Ask HN: What do you eat?

[pj]

A little lighter subject for this late saturday evening. I have considered starting a site along the lines of "startup recipes."

These recipes would be focused on inexpensive meals that don't take a lot of time away from coding but still provide excellent nutrition and lasting energy.

Of course we all know the "ramen profitable" stage, but Ramen is horrible for the body. Restaurants in general produce not that great of food and the amount of time saved by having them cook it isn't always advantageous considering you have to drive there, stand in line and be away from the computer. Not to mention the expense of convenience makes them not the best choice economically.

I went to college in New Orleans, so I became aware quickly of lots of inexpensive dishes that could be cooked without a lot of distraction: Red beans 'n' Rice, Gumbo, and Jambalaya. I also like to make a nice Pot Roast with potatoes, onions, and carrots in there.

So, my question for you is, what do you eat to keep yourself going while you are coding or working on your startup or just living?

[radu_floricica]

Interesting recipes here, but I don't think they relate very well to the question. The simplest/healthiest food I used to eat:

1. Get a rice cooker.

2. ???

3. Profit.

No, really, it's that simple. On a bowl of cooked rice you can put:

- vegetables (frozen or fresh)

- fish (of all sorts)

- cheese & bacon (mmmm)

And pretty much anything else. Some of these you just stick in the cooker with the rice, but mostly I bought canned veggies and put everything in the microwave. The best is you can play as much as you like and still keep it simple and cheap. And don't forget the soy sauce.

[rufo]

Roger Ebert's article on (as he calls it) The Pot seems rather appropriate right about now:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2008/11/the_pot_and_how_to_u...

[pookleblinky]

I usually cook up a pot of rice, prepare half of it to eat immediately, and stick the rest in the fridge. Later on, I fry it with an egg and throw anything handy into it.

Cheap, easy, and healthy roughly in inverse proportion to my supply of MSG, salt, schmaltz, and cheese

[pj]

Rice Cooker! Yes. I put my gumbo, jambalaya, chili, all that stuff on rice. Great filler. Has 19 amino acids. It's cheap and good for you. Very nice suggestion.

[icey]

I personally like cooking quinoa and egg in my rice cooker. I add some sliced habanero (de-seeded) for some kick; it's a nice snack.

[Femur]

I have a few simple and general rules that I try to follow:

1. I try not to eat anything that does not easily rot. This generally keeps me away from processed food.

2. I try to eat a lot of things that are green (vegetables).

3. I purchase organic when I can.

4. Excellent ingredients minimally handled usually make for the best recipes.

These rules make for healthy and great tasting food. I am a single male and my monthly food budget is around $300. I buy from a weekly farmers market, Whole Foods, and occasionally WalMart.

[gaius]

I try not to eat anything that does not easily rot.

Oatmeal and nuts are important exceptions to that rule.

Excellent ingredients minimally handled usually make for the best recipes.

This is the theory behind Italian cooking. The theory behind French cooking is that anything is edible with enough garlic and butter..

[white]

Gosh, I'm spending barely $450-500 for a family of three.

[iterationx]

things that are processed do not easily rot... am i wrong?

take for example this pancake i bought from mcdonalds, i left it in my truck for like 7 months, still looked as good as new, kinda like this

http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2008/09/12-year-old-mcdo...

[edw519]

Fresh fruit. Lots and lots and lots of it. Melon, citrus, grapes, berries in season, and IMHO, the hacker's 2 best friends: apples and bananas. Bananas are nature's perfect answer to your question, as long as they are ready to eat (brown spots) and not too soft yet. Freeze them for smoothies once they reach that point. I carry them everywhere and always have them on hand for long coding sessions. I eat little else besides fruit before dinner unless I have a lunch date.

Fruit is expensive, but forget about that. Pay for the best. The long term cost of feeding your brain and body suboptimal fuel is much higher.

No one I know can keep up with me. I believe diet is a major reason.

[icey]

Generally speaking you only eat fruit from the time you wake up until you eat dinner?

Do you ever get the feeling you're getting too much sugar in your system from it? I'm not saying it contains too much sugar, because I don't know. I'm genuinely curious. Some days I'll brew up a smoothie for lunch which contains a ton of fruit, some oatmeal, milk and a nut butter; I really like it, but someone who knows way more about nutrition than me mentioned that it might have an unhealthy amount of sugar (I'm not adding any, she was just referring to the quantity of fruit).

[ojbyrne]

The obvious riposte is that I like vegetables. Tomatoes, Brussell Sprouts, Broccoli, Onions, Bok Choi, Cabbage, Lettuce, Scallions, Eggplant, Beans. Other Types of Beans. Spinach. Bean Sprouts.... Do I need to go on?

