Let me talk about the cheapest and satiating food perceptually. Please note: this is a perceptual talk, only based on the imagination and has no scientific basis.

1. Noodles

A two-pound handful of noodles only costs 4 yuan (our family sells noodles). It is a little more expensive in the supermarket, but not much more. Food that everyone can afford. In the morning, a family of three eats some green vegetable and egg noodles. A two-pound bag can last for four days and costs only one yuan a day on average. It is really cheap and delicious. It’s just pasta itself, and the noodles and soup make it very filling.

2. Steamed buns and pickles

Steamed buns and pickles are a home-cooked meal often mentioned by our fathers. A steamed bun costs about 50 cents, and when paired with steamed buns, it’s a delicacy when you’re very hungry. Of course, if you make your own steamed buns, the cost will be lower. Eating two steamed buns will definitely make you feel full.

3. Pancakes

Pancakes are a specialty of our Shandong region. The pancakes in different cities in Shandong are slightly different. For example, Tai'an pancakes are mostly made of corn flour and millet flour, while many Linyi pancakes and Rizhao pancakes use wheat as the main raw material. No matter how you make it, it can be called a multigrain pancake. The elderly in my family also like to eat pancakes. One pound is about 3.5-4 yuan (my family also sells pancakes). If you buy a pound of rolls, you can eat them for a long time. It is more economical than eating steamed buns, but it is a bit chewy. It takes a lot of effort, but the rolls are better. Young people eat less. Anyway, I don’t like to eat very much.

4. Boiled corn

Boiled corn and roasted corn were my favorites when I was a child. At that time, I felt that they were eaten as snacks. If you eat two, you basically don’t need to eat. Nowadays, corn is not a particularly expensive ingredient. Raw corn is about 1 yuan each, and the most in supermarkets is 2 yuan. Cooked corn is generally 2-2.5 yuan. Adults can basically eat 2 and they will be full. It is very cost-effective.

Having said so much, we will find that the cheapest and satiating food is basically inseparable from whole grains. Now that the economy is developed, food is much better than in the past. Our bodies have become mellow, and busy work leaves us with no time to exercise. Eating some whole grains in between is very beneficial to physical and mental health.