i think that it helps to always have some rice cooked and waiting to bump up the calorie count to almost any meal.

Rice, potatoes, beans, and lentils are all solid low cost choices.

I have to admit that I do not do beans nearly as much as I should. I think it is because canned beans are not nearly the deal money-wise as dried beans are … and I am not good at letting beans soak without forgetting them and ruining them.

I'm not sure they're quite ruined if over soaked. Cooking time will be greatly diminished. I've left beans soaking for 24 hours because I forgot, they turned out fine.