Need cheap meal ideas

[la79al]

I really need to cut the grocery bill as much as possible. DD2 is allergic to dairy and peanuts so that's making it kind of tricky to come up with ideas. I need suggestions for lunch for DD1, DD2 and I and then dinner suggestions for the girls, DH and I. The easier the better, especially lunches.

 

[Marionnette]

I really need to cut the grocery bill as much as possible. DD2 is allergic to dairy and peanuts so that's making it kind of tricky to come up with ideas. I need suggestions for lunch for DD1, DD2 and I and then dinner suggestions for the girls, DH and I. The easier the better, especially lunches.

What are you feeding the family now? You might be able to cut costs by just changing some of the ingredients or brands that you currently buy.

 

[ccgirl]

I really need to cut the grocery bill as much as possible. DD2 is allergic to dairy and peanuts so that's making it kind of tricky to come up with ideas. I need suggestions for lunch for DD1, DD2 and I and then dinner suggestions for the girls, DH and I. The easier the better, especially lunches.

We use a lot of meals and a lot of two for one meals.

For example, cook a beef roast in the crock pot one night. Then the next use use the left over meat for fajita's.

My new favorite is chicken in the crockpot with salsa. I didn't think I'd like it but it's yummy.

For lunches, what about sandwiches? Turkey roll up with lettuce/tomato?

Soup is always good and inexpensive. I serve it with salad.

Breakfast for dinner is another good one.

BLT's?

Hope this helps. If you let us know some of your family favorites we could build upon them.

 

[la79al]

What are you feeding the family now? You might be able to cut costs by just changing some of the ingredients or brands that you currently buy.

We already use mostly generic stuff, though this week I am heading out with a couple months worth of coupons to see how I can do. Since it's usually just the girls and I, we do a lot of processed foods. DD2 won't eat most fruits or veggies so I usually try to have some fresh fruits and/or veggies around for DD1. DD2 eats a lot of chicken nuggets, chicken breast, pork chops, hot dogs, baked potatoes and Ritz or saltine crackers. I tend to eat whatever I can find and prepare quickly. The exception is crockpot stuff. If we do that, DD1 and I will usually eat that and I will find leftovers for DD2. I would love to venture way from meat more and would love to just make 1 meal that all of us can eat.

 

[Marionnette]

We already use mostly generic stuff, though this week I am heading out with a couple months worth of coupons to see how I can do. Since it's usually just the girls and I, we do a lot of processed foods. DD2 won't eat most fruits or veggies so I usually try to have some fresh fruits and/or veggies around for DD1. DD2 eats a lot of chicken nuggets, chicken breast, pork chops, hot dogs, baked potatoes and Ritz or saltine crackers. I tend to eat whatever I can find and prepare quickly. The exception is crockpot stuff. If we do that, DD1 and I will usually eat that and I will find leftovers for DD2. I would love to venture way from meat more and would love to just make 1 meal that all of us can eat.

Your best hope to bring down grocery costs is to do more cooking from scratch. Not only will your family eat cheaper, they will also eat a healthier diet. I won't comment on the "no fruits and/or veggies" for the 2 year-old other than to say that you aren't doing yourself any favors by cooking separate meals for her. Not only are you creating more work for yourself, you are also adding to your grocery budget in order to appease her.

 

[Amyhoff]

We already use mostly generic stuff, though this week I am heading out with a couple months worth of coupons to see how I can do. Since it's usually just the girls and I, we do a lot of processed foods. DD2 won't eat most fruits or veggies so I usually try to have some fresh fruits and/or veggies around for DD1. DD2 eats a lot of chicken nuggets, chicken breast, pork chops, hot dogs, baked potatoes and Ritz or saltine crackers. I tend to eat whatever I can find and prepare quickly. The exception is crockpot stuff. If we do that, DD1 and I will usually eat that and I will find leftovers for DD2. I would love to venture way from meat more and would love to just make 1 meal that all of us can eat.

My daughter is also allergic to dairy and I've found that just about every processed food has dairy of some form in it. It's also not as economical to use processed food.

I never make two meals for my family. My daughter is a great eater but my son doesn't seem to eat nearly as well. I just figure he is growing fine and he will eat when he is hungry. I suggest making one meal and then not letting your daughter snack on junk. This way she will eat what your serving and may actually find some healthy foods she enjoys.

