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Budget Diet

Affordable balanced eating

Calories

2000 kcal

Protein

85 g

Overview

Students and families prioritizing low-cost, repeatable meals.

Difficulty: Easy. Cuisine: Indian staples. Affordability: Low cost.

How to read this plan

This plan is built around low-cost staples that can be cooked in batches: besan, kala chana, masoor dal, rice, roti, and seasonal vegetables. It is intentionally simple so the same base can work across many weeks.

The plan becomes easier when legumes are soaked, boiled, and stored ahead. Then each meal is mostly assembly, reheating, and adding fresh vegetables or chutney.

MealItemsProtein
BreakfastBesan chilla, Chutney22 g
LunchKala chana, Rice, Cabbage sabzi32 g
DinnerMasoor dal, Roti, Seasonal vegetables31 g

Highlighted items link to recipes. 3 meal items matched.

Protein sources
  • Besan
  • Kala chana
  • Masoor dal
Substitutions
  • Kala chana -> rajma
  • Masoor dal -> moong dal
Adjust for budget and availability
  • Use the cheapest seasonal vegetable rather than chasing a specific sabzi.
  • Swap kala chana with rajma, chole, lobia, or whole moong based on local price.
  • If tofu or soy milk is outside budget, keep the plan legume-heavy and use peanuts or roasted chana for snacks.
Batch-cooking notes
  • Soak and boil chana or rajma once, then use it for curry, salad, or chaat across two to three meals.
  • Cook extra dal and change the tadka or vegetables to avoid the meal feeling repetitive.
  • Keep chutney, lemon, onions, coriander, or pickle available so basic meals still taste complete.
Notes
Batch cooking legumes makes the plan easier and cheaper.