What was a typical meal for a medical student during the four years of training?

Hi William,

You are absolutely right that attending medical school can be stressful. It is very important to eat healthy so that you can focus on your studies and have a clear mind. You can definitely live a healthy lifestyle without spending a lot of money.

I found this information below that can be very helpful for you. According to the article for 6 tips for eating on a medical student's budget:

Step 1. Prep for the Week

Plan out what you’ll eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the next week so you know exactly what you need to pick up at the grocery store. Less food waste and less extras (s’mores, anyone?) will cut down on costs. This will also help you avoid impulse junk food buys, making it easier to commit to eating healthy.

Step 2. Switch Out Standards with Nutritious Alternatives

Your meal is the sum of its parts – altering even the most basic components can increase nutritional value. Use brown instead of white rice and whole wheat instead of white bread. The cost difference is insignificant for these staples, and the health benefits are worth the small price bump.

Step 3. Invest in a Slow Cooker

Slow cookers can run you $30 – $60, but they’ll save you roughly the same amount each month. Many slow-cooked meals can be made in bulk with cheap ingredients that fulfill many of your daily dietary needs, saving you prep time and money. Take, for example, turkey chili: ground turkey, vegetables, and beans simmered in a slow cooker for less than 4 hours transforms into a hearty meal you can subsist on for over a week.

Step 4. Doggie Bag It

Eating out can be a great break from cooking, but you might blow a week’s grocery budget in a single evening. No matter how tempting it is to polish off that meal, save a portion for another time. You can incorporate those leftovers into your week’s meals for variety. Bonus: eating in moderation improves your health and promotes weight control.

Step 5. Freeze What You Can’t Eat

Waste adds up. Everything that you don’t eat burns a hole in your wallet. By planning in advance and freezing food before it expires, you can use your saved vegetables to balance out future meals, plus save yourself a trip to the Epicurean. Stock up on freezer bags and store that food for up to 18-months.

Step 6. Water, Water Everywhere

Soft drinks may be inexpensive, but water is (usually) free. More importantly, whereas most soft drinks are high in calories, sugar, or both, water is completely neutral. Think of it as the Switzerland of beverages. Tap water make you nervous? You can purchase a small Brita filter for a constant supply of free filtered water.

I hope this answers your question. Good luck to you!

This is a great question! When I went to school, I was young, and didn't pay attention to nutrition. I ate way too many burgers! I still am not all that into nutrition. But, I wanted to let you know about waffles. Yes. Waffles. There is a high protein pancake/flapjack mix on the market that includes a waffle recipe. You can increase the protein content using milk and eggs. I make a big batch on Sunday. It takes me an hour to make enough waffles to last me the week. I freeze them. Grab one, toast it, put some jam on it (there 's a blueberry & cherry one that is really good!), and, if I am careful (lol!) can eat this on the run! I actually find myself eating these for dinner more so than for breakfast.

There are also protein shakes. I also like toasted peanut butter/banana sandwiches. Made on a whole grain bread, with old -fashioned peanut butter (the only ingredient is peanuts!), they are pretty nutritional. However, they pack a lot of calories, so watch out for that. Pretzels make a good snack. There are a lot of protein bars available, which, you can find on sale for about $1.50 each. Drinks? I bought a water purifier for my counter top, and drink tap water. Drinks have gotten outrageously expensive!

Watch out for the quick rush pick-me-upper of soda and candy bar. While they work for the moment, the brain crashes when they wear off. My favorite snack, at home, is a mozzarella cheese stick placed on top of a dill pickle stacker slice! Try it!

Hope something here has helped!