That being said, I try to do every other dinner vegetarian. Basically for the cost savings as well as the health benefits. We have 12 backyard chickens, so we eat a lot of eggs. I also will buy a pound of dried beans (black, pinto, black eyed peas, navy) and use these for meals. I simply soak the whole pound of beans in water overnight (to reduce gas) then cook on high in my 6 quart slow cooker for about 8 - 10 hours. I freeze them in quart jars so that I can take out a single serving and use for a meal.

So with my beans, I will make 3 bean chili (just use your normal chili recipe and replace with several types of beans), bean burgers (I use mashed rice, mashed black beans and breadcrumbs mixed with sauteed and diced onions, peppers, and spices), soups, bean and egg quesidillas (just take two whole wheat flour tortillas and fill them with shredded cheese, beans and scrambled eggs), bean quiches (even my husband will eat these, real men DO eat quiche! You can use a frozen crust or an easy recipe is 1 1/2 cups of flour, 2T sugar, 2T milk - I use almond, 1 t salt, 1/2 veg or canola oil, mix together right in the pie dish and press into place, fill with 5 eggs beaten, leftover veggies, I have used everything from acorn squash to asparagus, beans and cheese, I use soy or goat) and I could go on and on about what I do with my beans! Love them!

We also do simple curries for vegetarian meals, I whip up my favorite curry recipe and use a diced eggplant and some diced sweet potatoes over rice. It's carb heavy, but it's very yummy and full of vitamins and fiber.

I could go on and on. I love to cook!

 

[ZehnJahren]

We already use mostly generic stuff, though this week I am heading out with a couple months worth of coupons to see how I can do. Since it's usually just the girls and I, we do a lot of processed foods. DD2 won't eat most fruits or veggies so I usually try to have some fresh fruits and/or veggies around for DD1. DD2 eats a lot of chicken nuggets, chicken breast, pork chops, hot dogs, baked potatoes and Ritz or saltine crackers. I tend to eat whatever I can find and prepare quickly. The exception is crockpot stuff. If we do that, DD1 and I will usually eat that and I will find leftovers for DD2. I would love to venture way from meat more and would love to just make 1 meal that all of us can eat.

If you only present DD2 with the meals you and DD1 eat, then eventually she will eat them. You will save money if you are making the entire family the same meals. It sounds like DD2 eats a lot of stuff that you and DD1 could eat, so you CAN kind of cater to her, while not allowing her to dominate your meals. There are a ton of crockpot recipes that include chicken or pork, and those can be made in bulk and frozen or served the next day.

If DD2 doesn't eat most fruits or veggies, then how will you venture away from meat? Spaghetti sauce is one way, just don't add meat. You can also make it fairly cheap or buy it fairly cheap, and make rotini pasta instead of spaghetti to make it more kid-friendly. Use the multi-grain pasta on sale, or the vegetable pasta. Cut sweet potatoes into fries and bake them to get some extra veggies; cut up carrots and roast them with a little beef stew seasoning, and some olive oil. These are typically cheaper fresh veggies.

Processed foods can be expensive and they typically aren't good for you - just enjoy your food with DD1 while DD2 is watching and perhaps she'll want to try it not to be left out of the mommy/dd loop.

 

[Que_Sarah_Sarah]

I love black beans and rice. You can get good whole wheat rice really cheap and canned black beans are inexpensive (if you're willing to soak, the dry beans are even less!) Cook the rice, add the beans, throw in some fresh veggies or chicken and a dash of cumin and you are good to go!

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

What the heck is whole WHEAT rice?????

 

[cornflake]

Glad I'm not the only one pondering that - especially as it's 'good whole wheat rice' which I assumed the poster meant brown rice but I dunno what's good vs. not good brown rice, I mean... rice is rice. I've bought a bunch of different brands but never noticed a difference as long as we're talking about the same varietal.

Agree with stopping the processed foods and not letting a toddler dictate what you cook, especially if what she wants is that unhealthy.

Think about it this way - that's what she wants because it's what you gave her. She wasn't born wanting chicken nuggets. If she'd never been given them, she wouldn't know they existed.

Hence, go the other way. She's two. She'll throw a fit and resist and demand the junk food but as others have said, she'll get hungry and eat real food if it's all there is.