give me your cheapest (semi healthy) food ideas!

ilovedave

going to the store soon and got a pretty low cost menu going but it's really carb heavy, not enough veggies. going to try and get some inexpensive frozen veg to at least supplement.  i need ideas going forward please!! dinners, lunches, even breakfasts! i usually cook 4 full meals/week when dave was working 3 nights and the kids and i ate leftovers, pastas, whatever was quick and easy. now of course i need more meals.

Celestevie

Eggs?  We often have eggs for dinner - cheap protein, and quick!

Pancakes - they don't have to ne unhealthy, and are inexpensive. (sort of fast)

Sandwiches - for dinner with a veggie side?

 

 

melbride2005

whole grains, lentils, beans

write your plan based on what's on sale that week...as far as meat/fish goes

homemade pizza

soups and stews go a long way!

Melanie2003

eggs are easy - with cheese in them or slices on the side, plus cut up fruit - maybe toast if you want too

ground beef can be cheapish

look for bone-in chicken - usually cheaper

i buy frozen mini ravioli on sale - it's a $1-2 bag.

StephNJohn2008

As for frozen veggies, I use a lot of them in the winter. I buy the big bags of frozen broccoli, broccoli/carrots/cauliflower mix, peas/carrots mix. I take out the amount I need and let them defrost, then add them to recipes and I find it works really well. I don't like cooking them from frozen- I find they get mushier.

As for cheap, fried rice (using the peas/carrots I mentioned earlier, soy sauce, egg, chicken,  etc.)

I also think your best bet is meals that make a lot of leftovers- a roast chicken, a lasagna, etc.

Good luck, I'm sorry you guys are going through this. My husband lost his job when I was in my second trimester and we were very worried bc he makes much more than me and we couldn't afford our house (plus a baby...) for long without his income. It all worked out and he's in a much better job now. I'll keep my fingers crossed that the same happens for you. 

BeachBaby07

I roast a chicken (cost $10) and get 2 meals from that. One for dinner, the other for a stoup using the meat left and the bones. Home made bean burgers, you can use pinto or black and they are great in a wrap, fajitas you can buy frozen pepper blend and eat them in wraps and add rice to bulk them up. I would also make my own sauce instead of buying it in the jars, its much cheaper as is salad dressing. That is one of the most expensive things in a store and its so cheap and easy to make. I feel l like a veggie chili (with frozen vegs, and beans lasts for days and days in our house and you can serve it with rice, serve it burrito style, just eat it plain

nothingbuthappy

Frozen pizza & salad

Black beans w/rice & salad

Spaghetti w/broccoli, garlic, olive oil & salad

(we love salad in our house ;-)

Tuna melts with oven fries

PB&J lunch

Hamburgers w/chips or fries or salad

Mac & Cheese (alone for lunch or w/salad for dinner...or any veggie in place of salad, like green beans) 

Tacos w/ground turkey

Spaghetti w/meatballs (turkey)

Cream cheese on toast w/fruit is my daughter's fave b'fast

Oatmeal or cream of wheat w/banana or other fruit (buy the type you cook yourself instead of the instant packets - great way to stretch a dollar and it tastes so much better imo!)

Macaroni & peas (I use small shells then sautee the peas with minced onion, garlic, olive oil and grated cheese)

Pastina w/egg is a great, healthy lunch

Buy less expensive cuts of meat and slow cook them for pot roast or pork roast

Soups can be super nutritious and filling and you can make them with really inexpensive canned or dried beans and leftovers!

GL, D! 

 

ilovedave

thanks everyone! i do ok at the store. knocked $50 off my normal shopping and have meals for 7 days.  wish i could've brought it down more but i'm working on it! our meals are fairly healthy...we're big, good eaters so food shopping has always been a guilt-less shopping for me since we all love food.  having to scrimp and cut back there is hard.  i'm making this my challenge this week to make a great meal plan for next week!!!