Tag: Budget Friendly BM

Meal prep helps you control what you put into your body. Planning meals ahead can help you source the quality of your meals and freshness of your food. Here are some meal ideas to get you started.

Menu Breakdown

Breakfast Recipe One: Bacon Egg Cups and Roasted Tomato

 If you’re looking for a low carb and keto-friendly breakfast to start your day, then try these bacon egg cups. It is a delicious recipe that you can make ahead and reheat for busy mornings. The smoky flavor of the bacon with the freshness of a roasted tomato makes for a delicious bite. 

Breakfast Recipe Two: Corned Beef and Potato Hash

Here’s a great way to use up leftover corned beef. Easily roast diced potatoes on a sheet pan in the oven and mix it together with the corned beef and fresh onions. Feel free to serve a fried egg on top for extra protein.

Lunch Recipe One: Fish and Kale Chips with Potato Wedges

If you’re into the superfood kale, but want to enjoy it in other ways than a salad, try roasting them in the oven and make kale chips. We also used corn starch for our cod batter to keep the meal prep simple. You still get a nice golden brown crust on the outside without the mess of your usual batter mix to make fish and chips. 

Lunch Recipe Two: Reuben Sandwich

Looking for a hearty deli sandwich for lunch? Try this Reuben sandwich that has slices of corned beef piled on top of toasted bread with slices of cheese and loaded with sauerkraut and a tangy thousand island dressing. 

Dinner Recipe One: Maple Mustard Corned Beef with Glazed Carrots and Sauerkraut

Have you ever tried corned beef? It’s an inexpensive cut of beef brisket that is cured using salt and brine seasoning. You can either slow cook it or use your instant pot to cook this tough cut of beef into a delicious and tender meal. 

Dinner Recipe Two: Chicken Meatball Soup with Kale

Opening up a can of soup may be easier and faster, but you would be missing out on this delicious homemade soup. This soup is loaded with veggies with savory meatballs in a flavorful herby broth. 

If you enjoyed these meal ideas, try some of our free recipes:

• Tilapia with Zucchini and Bell Peppers
• Cheesesteak Lettuce Wraps

Cooking your own meals and planning what to eat in advance can help you gain control of your health and ensure you have healthy options always available. Need meal-prep help? Here are some meal ideas to get you going. 

Menu Breakdown

Breakfast Recipe One: Bacon and Cheese English Muffin

This ultimate breakfast muffin is easy to make with classic ingredients such as bacon and cheese. First, you’ll want to cook the bacon until it is crispy. Then, layer the English muffin with cheese and bacon and toast it in the oven until the cheese melts. Feel free to add other fillings such as a fried egg or even fresh sliced tomatoes or avocado.

Breakfast Recipe Two: Date, Walnut, and Honey Granola

Here is a crunchy and chunky walnut and date granola that will fuel you up for breakfast. Make extra for a perfect mid-day snack. Some packaged granolas may come with a long list of unfamiliar ingredients, therefore, making your own granola will help you control what actually goes in your food. We lightly sweetened it with honey and sprinkled it with cinnamon for extra spice.

Lunch Recipe One: Roasted Red Pepper and Cheese Sandwich with Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Toasted cheese sandwiches are the best. For this recipe, we added an extra layer of flavor with roasted red peppers. The melted cheese with the roasted sweetness of the peppers pairs well with the nutritional deliciousness of sliced avocado in between toasted whole wheat bread. Feel free to add extra vegetables such as fresh spinach or sliced tomatoes for more added nutrition benefits.

Lunch Recipe Two: Tofu Stir Fry

Tofu tends to have a bad reputation for being bland. However, with the right combination of sauce and seasonings, it will soak up all the flavor and definitely makes for a delicious meal. We crisped up the tofu to give it an extra crunch and flavored it with a soy-ginger sauce in this recipe. Just added some fresh and colorful veggies for a fast and healthy dinner. 

Dinner Recipe One: Pan-Fried Tilapia with Creamed Corn and Green Beans

This easy pan-fried tilapia with green beans is a delicious weekday meal that can be made in less than 15 minutes. The fish is moist and flaky on the inside with a nice golden crisp on the outside. We packed it with a flavorful homemade rub and paired it with a crispy and garlicky side of green beans and creamed corn.

Dinner Recipe Two: Cajun Sausage Stew

This yummy cajun sausage stew will warm up your cool evenings. This stew is a great way to use lots of vegetables such as okra, celery, onions, and bell peppers and still keep it satisfying. 

If you enjoyed these meal ideas, try some of our free recipes:

• Crispy Chicken with Cajun Spirals
• Ground Beef Stir Fry

Eating healthy on a budget can be challenging especially if you are short on time. Meal prep can help set you up for success. Set aside time during the weekend to try these meal prep ideas so that you can have tasty wholesome meals available during your workweek.

