Proverbs 31:14--She is like merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
Derrick and I decided we need to start eating healthier and making more things that consist of general kitchen staples. (ex: rice, flour, sugar, pasta, diced tomatoes, bread crumbs, canned broth, olive oil, salt, pepper, spices) Here is a good site with a list of staples and recipes.
I decided to make a menu planner so we can plan out exactly what we will eat each night for dinner and then make a grocery list accordingly. This will hopefully save time and money at the grocery store! Click the link below to download a free PDF version of the menu planner!
Here is our menu for next week: (We like leftovers or easy meals on the weekends)
Sunday: Hot Dog Cresent Rolls
Monday: Dinner at Home Team
Wednesday: Homemade Cheesy Beef Taco Hamburger Helper (Also has several other homemade hamburger helper recipes)
Thursday: Lemon Breaded Tilapia and Lemon-Parsley Risotto
Friday: Homemade Pizza (I don't have a recipe-just use store bought pizza crust and sauce)
Dinner from kitchen staples is certainly a thriftier way to eat. I'm sure you'll notice a lower grocery bill. You may want to look in to a recipe for pizza crust. You probably have everything except yeast, and that is very very cheap. Making your own would not take much time or money (and save probably about $3!). :)
ReplyDeleteThe panko in your tilapia is an awesome kitchen staple. We use it for schnitzel all the time (which you would loveeeeeee).
I really think if you're eating with kitchen staples you should look in to a sam's membership. I know the $40 up front makes it seem like you won't save money, but buying 3 big boxes of tea for $7 or $1.90 per pound for chicken breast will save you an enormous amount of money.
In my opinion, if you're trying to eat "healthier" you should eat much less flour, white rice, hamburger, processed food (ie hotdogs!!!), sugar. I would recommend making basic changes to recipes like always swap in butter or olive oil if a recipe calls for margarine, always use whole wheat pasta, always use half wheat flour half regular, use ground turkey instead of hamburger, brown rice instead of white, etc.
The basic accepted strategy for eating healthy is shopping the perimeter of the store (ie fruits, fresh veggies--canned contains BPA, whole wheat bread, whole fat dairy, tons of fish, lean meats--processed meats are carcinogens). Also corn/vegetable oil and margarine is a definite no. Olive oil (or canola if you have to) and butter ALWAYS. Yes, they are more calories, but this is about heart health! You can even switch half of the butter in a cookie/brownie recipe for mashed avocado!
Recipe suggestions:
http://www.theogdenblog.com/2011/06/greek-turkey-burgers.html
http://www.theogdenblog.com/2011/03/rosemary-chicken-salad.html
http://www.theogdenblog.com/2011/01/fish-fajitas.html
http://www.theogdenblog.com/2011/01/grilled-turkey-burgers.html
I hope that can give you some inspiration :)
xoxo Bhrett
Wow, thanks for all the tips!! We have been getting more fresh fruits and vegetables and eating a lot more fish. I really like the idea of using half wheat flour and olive oil/butter instead of margarine. Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd, we've been talking about getting a Sam's membership!
If you do the sam's membership you could get one and your parents or dew's parents could get the "same household" free membership and you could split the price :D
Delete