Need meals on a budget for 3 going on 4 people?!
Answers: I am pregnant and due in 3 weeks, but times are tight my husband hours have been cut, I have cut back on everything else, so now I need cheap meal ideas besides hot dogs and hamburger helper. I usually make meatloaf, lasagna, baked chicken, any ideas on the cheaper side would be great!
check out this site www.hillbillyhousewife.com
it has lots of ideas for cooking on a budget.
You can also look in to getting help from the WIC program.
Salad with chicken, Soup and grilled cheese. Pork chops and apple sauce. There are lots of different things. Good luck to you! Congrats on your new bundle of joy!
buy raw bulk products like rice, potatoes, pasta for starches, buy meat on sale and freeze it, buy fresh veggies and fruit, much cheaper than buying junk processed food. if you find produce on sale buy a lot at once and cook and freeze it. i would personally not eat hamburger helper while preggers, you need nutrient dense food since you're eating for 2. just because youre poor doesn't mean you can't eat healthy, i think its cheaper to eat healthy actually.
Hot dogs, ground beef in gravy over mashed potatoes, cold cereal, oatmeal, pancakes. If you're on a budget go to walmart you can save a bunch by shopping there.
Try this link remember cheaper cuts ie lamb shanks chicken pieces
also indian food ie Cloe Batura is very cheap..only cents per serve
http://southernfood.about.com/od/budgetm...
Cook one cup of rice in a can of chili on the stove for about 15 minutes or until rice is done. Put this into tortillas and top wih a little cheese and salsa and roll up for burritos. Delish!
Make a taco soup out of 1 lb of cooked ground beef, can of corn, can of peas, can of diced tomatoes, can of kidney beans, and a package of taco seasoning. Don't drain any of them and just throw all into a pot on the stove along with 1 cans worth of water and allow to simmer until heated through (at least 15 minutes). This will make lots so there will be lots of leftovers, which are even better in my opinion!
Chili is also a great meal!
Three cans of diced tomato's seasoned Italian style. Over a 16oz box of cooked pasta shells (med). I saute two or three cloves of chopped garlic and olive oil in a med saucepan. When they get a Little browned I throw in the tomato's and put in a pat of butter (you can just add more olive oil if you aren't in to butter, but I warn you it's better with butter) some cracked pepper and let it come to a boil for a few min. Then stir in the cooked shells and cook for a few more min. That's it, and let me tell you when we are on a tight food budget it is a great go to. If you have on hand some grated parm that is good on it too. If I have a vegetable to serve I do, or a salad. It's cheap and simple. Hope this idea helps.
There's usually a small area in your grocery meat dept., where they drastically mark down meat with an expiration date of that day (or ask the butcher there). You can always freeze it then. I saw 6 lbs. of lean ground beef for less than $3 at a Signature Kroger the other day!...You might even find steaks for the price of hamburger, or less! ... A thick, filling soup with green salad and French bread is good (use whatever leftover veggies you have) ...
TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE
1 5-oz. pkg noodles, cooked
1 7-oz. can tuna (water packed) , flaked
pepper
1 can cream of mushroom (or celery or broccoli) soup
1 c. milk
1 c. crushed potato or tortilla chips
grated cheese
Put noodles into shallow baking dish. Arrange tuna over noodles and sprinkle with pepper to taste. Mix soup & milk; pour over noodles & tuna. Top with potato chips; then some cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 375 for 30-45 min. Serves 4
Easy CHEESE ENCHILADAS
1 package flour tortillas
1 15-oz. can enchilada sauce (mild)
1 8-oz. pkg grated mozzarella or provolone cheese
1 small container Ricotta cheese
1 egg
Put scant amount of sauce into bottom of 9x13" pan. Mix cheeses & egg (salt & pepper to taste), and a little chili powder (if it won't bother you) up well. Then put equal amounts of the mixture onto the tortillas and roll them up tightly. Place them tightly into the pan and pour the rest of the sauce on top. Cover and bake at 350 for about 30-45 min...