Quick and Affordable Meals for Busy Families
If there’s one thing busy families seem to run short on, it’s time. From homework to sports and activities, weeknights often consist of rushing from one thing to another. Faced with the challenge of rushing home from work to get out the door, exactly where does a healthy meal fit in? Add the complexity of rising inflation and food costs, and suddenly a simple meal can feel overwhelming!
That’s why we came up with a simple way to get healthy, affordable meals on the table using 5 simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, fridge, or freezer. The best part? You can add any leftover ingredients you might have on hand to reduce food waste. It’s a win-win!
Ingredient List and Cost Breakdown
To keep things easy and affordable, we picked six ingredients as the basis for our recipe ideas:
- Eggs (large, no name): $3.69/dozen ($0.31 each)
- Cheddar Cheese (no name, medium): $5.99/400 g block ($1.50/100 g)
- Tortillas (no name or store brand): $2.00/package of 10 ($0.63 each)
- Frozen Vegetable Mix (no name or store brand): $2.49/750 g ($0.33 per serving)
- Canned Black Beans (no name or store brand): $1.49/can ($0.28 per serving)
- Tomato (Beefsteak Red): $1.77 each ($0.89 per serving)
By using these six ingredients and a little imagination, you can create all kinds of meals, each under $3.00 per serving. Healthy eating while sticking to your budget is possible!
Recipe Ideas to Get You Started
Here are a few quick and simple recipe ideas to inspire you:
Burrito
Grab some eggs (allow 2 eggs per person), whisk them together, and scramble in a pan on medium heat. Once cooked, add a serving of rinsed and drained black beans, grated cheddar cheese, and diced tomato to a tortilla. Roll it up, and you have yourself a burrito that’s perfect for any time of day!
Burrito Cost Breakdown:
- Eggs – 0.31 x 2 = 0.62
- Black Beans = 0.28
- Cheese (14 g) = 0.21
- Tomato (1/4) = 0.44
- Tortilla = 0.63
Total Cost: $2.18
For an extra twist, try our Breakfast Burrito recipe!
Poached Egg Skillet
Sauté frozen veggies or leftover peppers in a pan. Add black beans and cook until soft. Top with two poached or fried eggs, sprinkle some grated cheese, and voilà – dinner is served!
Skillet Cost Breakdown:
- Eggs – 0.31 x 2 = 0.62
- Black Beans = 0.28
With these affordable ingredients and simple meal ideas, you can create healthy, satisfying dishes that won’t break the bank or take up too much of your time!