Menu Breakdown

Breakfast Recipe One: Chicken Sausage & Cheese Muffin with Fruit

If you are looking for a tasty grab and go breakfast during your crazy weekdays, then these easy chicken sausage and cheese muffins will work great for you. It is a toasted breakfast muffin filled with a savory sausage and topped with melted cheese. You can also add eggs for extra protein. They are easy to make in advance and reheat. You’ll love this recipe because it’s a healthier and cheaper option than your usual fast-food breakfast items.

Breakfast Recipe Two: Sunny Side Up Egg with Apple & Sausage Hash

There is nothing more comforting than a hearty hash during the cooler months. One of our favorite things to order for brunch is a hash that usually consists of corn beef with diced potatoes. For this recipe, we used pre-cooked sausage and added diced apples instead of potatoes. The apple swap adds a sweetness to the savory meal and is also a great way to get added fruits for breakfast. Topping it off with a sunny side up egg brings it all together.

Lunch Recipe One: Pesto Shrimp Mini Pizzas with Salad

These bite-sized mini pesto shrimp pizzas bring big flavors and are really easy to make. The combination of the herby pesto, sweet shrimp, tangy tomatoes, and red onions on top of toasted English muffins just hits the spot. The great thing about these mini pizzas is that you can make everything in advance and pop them in the oven when you are ready to eat them. 

Lunch Recipe Two: Grilled Balsamic Steak with Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges

Some things are just meant to be just like this balsamic glazed steak and savory sweet potato wedges. This meal is rich in iron, vitamin c, and fiber. Adding the balsamic vinegar to the marinade is an easy way to add flavor to your steak, and baking the sweet potato wedges saves you calories from the fryer. 

Dinner Recipe One: Roasted Lemon Italian Chicken with Rutabaga

This oven baked recipe is so simple and comes together really easily. The chicken is simply seasoned with Italian seasoning, and topped with lemon and fresh garlic. It bakes alongside rutabaga and red onions to make the cooking process really simple with fewer dishes to clean. This is a super easy dinner option roasted to perfection.

Dinner Recipe Two: Instant Pot Basil Pesto Beef Stew

Pesto is one of our favorite sauces to use in dishes because of the powerful flavors it brings. It is also a healthy way to season your dishes. It contains herbs, garlic, lemon, nuts, cheese, and oil. If you don’t have fresh herbs, using basil pesto is a great way to add an extra punch of flavor. This is a delicious and warm meal perfect for the chilly winter evenings.

If you enjoyed these meal ideas, try some of our free recipes:

• Oven-Baked Salsa Chicken
• Steak with Chive Pesto and Mushrooms and Yellow Squash

Healthy eating can be easy with just a few simple recipes using simple ingredients and easy cooking methods. For this week, we kept our recipes simple using minimal ingredients for our meals. Here are simple meal prep ideas that provide variety but will save you time and hassle for the week.

Menu Breakdown

Breakfast Recipe One: Cilantro Scrambled Eggs

Adding fresh herbs to scrambled eggs is a great way to level up your classic fluffy scrambled eggs. Cilantro is one of our favorite herbs to use because it is fragrant and antioxidant-rich. Using herbs is also a healthy way to add flavor and help you use less salt therefore reducing sodium intake. You could easily add other vegetables such as fresh tomatoes and onions to this breakfast meal and also wrap it up in a flour tortilla topped with a sprinkle of shredded cheese.

Breakfast Recipe Two: Berry Muffin Bar

This recipe is going to be your new favorite way to use up ripe bananas, and it only requires four simple ingredients. It is healthy, easy, and tasty. These berry muffin bars are perfect to make ahead for breakfast or a snack during the day. You also don’t need to heat it up, you can just easily grab and go. The great thing about using ripe bananas is because you don’t need added fat. The moisture in the bananas omits any need for added oil or butter in this recipe. 

Lunch Recipe One: Grilled Shrimp Caesar Salad

Looking for a fresh and light salad with layers of flavor? This grilled shrimp caesar salad with the creamy caesar dressing is perfect for a light lunch. All you have to do is use simple seasoning and toss it in some olive oil and throw it on an indoor grill pan. In less than 5 minutes you have perfectly charred shrimp to serve on top of fresh crisp romaine lettuce with creamy caesar dressing and toasted croutons. 