Edit: I left out potatoes, cucumbers, and mushrooms. ;-)

[gambling8nt]

There are three primary aspects of a balanced diet to consider: (1) starches: in my experience, rice is the cheapest per calorie, when purchased in bulk. Other good choices in this category include pasta and barley. (2) vegetables: getting a variety of vegetables is important in one's diet; I typically get frozen, since I can't get to a supermarket often enough to get fresh. Note that vegetables should typically be either green or carrots to qualify; in particular, corn is a starch. (3) protein: your body can't function without consuming several amino acids you don't produce. My typical protein source is cheese, as this is cheaper per serving than meat. Also in this category are beans, soy, and tofu.

A typical meal where I live on the east coast (by which I mean, 80% of my lunches/dinners) consists of: $0.30 to $0.40 of pasta (1/3 to 2/5 of a pound, dry), $1.00 to $1.25 of vegetables (1/2 pound), $0.60 to $0.90 of cheese (2 to 3 servings), and occasionally seasonings.

Add in milk and cereal for breakfasts, plus costs of variations on this theme and occasional extras, and my monthly food budget works out to around $160.

Edited to indicate amounts associated with given costs.

[jpcx01]

Cheese has very little protein. The primary protein source in milk is Whey, and that's filtered out when making cheese.

[witten]

Smoothie for breakfast (or any other meal). It's easy to digest and can be full of good nutritious stuff, so you get a nice boost of energy. And you can even drink it while coding.

I currently use: banana, frozen fruit, whey protein powder, greens powder, almond milk, water, and ice. No added sweetener needed. Just requires a blender and about two minutes to assemble ingredients.

One caveat: Depending on what you put into the smoothie, it might not be that inexpensive. But it's a great way to get fruit if you otherwise wouldn't eat any fruit during the day.

[furyg3]

My morning smoothie is similar:

1 banana, frozen fruit (some form of berry, usually raspberries), 1/2 avacado, lots of soy milk (almond milk works too), couple spoonfuls of thick plain yogurt. I like adding a bit of protein powder, too, because it really makes the smoothie last until lunch.

The avocado sounds a bit weird, I know, but its what makes the smoothie, trust me. I don't use water or ice, unless I'm out of soy milk.

[asmdsr]

This is what got me through my startup. Don't skimp on step 3.

2 Cans of Whole Tomatoes 1 Can Lentils (or 1/2 cup dry lentils) 1 Large Onion (peeled) 5 Cloves Garlic (peeled 1 Cup Water Salt + Pepper Olive Oil Parmesan

1. Combine in a Large Pot: Tomatoes, Lentils, Whole Onion, Whole Garlic Cloves, Water. 2. Let simmer for about 45 min. When the middle of the Onion “pops” out or is very soft, the soup is ready. 3. Serve in Bowls, then… Drizzle Olive Oil and Sprinkle Parmesan Cheese on each serving. 4. Enjoy!

[vaksel]

Monday:

   Breakfast: 8 Egg Whites Scrambled with a breast of chicken + 3 slices of cheese + 3 glasses of Orange Juice + 5 strawberries

   Lunch/Dinner: Protein Bar/Crackers

   Supper: 2 steaks with baby tomatoes + 3 glasses of OJ

Tuesday:

   Breakfast: 2 English Muffins + 2 slices of cheese + 2 Bratwurst sausages + 3 glasses of OJ + 5 strawberries

   Lunch/Dinner: Protein Bar/Crackers

   Supper: 6 pieces of beef tenderloin + coleslaw + 3 glasses of OJ

Wednesday:

   Breakfast: Pita bread with chicken breast/coleslaw/cheese + 3 glasses of OJ + 5 strawberries

   Lunch/Dinner: Protein Bar/Crackers

   Supper: 2 pieces of steak with green peppers + 3 glasses of V8 juice

Thursday:

   Breakfast: 8 egg whites scrambled with spam , 3 slices of cheese + 5 strawberries + 3 glasses of V8 juice

   Lunch/Dinner: Protein Bar/Crackers

   Supper: 2 pieces of chicken breast with radishes + 3 glasses of V8 juice

Friday:

   Breakfast: 2 English Muffins + 2 slices of cheese + 2 Bratwurst sausages + 3 glasses of V8 juice + 5 strawberries

   Lunch/Dinner: Protein Bar/Crackers

   Supper: 2 steaks with cucumbers + 3 glasses of V8 juice

Saturday:

   Breakfast: Build something out of whatever I have in the fridge(either scrambled eggs or muffins) + water

   Lunch/Dinner: Bar/Crackers

   Supper: Mince meat snacks with water.

