People around me are always commenting on my ability to save money when it comes to groceries. We are a family of four but since it tends to feel as though we’re typically feeding half of the Midwest; I budget our groceries as a family of 6 using these 3 simple ways to stretch our grocery budget. Even though we are purchasing some extra meals to keep on hand for those nights we are feeding multiple people, I’m often spending quite a bit less on our weekly shop than those around me. These are a few ways that I’ve found we can eat healthy meals that can easily be stretched. Keep in mind I meal plan each week but always have some variation of the below in the pantry/freezer for quick dinners, or nights we have a full house.
When planning meals for a busy family, efficiency and flexibility are key. Consider incorporating these three food hacks to add convenience and variety to your meal planning:
Whole Chicken: A Versatile Staple
Benefits:
- Cost-Effective: Buying a whole chicken, especially when on sale, can be more economical than purchasing parts separately.
- Meal Prepping: One chicken can be transformed into multiple meals—roast it for one dinner, then use the leftovers for soup or other dishes.
- Homemade Broth: Use the carcass to make a rich broth in the Instant Pot, perfect as a soup base or for other recipes.
Instructions:
- Purchase one or more whole chickens when discounted.
- Roast one for a meal and freeze any extras for later use.
- After the roast meal, pick the remaining meat for additional dishes, such as chicken noodle soup, which can be made with ingredients like celery, onion, carrot, and egg noodles.
- Make chicken broth with the leftovers and freeze it using suitable containers like these: Mason Jars.
Stuffed French Bread: An Easy Dinner Hack
Benefits:
- Time-Saving: Quick to prepare, making them perfect for busy weeknights.
- Customizable: Fill with any leftovers or pantry items you have on hand.
- No Food Waste: Use the bread’s top and insides for croutons or an appetizer, ensuring every bit of the loaf is used.
Instructions:
- Buy a loaf of French bread; slice off the top and hollow out the bread.
- Dice the top into cubes, season, and bake to make croutons.
- Use the scooped-out bread as an appetizer, paired with flavored oils or dips.
- Fill the hollowed-out loaf with a variety of fillings—egg mixtures, leftover taco meat, or pizza toppings—and bake completely or until heated through depending on your filling.
Creating Stress-Free Family Meal Plans with Leftovers: The Bar Strategy
Eating at home with family can be a joy, a chance to bond and indulge in homemade favorites together. Yet, sometimes, meal planning and prepping can become tedious and time-consuming. If you’ve ever found yourself lamenting over the monotony of everyday cooking or the sheer waste of leftovers, I’ve got an ingenious solution that’s both family-approved and time-efficient: the “Bar” strategy.
Imagine bar hopping, but within the cozy confines of your kitchen—and with food. You get to skip the hangover and it’s 100% family-friendly. The beauty of creating a meal “bar” lies in its simplicity and versatility. Think taco bars, potato bars, salad bars—the list is only limited by your creativity.
A. The Family Favorite: Taco Night
Let’s talk about a universal crowd-pleaser: tacos. Almost everyone loves a good taco night. But what about those inevitable leftovers? Taco meat, although delicious fresh, seldom retains its allure the following day. The solution? Repurpose it!
B. From Tacos to Baked Potatoes
Leftover taco meat can be a star again when used as a topping for baked potatoes. It’s a genius pairing; the same toppings that excite you in a taco—think cheese, avocados, salsa—can make a baked potato sing.
C. The Domino Effect: Baked Potato Bar to Salad Bar
When baked potatoes are on the menu, leftovers can easily transition into a delectable salad bar. The result is a week of varied meals that build on one another, reducing waste, and keeping the dinner table fresh and inviting.
Instructions:
1.Begin your “Bar week” with a little Sunday prep. Brown some ground meat for tacos, cook a batch of bacon, and chop onions.
2.Prepare a crisp lettuce haul for both salads and taco toppings.
3.Mash up avocados for that creamy texture and shred an ample amount of cheese to last all week.
Two condiments that are perpetual crowd-pleasers and complement tacos, potatoes, and salads alike are sour cream and salsa. Stretch your grocery budget by using key items for multiple meals. Ensure you’re never out of these condiments, and your bar meals will always have that delightful finishing touch.
These strategies are designed to maximize your time in the kitchen while delivering tasty and satisfying meals, and they’re very forgiving for those of us managing full workdays and active families.