I will leave you to research the recipes on skinnytaste, but here is a break down of what your grocery bill could be if you plan right.

Monday: Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells (serves 9 with three shells each) $15.70 initial buy
- 1 pack frozen chopped spinach ($1)
- 1 large onion ($0.70)
- 2 cloves of garlic (one head of garlic $0.50)
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 28 oz cruched tomatoes ($1)
- 1 Tbsp chopped basil ($2 for a pack)
- 1 15 oz container of ricotta ($3)
- 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, part skim ($3 for a pack)
-1 egg ($1.50 for a cartoon of medium eggs)
- 1/4 cup parmesan grated parm ($3 a container)

Tuesday: Turkey "Parm" Burgers (serves 4) $11
- 1 4 pack of Turkey patties or 1 lb of ground turkey ($6)
- 4 oz shredded mozzarella (Have some left over from last night $0)
- 4 tbsp spaghetti sauce ($2)
- 4 Whole Wheat hamburger buns ($3)

Wednesday: Sloppy Joes $13.50
- 1 lb Italian sausage ($4)
- 1/2 cup onion (left over from Monday)
- 3 garlic cloves (left over from head of garlic)
- 2 green peppers ($1.50)
- 1 14 oz can crushed tomatoes ($1)
- 1/2 tsp dried rosemary ($3 for jar)
- 4 hamburger buns (left over)
- 4 slices cheese ($2)
- 1 cup baby spinach ($2 for a salad pack)

Thursday: Left over night! What ever left overs you have you eat up tonight! If there are no left overs then Breakfast nightt! $8.50
- 8 eggs (already bought the cartoon)
- Bacon or sausage ($5 assuming bacon)
- Sliced bread ($2)
- Strawberries ($1.50 for a carton at Krogers right now)

Friday: Pizza night! $5
- 4 whole wheat tortillas ($3 for a pack)
- left over Shredded Mozzarella
- left over spaghetti sauce
- Mini pepperonis ($2)

Saturday: Italian grilled chicken with grilled marinated veggies! $23.40
- 8 4 oz chicken breasts (4 being saved for tomorrow after gilled) ($12)
- 1 bottle italian dressing ($2)
- 1 pack mini peppers ($5)
- 2 onions ($1.40)
- prepackages lower sodium marinade of your choice (usually about $3)

Sunday: Salad night! $9.00
- Left over grilled chicken
- Baby Spring Salad Mix ($4 for a huge tub)
- Salad dressing
-Carrots ($1)
- Radishes ($1)
- Salad dressing ($3)

That comes to about $86 for the dinners, assuming that you need to buy everything already. But if you already have the herbs, or the spaghetti sauce or the salad dressings then it makes it even cheaper. For breakfasts do cereals (get the bagged ones, they are cheaper), oatmeal, etc... And lunches can peanut butter sandwiches, or lunch meat sandwiches, with fruit and a cookie or two.

All the prices are based on Kroger prices, so depending on where you shop it could end up being even cheaper.

I go on a site that's called freecycle, google it for the town you live in. This time of year lots of people may have extra fruit on their trees or veggies in there garden,. Can them, freeze them, dry them. It really helps. Good luck

I cant believe someone would be so kind as to write out prices and a menu well done
:flowerforyou:

I live in low income housing and i get food stamps and its hard survive off the little food stamps that they give us. So i agree its tough. I grew up on left over or must go. I grew up on alot alot of pasta. Buy in bulk if you can, the roast is always good. And many options. I would go back to basics, and just potion it out.

Thanks! I use my crock pot a lot too. I just wish all the meals in my crock pot recipe book told me calories and stuff.

15 bean soup with lean ham is awesome and inexpensive. Serve it with carrot, cucumber and green pepper strips for a delicious, healthy, low fat and ridiculously cheap meal. You can use those 15 bean soup bags at the grocery, or navy beans too. This also freezes well, so you can make extra and freeze for later.

One of my favorite, cheap, quick and relatively healthy meals is Zatarain's New Orleans Style Jambala. (I use Aldi's or whatever generic brand I can find). I chop an onion, a carrot, a celery stalk, 2 cloves of garlic, and a pepper if I have it, finely, sauté them in a little olive or canola oil (you could "sweat" them in water instead) until they are tender, and add them, and meat and cook according to directions.. You can use whatever you have on hand. I have used left over chicken, lean ground beef or turkey, or lean smoked turkey sausage. It's quick, cheap, tasty and filling. I serve it with raw veggies.

When my kids were home, I used to make and freeze chili for the winter. Chili is so yummy on cold nights and you can make it healthy and still tasty! It's another thing that lends itself to being served with raw veggies. The kids can did their carrot sticks or pepper strips in the chili!

My family like a lot of families is very tight finacially. Like really really tight. Like I need to feed 4 ppl for 7 days with sometimes less then $100. We mainly shop Price Rite or Save Alot. It's really embarrassing to post this but I don't know when we'll get out of this rut and until I can lower my depression and get healthy to help me become "stable" we're stuck.

First, don't be embarrassed. Many of us are in the same place for assorted reasons.

Pasta and rice can go a fairly long way. I sometimes use ramen noodles (I can get a six-pack of ramen noodles for about a dollar. Don't use the seasoning packet, as it's loaded with sodium). You can add veggies or other leftovers.

A website I recommend is www.livingonadime.com. One of the founders is dealing with fibromyalgia and is homeschooling her children. The site goes into many things, including food and recipes.

Sometimes I look at the clearance rack at the store (they usually hide it in the back). You can get some things at half- or quarter-price.

Coupons can be helpful, too (just check the dates and the store policy).

Can you grow anything at home? Maybe start a small garden, even if you grow things in a container (the gardening might be helpful with the depression, too).

Nice :drinker:

This website is a lifesaver for cheap recipes and whatnot -
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/category/recipes

I have found stuff beyond cheap to make during those weeks where I'm running short.