We’re halfway through! This week was all about keeping up the momentum. I kicked it off feeling great about my menu plan and budgeting, but by the end of the week I was struggling for creative snacks and lunches. Here’s a quick recap:
I spent $77.19 on groceries for me and Alex (my boyfriend), which included recipe necessities as well as some ingredients I needed to restock (especially grains, canned tomatoes, and pasta). I added one indulgent lunch out for $3.99 and a $6.10 mid-week run to the store for extra milk and eggs. That comes to a total of $45.64 ($41.65 for my half of the groceries + $3.99 for lunch solo), which means another $14 bucks in the bank for kitchen gadgets at the end of the month!
Now I’d like to give you guys a sneak peak into how I choose these recipes each week:
- In real life, I brainstorm meals I can make from the items I already have, but I’ve avoided that lately because of the Challenge. I want to keep things fair for anyone following along, so I’ve been making the meals basically from scratch (whereas I usually freeze leftovers and reheat them later).
- Then I think seasonally. Eating in-season is almost always cheaper, and when I really need something else, I try to buy the frozen version. Fortunately, many sites (read on for my favorites) allow you to search for recipes by season, as well as by preparation time and budget.
- I browse for recipes based on various criteria— sometimes it’s an ingredient I want to use up and sometimes it’ll just be a type of meal (vegetarian or slow-cooker, for example). I like Cooking Light, Rachael Ray, and Real Simple best for recipes.
- Then I plan around my schedule for the week (based on when I’m busy, how long food will last from the purchase date, and how much prep I can do in advance). I typically don’t bother with that before sharing the menu plan on Greatist since you all presumably have your own schedules to consider, but this week I did, just to give you an idea of how it works.
- I make my shopping list, which after the previous steps is pretty short. After investing in a well-stocked spice cabinet, I rarely have to buy much more than produce, dairy items, and meat.
Monday: Blackened Tilapia with Kale-Walnut Pesto Pasta (I’ll want to use the fish ASAP in case I buy it fresh, plus I can use the kale before it has a chance to wilt.)
Tuesday: Herb and Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken with Spinach and Kale-Walnut Pesto Pasta (I’m hoping last week’s parsley will still be edible so I don’t have to buy more, plus I want to cook the chicken while it’s fresh.)
Wednesday: Eating out— probably something quick and under $10, like Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods’ prepared entrees. (I’m hitting up the NY Health and Fitness Tech Meetup, so I won’t be home for dinner.)
Thursday: Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya (I need one cup of shredded chicken left over from the goat cheese stuffed chicken, and everything else should keep pretty well.)
Friday: Slow-Cooked Vegetarian Chili with Sweet Potatoes (I’m usually at Greatist HQ during the day and I don’t have time to prepare a slow-cooker meal, so I have to make this one on a day I work from home. Plus it’s all canned foods and one potato, which won’t go bad in a week.)
Produce
1 large or 2 small green bell peppers
½ bunch kale
1 sweet potato
Meat
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
6 ounces smoked chicken sausage or other low-fat sausage
10 ounces tilapia (or your fish of choice for blackening)— fresh or frozen
Dairy 4-ounce package goat cheese
Freezer 10 oz. box frozen spinach
Grocery
Long grain rice
Blackening seasoning
28-ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1 can black beans
1 can kidney beans
I Have/You May Need Basil
Fresh parsley
1 lb. whole grain penne
¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
¼ cup walnuts
Crushed red pepper
1 onion
1 stalk celery
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
Dried thyme
Chili powder
Ground cumin
Cocoa powder
Ground cinnamon
Low sodium chicken broth
Parmesan cheese
Garlic
Olive oil
Canola oil
Salt and pepper
Optional: sour cream, sliced scallions, and tortilla chips
