How to Eat Healthy & Nutritious Meals on a Budget

Feeding a family is a big challenge. Feeding a family on a budget? Well, that’s an even bigger one. Preparing healthy nutritious meals on a budget? Today, that can be almost impossible. Take a look at my tips below to feed your family healthy nutritious meals that won’t blow your budget.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Creativity
• Recipe file
• Cookbook

1. Fruits and vegetables. Always buy what’s in season. It’s plentiful and inexpensive. The best deals and the best produce can generally be found at your local farmer’s market. Check your local paper for bargains. When you find a good deal, buy in bulk. Can or freeze anything that you can’t use this week.

2. Eggs have gotten a bad rap. Few foods pack the protein punch that eggs do. Scramble some up, sauté some of those veggies that you picked up at the market and make a delicious omelet. Make some cinnamon French toast and top it with some sliced peaches or apples. Eggs aren’t just for breakfast any more. Whip some up for a quick and easy dinner.

3. Pasta. For a great nutritional value, pick up some whole wheat pasta. Toss it with some prepared pasta sauce or make your own. I like to add sautéed mushrooms and garlic to add a little more punch to the sauce. Top it with some steamed veggies to stretch this bargain meal even further.

4. Potatoes. Who doesn’t love them? Bake them and stuff them with steamed broccoli and melt cheese over the top for an entrée portion. There are a million things that you can do with the versatile potato. Make potato pancakes, Mash them and make Shepherd’s pie.

5. Beans can be the basis for a variety of dishes. cook up a pot of brown rice and serve with kidney or black beans for a satisfying vegetarian entrée. Add salsa for spice and serve with flour or corn tortillas. Make up a big pot of vegetarian chili or use them as a basis for a pot of soup. Coupled with a green salad and crunchy bread any of these can become a complete meal.

6. Meat. Use it as a condiment rather than the focus of a meal. Cut chicken or lean beef into strip, add veggies and cook up a delicious stir fry. Cook up some chicken thighs and pull the skin off and use in tacos, soups or stews.

Tips & Warnings

• Use coupons as often as possible but only on things that you use
• Keep a spreadsheet of prices on things that you usually buy. That's how you'll know when you're getting a great bargain. Items tend to go on sale cyclically. The spreadsheet will tell you when items such as cereals go on sale so that you know when to stock up.

[rumblebug]

on 9/10/2008 Thank you for this great rundown of healthy options we sometimes overlook! I really like the spreadsheet idea!