10 Tips for Creating Family Meals on a Budget

10 Tips for Creating Family Meals on a Budget

1. Keep staples on hand in your pantry. This way, you can pull a simple meal together quickly and avoid impulse shopping at the grocery store.
2. Use a few main items in various ways. For example, chicken breast can be used to make several different meals. 
3. Overlap ingredients to not waste leftovers. A roast and a bag of sunshine carrots can be made into a crock pot roast, with potatoes; beef stew using the carrots and beef; beef stroganoff over noodles with a side dish of carrots. 
4. Simple Crockpot recipes save time and money. They give you the capacity to turn basic ingredients into delicious meals with little time actually spent in the kitchen.
5. Plan meals ahead. Planning meals ahead will help you know exactly what you need so you don’t buy everything that sounds good (even if you really want those yummy chips!) 
6. Plan meals based on sales. If Milford Valley Chicken Cordon Bleu is on sale, add that to your menu. 
7. Meal prep. This can save you tons of time! It will ensure that you are eating healthy, and save you a night out at McDonald’s when you are in a hurry.
8. Freezer meals. When making a meal, double the recipe and put half in the freezer for another day. This will save on groceries for another week.
9. Prepare in batches. If you plan multiple meals using chicken for the week, cook it all at once and put the rest in the refrigerator or freezer to grab at the last minute to throw in your recipe.
10. Re-purpose leftovers. Some of us aren’t fans of leftovers #guilty, but you make something new with them! For example, leftover chicken breast can be added with cheese, lettuce, and tomato to a tortilla for a healthy lunch the next day.

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