Healthy Food on a Budget

jnv7594

Hi, everyone. I'm here looking for some ideas. I have a pretty strict budget. I'm a single parent with a daughter that I have to feed too, and I find us often eating different meals because she doesn't like much of what I eat, which doesn't help. Anyway, I feel myself getting bored with my food already as I eat the same things pretty much every day, but it's just easier cost wise to do it that way. Any ideas of good recipe's that won't kill my bank account, lol? I'm just looking for a bit more variety and maybe some things my 11 year old might like as well. Thanks.

kshadows

I have a picky 6 year old so I feel your pain. My best advice is: make food and eat it. Don't make her something separate unless you KNOW it's something she honestly doesn't like. Otherwise you're reinforcing that she can eat what she wants and it's a huge pain. I make dinner every night. If my son doesn't eat it (or at least TRY IT), he doesn't eat again until bedtime snack. It sounds harsh but now he will eat most everything I make.

My grocery budget is tight too but since I've cut out processed stuff, it's gotten easier. Now my constraint is time because you really do pay for convenience. Good luck!

SnuggleSmacks

There's a million ways to cook chicken, and thighs are really cheap. Certain types of fish, like talapia, can be purchased in very large bags for very little money. Add to that whatever seasonal veggies are on sale, and you should be able to put together lots of different meals.

If you have a Trader Joe's or Aldi's nearby, those are good places to shop. If not, consider a membership warehouse like Costco. The membership fee hurts, but the savings in buying bulk goods, and in gasoline, can definitely make it worth it.

Another option is a farmer's market. You can find seasonal produce super cheap there at times. I've been buying pints of blueberries for $2 at mine, and sweet potatoes are usually widely available cheap. Winter squash are starting to come in, and soon they'll be overwhelmed, so those will be super cheap (and delicious, my favorites!).

Mygsds

Love this site.. Have gotten so many ideas here.... www.budgetbytes.com

mturrub

This might give someone ideas for their own breakfast so thought I'd share : )

Breakfast 08/27
Oatmeal on water
-Strawberries
-almonds
-raisins
-1 oz of almond milk
Banana with
-peanut butter (just a light spread on it less that one spoon)
-I cut it up in slices and ate it with a fork it almost felt like dessert

Today 08/27
Green tea with lemon
Protein Shake Chocolate with
-chia seeds
-maca powder
-oatmeal
Banana with peanut butter

jnv7594

Thanks for all of the ideas everyone. We did go to Trader Joe's tonight. That's the first time I've been there. They have some great stuff, and I was really surprised at how reasonable the prices are, so we will definitely be going back. My daughter and I even found some things we both like so that's a plus.

jnv7594

mturrub, that oatmeal is actually pretty similar to what I usually have for breakfast only I just add a tablespoon of natural peanut butter and some cut up strawberries. And yes, I love bananas with peanut butter on top. Yum. I'm a little scared to try almond milk. For some reason I can't tolerate raw almonds. If they are roasted, I am fine, but raw ones I have a horrible reaction to. Both times I've made the mistake of eating them I was doubled over in pain for about two hours afterwards. I read up on in, and there is something in them that dissipates when they are roasted that can cause stomach pain in some people. So unfortunately, I avoid anything that has almonds unless I am sure they are roasted. That pain is like no other.

mygnsac

Here's a free online book for healthy eats on a tight budget. Lots of great tips and recipes.

https://8b862ca0073972f0472b704e2c0c21d0480f50d3.googledrive.com/host/0Bxd6wdCBD_2tdUdtM0d4WTJmclU/good-and-cheap.pdf

Mangopickle

I have a picky 6 year old so I feel your pain. My best advice is: make food and eat it. Don't make her something separate unless you KNOW it's something she honestly doesn't like. Otherwise you're reinforcing that she can eat what she wants and it's a huge pain. I make dinner every night. If my son doesn't eat it (or at least TRY IT), he doesn't eat again until bedtime snack. It sounds harsh but now he will eat most everything I make.

My grocery budget is tight too but since I've cut out processed stuff, it's gotten easier. Now my constraint is time because you really do pay for convenience. Good luck!

This!! Healthy eating is not an option in our house. My kid is allowed 2 foods that she doesn't have to eat or taste. Everything else goes down or there is nothing to eat. She has chosen tofu and sauerkraut. She does prefer raw carrots, mushrooms and broccoli to cooked so i am happy to oblige. I bless my parents that put a timer on me when I balked as a child and then sent me to bed with a glass of milk. I have a great palate to show for it. Oddly I chose to not eat rutabagas and turnips as a child and now I adore them. As for a budget. Chicken thighs, pork necks, eggs, 20 lb bags of basmati rice from Asian mkts, frozen mixed veg, seasonal veggies and fruits, always check the sales flyer and then decide on recipes. Learn how to break down a chicken watching a you tube vid. Whole chickens are cheap. Shop way early in the am when the butcher puts out the discount meat and proportion and freeze it when you get home, lentils and peanut butter are $1 at dollar tree. Invest in a crock pot and pressure cooker. Dried beans and kale are cheap protein

Liftng4Lis

Trader Joes rocks! As for the little one, cook exactly the same for them as yourself! When she's hungry she will eat, plus she will learn early on healthier eating habits.
As far a budgeting, buy chicken breast/ tenders in bulk and freeze if you need to. It's farmers market season, so utilize those if you can.

dubird

We usually get our meat at Costco and freeze it. It's much cheaper than buying at the regular store, and we can get a good variety. Though, you need a good-sized freezer to take advantage of this!

And I second the make her dinner what you're eating. It'll cost less money and time, and believe me, when she's hungry, she'll eat. It won't take more than a couple of times before she realizes it.

PurrlyGirl

We usually get our meat at Costco and freeze it. It's much cheaper than buying at the regular store, and we can get a good variety. Though, you need a good-sized freezer to take advantage of this!

I love Costco for this reason. I'm married, but we have four kids and one income, so budget is important to me too. We get the big bags of frozen chicken breasts, and then I can make all sorts of things from that. Easy peasy.

booboo68

Make a big batch of chili, or vegetable soup. (You can also portion it out and freeze it and use for lunches, dinners, whatever) Or do both, neither is expensive.

Buy a couple roasting chickens and roast them then use the leftover chicken to make a batch of chicken rice soup and chicken salad.

Chicken in the crockpot with corn and black bean salsa poured over it and cook for 6 hrs and then shred and place in tortillas with toppings.

I do food prep once a week for the entire week so if that's an option for you, it saves so much time during the week. Have your daughter help with this and share the cooking experience and try new things together.

amgreenwell

Crockpot meals are usually pretty cheap, easy and last numerous meals. Chicken can be mixed with just about anything.
Buy a big bag of quinoa, couscous or brown rice and use that with everything. You can season it with whatever flavors you like and keep changing it up. Roasting any and all vegetables is also easy and fairly cheap. Don't know if you have a garden or access to one, but growing my own stuff has kept me in tomatoes and okra all summer. Good luck!