Due to ever-increasing prices, our grocery budgets have been tight lately, and we need some healthy yet wallet-friendly meals more than ever. Here are the best tips to ensure a budget-friendly weekly shop, along with four healthy and satisfying meals you and your family will love!
Helpful Tip: Plan Your Shopping Trips
Meal Planning
Meal planning is a must when trying to be budget-conscious with your groceries. One way to do this is to look through that week’s sales ads and see what is on sale and what can be made into meals around that item. This will also help when it comes to impulse buying since you’ll know exactly what you need.
Grocery Lists
Once you have your meal planning down, make sure you have a list and stick to it! Go around your kitchen and through your pantry to ensure you have what you need to make your weekly meals, and only purchase what is in the budget and on your list.
Shopping the Sales
Sales are great, especially buy-one-get-one sales. Stock up on items you can freeze, such as bread, veggies, and meat. Always meal plan around the best sales to get the biggest bang for your buck.
Buying in Bulk
Bulk buying is one way to save money on items you use quickly throughout the month, such as meats, fruits, and veggies. It may seem like a large bill at the checkout, but if planned correctly, it should last you the entire month.
Rice and Beans
Simple and classic, rice and beans are a staple meal in many homes and can be spiced up to enhance flavor and changed to create different dishes. You can add extra protein or keep with the plant-based bean protein. Either way, this is an extremely nutritious and budget-friendly versatile meal option.
Stir Fry Vegetables and Tofu
Delicous, healthy, and packed with mouthwatering flavors, this tofu stir fry is healthy and easy on the wallet. To make it even more budget-savvy, plan what veggies to use depending on your store’s weekly sale. Skip the store-bought stir fry kits and sauce and make your own—it tastes just as good, if not better!
Hearty Lentil Soup
Lentils are an amazing way to add inexpensive protein to your diet. This hearty soup, packed with celery, carrots, onions, garlic, and spices swimming in a vegetable broth, is the perfect way to get some vitamins while enjoying a delicious meal.
Baked Chicken and Vegetables
Baked chicken and veggies is a completely versatile meal that only requires a whole chicken and whatever veggies you like! To roast your chicken, season liberally with all your favorite spices and bake at 350 degrees until internal temperatures reach a minimum of 165 degrees. You can either steam or sautee your favorite veggies or toss them in the oven to get nice and roasted.
Wrapping up Budget-Friendly Healthy Meals
You don’t have to spend a ton of money to eat delicious, mouthwatering, and healthy meals. It may take some careful planning, but ensuring your family gets the best while you’re on a budget is easy!
