced cabbages taste in a sandwich)
    • fluxion@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      2 years ago

      Cabbage sandwich? Is there some special prep to it? Seems like it would be super bland

      • Reoru@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        2 years ago

        Spice it up with sriracha mayo on toasted bread. salt, pepper and a sprinkle of msg on tomato slices and add simple pickled pink onions. Slice the cabbage into very thin strips and assemble. It’s my favourite sandwich.

        Pickled onions: Red onions, sliced thinly, Boil 50/50 water and vinegar, add salt to the solution and optionally a bay leaf or other aromatics to create the brine. Put sliced onions in a jar and fill the jar with the brine, put it in the fridge after cooling down and wait a night for the sharp oniony taste to disappear.

  • OasisStorm@kbin.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    2 years ago

    Sweet potatoes. Very nutritious, very cheap, and taste sweet. Easy to prepare to, you can just boil or bake them for a little while without adding anything and they’re great just like that.