Sunday:

   Breakfast: Protein Bar

   Lunch/Dinner: Protein Bar/Crackers

   Supper: 2 pieces of chicken breast with baby tomatoes + 3  glasses of OJ.

And I have an extra protein bar every day after exercise.

Cooking is a breeze, I just bought one of those indoor grills, so all my meat is grilled w/o worrying about it. The only time I use a frying a pan, is when I'm making scrambled eggs.

[xiaoma]

That much protein is insane! I guess if you're young and your kidneys can take it, more power to you. If you're worried about longevity, though, I'd swap out about 3/4 of that meat with rice.

The longest lived people, the Japanese get over 80% of their calories from carbohydrates, and over half from rice alone. They're also the thinnest of all economically developed people in the world and have low rates of heart disease.

Here in Taiwan, it's similar, but as the restaurant scene has become more Americanized, more and more young people are having those problems. All those steaks take a toll.

[rokhayakebe]

Damn. How big are you?

[xiaoma]

Why so much protein?

[axod]

Ben+Jerrys. Easy to eat from the tub while coding. Put some fruit in the bottom so it's "healthy".

Combine with a can of Mt.Dew and some pic'n'mix sweets to keep your sugar levels up.

[silencio]

I love ben and jerry's, but I'm also a huge fan of making my own ice cream. compared to ben and jerry's/haagen dazs/other "premium" ice cream brands, it's not much different in price, and homemade ice cream (and quiescently frozen confections and other such similar foods) has the fun twist of being able to easily add/change things to the ice cream recipe itself as you want, as opposed to waiting for that chunk of frozen solid store-bought ice cream to melt to edible softness then adding fruit in the bottom if you can even stand eating the ice cream in the first place. There's just something so satisfying and delicious about making your own that I only buy from the store when I can't make and store enough ice cream for a party.

Here's two of my favorite recipes from my favorite David Lebovitz (he has the BEST ice cream recipes, I swear...): One for the coffee lovers: an espresso granita affogato (!) - http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2007/11/espresso_grani...

One for the chocolate lovers: no-machine-required chocolate ice cream - http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2007/11/the_easiest_ch...

And one I discovered today that I'm sorely tempted to try: absinthe ice cream - http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2009/05/absinthe_ice_c...

[tome]

Are you serious? Ben and Jerrys, Mountain Dew and pic'n'mix are some of the most unhealthy things you could possibly choose to eat.

If I've missed the obvious irony, then sorry for the downvote.

[granular]

> Ben+Jerrys.

Yup. I keep mine right in between the soda can cozy (keeps it cool) and the ash tray.

[stcredzero]

Everything that follows is true.

A college friend of mine had an interesting take on food.

Breakfast 1: Egg in the Blender with some OJ. It's fast. It's cheap. Plus, you feel slightly nauseous all day and save money and lose weight!

Breakfast 2: Bowl of Grape Nuts. Eat quickly with lots of milk. It sticks to your ribs, it's fast, it's cheap. Plus, the Grape Nuts swell up in your stomach, so you feel all full and bloated so you save money and lose weight!

He also once went bonkers when his girlfriend broke up with him, took lots of LSD and ended up grinding his teeth in the asphalt of the middle of the road in the dead of winter in New England and had to be dragged back in the house by a bunch of guys. His reason: it felt really neat on his teeth! So as far as his advice goes, take it with caveats.

[zimbabwe]

Is there a downside to feeling nauseous and bloated? Like, any particular health concerns that spring up when that's the strategy?

[triplefox]

Unsalted nuts. They store really well. Walnuts in particular have plenty of calories but if you have too many in a day you'll be overloaded on omega-3, which will make your hands and feet swell painfully as pressure is applied; the blood vessels in them start breaking too readily.

So nuts aren't the bulk of my calories, but they help make everything else taste better.

[pasbesoin]

"Healthy Foods for Under $1" was discussed a while back.

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=414298

Here was my suggestion (sweet potato):

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=414398

[czcar]

While toying with the idea of going vegetarian (to see if it would affect energy levels), and just reducing intake of red meat as whole I have started using lentils in a lot of meals, especially in dhal and potato curries.

Seriously easiest and nicest meal possible. http://www.vegsoc.org.nz/recipe_070307.html For a quick dhal recipe. Quick to zap reheat and easy to eat in a mug at the desk.

[menloparkbum]

During the week I mostly eat: egg whites, beans, frozen veggies, fresh veggies, almonds and blueberries. Sometimes I make chicken stir-fry. On Saturdays I eat whatever, usually going out, or to a BBQ, or to a friend's house. On Sunday morning I usually go out to brunch and then the rest of the day it's back to the basic stuff listed above. During the winter I often make turkey or lentil Chili. Most of it is pretty cheap except for the almonds and blueberries. However, I'm just feeding myself so it's still not that expensive.

