10 Top Tips to Plan Meals on a Budget

Who isn’t trying to pinch their pennies these days… An hour of meal planning every week could really help your wallet. Don’t listen to that little voice in your head saying you can’t find 4 hours in the month to plan nutritious meals for you and your family, it’s well worth it!

  1. Take inventory of your fridge, freezer and pantry before you sit down. It can sometimes be just like grocery shopping and you can feel the thrill of the hunt when you score some long forgotten goodies!
  1. Make your menu – easier said than done when you’re staring at a blank page. Don’t let an infinite number of recipes overwhelm you, start with what you know and realize its a work in progress. You WILL be editing and making changes on the fly throughout the week. So many items can be used for dinner then changed into next day’s lunch, inspiration may strike at any moment which will change your plan – and that’s ok!
  1. Plan your meals before you grocery shop and choose foods that are on sale for a win/win dinner – you’ll eat well and save your dollars.
  1. Occasional meals without meat are healthy and can be huge money saver – protein packed salads with eggs, tofu, and tons of leftover vegetables can take minutes to whip together, and will fill you up nicely.
  1. Grains are good! Rice, pasta, barley and quinoa delivered by Zum Zum are inexpensive and the epitome of versatile!
  1. Avoid recipes with hard to find or expensive ingredients. It takes time for an extra trip to a specialty store or can blow up your budget. Google is your friend to find acceptable substitutes – while searching you’ll learn about flavour profiles and why certain ingredients are used in the first place, which will naturally inspire your creativity in the kitchen!
  1. Recipes are SO much cheaper, heartier and tastier when the ingredients you’re using are in season.

  1. USE those leftovers! Freeze them for a later time or switch them up for a twist. Vegetable stir fry can be added to plain lettuce for a delicious meatless salad. Or enjoy the classics and keep a few boiled eggs on hand for a super quick egg salad sandwich!
  1. Make extras & freeze! When you buy a massive bag of fresh carrots or onions, cook them all up, bag meal size portions and freeze for quick dinner add-ons!
  1. Ensure the kids eat the food you’re spending money on, and stick with your family favourites to reduce waste. Simple meals like tacos, wraps, or homemade pizza are easy to customize in order to please everyone’s palates!



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