I don't have a lot of money, so I'm unable to buy Whey all the time, or take it as much as I'd like to. I like the boost Whey gives to build a healthier immune system and I'm trying to bring up my muscle mass a bit. So I was wondering if there are food alternatives out there to help assist with this. Preferred to be limited to my every day grocery stores. I am not looking for other supplements, I'm looking for bulky but protein rich foods. I've heard chicken, cheese, and egg so far, but that doesn't tell me much, as how you prepare your food has a lot to do with how healthy it is. And well, I can't just be eating chicken cheese and eggs every day. What else? How should said products be prepared?

http://training.fitness.com/nutritio...ist-19098.html

Cool name BTW.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtLKerPiZU4

if you do the math, the per serving cost of some protein powders end up being cheaper than "whole foods" You can save money by replacing a meal with a protein drink.

That's what I was thinking too. Save your money up and buy the biggest tub (or 2) of whey you can find in a brand and flavor(s) you like. A little goes a long whey.

Also, don't feel tied to using the scoop that comes in the bucket. Many whey supplement dosages are high enough that some people theorize your body can't use all of the protein you ingest. If you are using it as a true supplement (i.e. getting fairly good nutrition from other food sources) you may find only a tablespoon is necessary 4-5 times a day. That makes it stretch out even longer.

I was asking for food alternatives also because, well, whether I'm taking whey or not I still have to eat. Why not hit two birds with one stone? Or try to.

Ok, some good choices for bulky and protein rich foods include:

Kidney Beans, a bag of dried beans goes for about $1. It will go a long way; it adds great fiber, protein, and complex carbs to your diet. I have a bunch of recipes that I add them too.

A second can include lentils, same as above, high in fiber, protein, and complex carbs, cheap too. You can make filling soups, etc

Third, garbanzo beans, aka chick peas, same as above, lots of fiber, protein, and complex carbs, cheap too. Make hummus by grinding them up with a drop of olive oil, some lemon juice, and garlic. It makes a great spread, high in nutrition and good fat. You can also add tahini (sesame seed paste) but I usually leave that out.

Also, some cheap and convenient protein sources, other than chicken breast, london broil, and eggs, can include canned sardines, canned mackerel, and canned salmon (use salmon only from Alaska). It’s cheaper than tuna, has lots of protein and healthy fats, plus low in mercury.

I hope this helps, I have lots of recipes I can suggest, so if you are interested, let me know what you are thinking and I will suggest a recipe.

Thanks for the advice. I've never tried to cook lentils, I wouldn't mind a good soup recipe with lentils.

This is a simple soup that you can use as an idea to make your own soup:

1 TBS Olive Oil
1 Large onion
4 Cloves Garlic
2-4 Large Carrots chopped
1/2 tsp thyme
1 bay leaf
2 cups lentils (1 pound)
8 cups Vegetable, chicken, or beef stock

Optional:
Salt and pepper
Crushed red pepper flakes

Sauté the onions until brown, add garlic and carrots, sauté for 5 more minutes, add the rest of the ingredients, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for about 1 hour or so until the lentils are the way YOU like them.

I like my soup a little creamy, so I take about half of it and stick it in the blender until smooth, then put it back into the soup.

Also note there is no meat in this dish, I usually have a small piece of chicken breast with my meal, but I also have cut up some spicy sausage and sautéed it before the onions (not too healthy, but taste great)

The more you cook, the better you get. There are only a handful of rules in cooking, the more you cook, the more you will know how to make food the way you like it

Hope this helps

Do they not have schools where you're from?

If you're after protein then you need to be looking at Meats, dairy, nuts and seeds (although most things contain some protein).

As for how to prepare foods; you need a cookery book