Whether you are a student or a parent cooking for your family, finding healthy recipes that fit your budget is like finding gold! Grocery shopping can feel pricey when you start adding up the costs of meats, organic produce, supplements, and so on.
But what if you can eat healthy meals without it costing an arm and a leg?
We have found seven healthy meals on a budget that you can plan for each day of the week that are not only low-cost and healthy, but are also delicious!
7 Healthy Budget-Friendly Recipes
When shopping on a budget, there are three tips we recommend. 1) Plan your meals for the week around specials and deals. 2) If you can’t afford organic, that’s okay; it’s better to buy veggies and fruit that are not organic than to avoid them altogether. 3) When planning your meals, set a budget goal to help guide you while shopping.
To get you started, try the seven recipes below!
Veggie Bowls
Veggie bowls are a fantastic way to incorporate fiber, potassium, magnesium, and other nutrients cost-effectively! One of the great things about veggie bowls is that there are hundreds of different combinations you can do.
- Mediterranean: chickpeas, cucumber, red onion, bell pepper, tomato, and feta
- Latin: bell pepper, rice, beans, avocado, and cilantro
- Middle Eastern: chickpeas, eggplant, cauliflower, sweet potato, cucumber, and cabbage
- Asian: rice, tofu, cucumber, carrot, mushroom, and edamame
These are only a few examples, but the options are limitless! You can even mix and match cuisines or throw in all types of veggies, and it will still be delicious.
Fajitas
Looking to cut back on the costs of eating out but still want the fun experience? Fajitas are the way to go! After stuffing yourself with chips and salsa, there is no better sight than seeing a sizzling plate of fajitas heading its way to your table. And now, you can do it at home too!
All you need are bell peppers, onions, and chicken (or tofu for a vegan option), then add lime and seasoning for flavor. And for the final touch, sprinkle water on top of your hot pan to get that sizzling and smoking effect you see in restaurants!
Spring Rolls
In the mood for some Vietnamese food? Try making spring rolls! They are a simple yet delicious meal that is great for when you’re in a time crunch.
Here is what you’ll need:
- Rice paper
- Veggies: cucumber, lettuce, carrot, bean sprouts
- Protein: shrimp, chicken, or tofu
- Sauce: soy sauce or peanut sauce
The above are ingredients for a traditional spring roll, but you can have fun and experiment with them! Rice paper doesn’t have a strong flavor, which means you can make all sorts of different rolls. If you come up with a fun recipe, please share it with us!
Bibimbap
Have you ever heard of Bibimbap? This dish, although not well-known in America, is very common in Korea! The literal translation of Bibimbap is “mixed rice,” which is a perfect name for this dish! The main ingredients consist of rice, veggies, meat, and fried egg, and gochujang (Korean chili paste), which you mix all together, hence the name Bibimbap (mixed rice).
And a bonus with Bibimbap is that the recipes are flexible, as you can switch out the veggies and meats to fit your budget and preference!
Mince & Tatties
We are going all over the world with our recipes, and the next stop is Scotland! Mince and tatties is a classic Scottish dish that originated around the 19th century. The recipe started due to the need for readily available and affordable ingredients: beef (mince) and potatoes (tatties).
If you have heard of shepherd’s pie, then this dish is pretty similar! However, the presentation and process are slightly different.
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs Ground beef (mince)
- 1 Large onion chopped
- 1lb Carrots chopped
- 2 cups of stock
- 1T cornflour/starch
- 3/4lb frozen peas
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Sauté onions and beef until browned.
- Add carrots, stock, salt, and pepper. Cook until carrots are al denté.
- Dissolve cornflour in cold water. Add to the pan and cook until the liquid has thickened.
- Add frozen peas and cook for a few minutes until heated through.
- Serve over mashed potatoes.
Lentil Soup
Lentil soup is packed full of essential nutrients such as fiber, iron, and protein that will aid in digestion and keep you full for longer at a low cost. The main ingredients for lentil soup are onions, garlic, green lentils, vegetable stock, bay leaves, and thyme. It is an excellent combination of rich umami flavors with a fresh taste from the herbs.
Try the lentil soup recipe from “My Second Breakfast!”
Chana Masala
When meat is out of budget, finding protein-rich alternatives is crucial. If you’re a fan of chicken masala, then you need to try chana masala, which uses chickpeas instead of meat. The linked recipe provides steps to make the masala (sauce with a combination of spices) from scratch, but if you don’t have the time, Ward’s also has a wide selection of masalas, curries, and kormas in store!
Shop Great Deals at Ward’s!
The best way to save money on your grocery shopping is to search for deals. Ward’s Supermarket has new weekly specials every Wednesday with fresh produce, meats, seafood, and local goods. Subscribe to our emails to have access to our weekly specials or visit our website!