I used to eat anything and everything but I found that too many carbs and cheese made me get fat, and "crash." Most meat makes me feel sluggish. I'd eat more fish if I had more confidence in my ability to prepare it.

edit: I also have a banana for breakfast. very cheap at Trader Joe's.

[gambling8nt]

The key with preparing fish is that, unlike meat, it doesn't change color when it is done. Instead, you want the fish to flake (this verb will make sense if you try it) when you run a fork along it "across the grain". If you aren't confident the first time, use a recipe to get a general sense of how long it should take, and overcook it slightly, then slowly work your way back (on successive attempts) until you reach a point where you are comfortable with how well done it gets.

Once you are used to how the fish cooks, consider different flavorings, such as orange or pineapple juice (pretty much everybody starts with lemon), and onions (many people add black pepper to fish, I personally can't stand the stuff).

Unless you live close to where fish are caught (not just the coast, but particular parts of the coast for different kinds of fish), the only cheap fish available will come in a can. However, if, unlike the OP, you aren't interested in the cheapest healthy food available you can make a decent fish fillet with a little practice.

[sobriquet]

what's your preference: borrone's or hobees?

[hwijaya]

Sometimes i cooked Chilli Con Carne. It's easy and last long. Healthy too. http://proven-great-and-simple-recipes.blogspot.com/

I put any "great and simple" recipes that i found in that blog. So, yes, i like your site idea. It definitely would be helpful for someone like me.

[patio11]

My three favorite hacker dishes:

Toasted ham, cheese, and grilled veggie sandwich. Dice up an onion, pepper, garlic, and whatever else you like. Heat a little oil in a fry pan for a few seconds, toss in veggie mix, stir while heating until the onions change color. Take off heat. Cut open the fresh french bread you bought earlier that day, add ham, cheese, and veggie mix, top with a sauce if you like it, heat in toaster oven until either the cheese melts or the bread ends up toasty (your call). Takes less than 15 minutes to make, cheap as sin, tastes great and is fairly healthy for you. (Alternative to sauce: splash some soy sauce on the veggies in their last five seconds in the pan.)

Or, get the cheap cuts of beef that no one in American uses for anything, grill them in the pan with your veggies (beef goes in last after the veggies are done), add a bit of soy sauce and stir, then serve over rice. Goes great with a fruit smoothie because it is VERY dry by itself. Again, 15 minutes or less.

Then there is tofu. Buy a small brick of it, dice, heat with a veggie/beef mixture as described above, serve over rice and garnish with salsa. (I'm told by my family that this recipe is the only way they have ever "tricked" their kids into eating tofu.)

[Aron]

I just bought chicken for 2$ per pound, while the bulk granola was 4.45$ per pound. I'm thinking they don't feed the chickens bulk granola.

[nickfox]

Lean Cuisine, Oscar Meyer turkey dogs and Spicy Chile Chicken Cup of Noodles. Every other day I go get a tuna sub from Subway to get my fresh vegetables. For desert, Hershey Kisses with almonds or chocolate chip cookie from the grocery deli. And to drink, I make 1/4 cup orange juice with 3/4 cup soda water. It's a homemade Orangina but not nearly as sweet. And every other day I allow myself one coke. Breakfast is usually Kelloggs Mueslix or oatmeal.

I'm 48 and have been blessed with having never been sick. I exercise regularly also. This may not pass muster with a lot of you but I attribute my good health to a positive mental attitude. Something has to make up for my diet... :o)

I

[davidmathers]

the amount of time saved by having them cook it isn't always advantageous considering you have to drive there

Depends on where you live. There are 20 restaurants within 2 blocks of my house. Also, I don't own a car. Everyone's situation is different, but I'm pretty certain it's both cheaper and healthier for me to eat out than cook at home.

I use $1/minute for estimating my time value. The "cost" really comes down to taking a walk vs doing dishes. I like walks better.

Burritos at El Castillito are a personal favorite, even though it's a 4 block walk: http://www.yelp.com/biz/el-castillito-san-francisco-2

[pj]

I hear ya. When I was in San Francisco, my car battery died all the time because I didn't drive enough. I loved walking.

I went in for a checkup once and my doctor asked me, "Do you exercise?" I said, "Not really." He said, "What do you do?" I said, "I walk to and from work everyday. It's two miles from Russian Hill to Market Street up and down a few hills."

He said, "I think you're doing fine."

[Zarathu]

Lebanese food: http://tasteofbeirut.com

[silentbicycle]

If nothing else, it's really nice to have good olive oil and some za'atar on hand. It's an herb/spice/sesame seed blend that goes remarkably well with most kinds of bread, and you can usually get a big bag for a couple bucks.