Lunch Recipe Two: Chicken Enchiladas with Tomatillo Salsa

Here is a light and fresh chicken enchiladas filled with tender rotisserie chicken mixed with a tangy tomatillo sauce and melted shredded cheese. This is a simple recipe using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken. All you have to do is mix together tomatillo sauce with the chicken and shredded cheese. Add a spoonful of the chicken mixture inside flour tortillas and roll them up. Place them in a baking dish and top them off with more tomatillo sauce and fresh onions and cherry tomatoes. Toast them in the oven until the tortillas get crispy and you have a quick and easy weekday meal.

Dinner Recipe One: Salisbury Steak with Green Beans

This is an easy to make classic dinner using hamburger steaks smothered in gravy with mushrooms and onion. This is a great way to dress up ground beef and use ingredients that you probably have on hand. You can use different variations of ground meat such as ground turkey or chicken. Instead of hamburger steaks, you can roll them up into meatballs. Serve them with roasted green beans or your choice of sides and you have an easy comfort classic dinner in less than 30 minutes.

Dinner Recipe Two: Marinara Beef Stew with Squash Noodles

This is an easy beef stew recipe that you can whip up and eat throughout the week. The beef stew meat is perfectly tender and is the perfect comfort food that pairs well with squash noodles. To eliminate some prep work, use your favorite marinara sauce because it is already seasoned with garlic and other spices. We cooked ours up in a dutch oven, however, you can easily use an Instant Pot and have this ready in less than 40 minutes.

If you enjoyed these recipes, try some of our free recipes:

• Easy Baked Salsa Chicken
• Sausage Marinara and Squash Noodles

November has arrived and the hustle and bustle are getting real! The thought of Thanksgiving and other holidays is sneaking up on us and can be stressful for most. So this week, we created a meal plan with recipes that take less than 20 minutes and take minimal effort so that you can focus your time on other important tasks and still stay on top of healthy eating.  

Menu Breakdown

Breakfast Recipe One: Turkey and Veggie Scramble

This turkey and veggie scramble is such an easy breakfast meal that can be done in less than 5 minutes. All you need are eggs and leftover veggies. We used bell peppers, onions, and turkey deli meat since we were using those ingredients in our other recipes this week. Talk about streamlining ingredients so that nothing goes to waste.

Breakfast: Peanut Butter and Apple Quesadilla

An apple a day keeps the doctor away! And what better way to pair it with peanut butter inside of a crispy golden tortilla. Heating it up in a skillet gives that creamy goodness from the peanut butter with the crisp and fresh bite of a fresh apple. If you want to keep this gluten-free, try almond flour tortillas, and there are also plenty of low carb options as well. You can also use any kind of nut butter and also use pears instead of apples.

Lunch Recipe One: Deli Style Cheesesteak Sandwich

If you love deli sandwiches and cheesesteak sandwiches, then this combines the best of both worlds and requires almost little to no cooking. We filled whole wheat bread with roast beef deli, cheddar slices, and sauteed peppers and onions. Place it in a toaster and you are looking at a tasty, but the lighter version that takes no time to prepare, but plenty of flavors you would enjoy from the classic cheesesteak sandwich.

Lunch Recipe Two: Air Fryer Turkey Deli Taquitos

Air Fryers just make things easier to prepare and also taste better. This lunch recipe couldn’t be any easier. All you have to do is roll up cheddar slices and turkey deli in between a tortilla and let the Air Fryer do all the work making it golden crispy. Enjoy it with your choice of topping such as salsa, guacamole, or with your favorite dip, along with a fresh, crisp side salad.

Dinner Recipe One: Salmon Chowder

This warm and comforting soup is made with fresh salmon, hearty potatoes, aromatics, herbs, and simmered in a creamy dairy-free broth. We used coconut milk to thicken the soup, but you can easily use heavy cream. The great thing about chowder is that you can make it with simple ingredients, make it in one pot, and it’s a meal all by itself. We used salmon, but you can also substitute it with other seafood such as shrimp, or make it vegetarian with beans. This easy salmon chowder recipe definitely hits the spot.

Dinner Recipe Two: Instant Pot Beef Ragu

Let’s just say that we can’t get enough of our Instant Pot. It is definitely a time saver and keeps the stress out of the kitchen. We love beef stew and we love ground meat marinara sauce, so we decided to combine both worlds. We pressure cooked the beef stew meat in the instant pot to get it soft and tender, at the end, we poured in marinara sauce. This week, we are enjoying it on top of a bed of steamed squash spirals, but you can easily serve this with your choice of sides such as brown rice, regular pasta, or even a side of roasted veggies.

Tips for Leftovers

• The Salmon Chowder and Beef Ragu are recipes that you are probably going to want to have again during the cold weather. So feel free to make a large batch and keep them in your freezer. 
• You can freeze the extra tortillas, bread slices,  and cheese for later use
• Keep the nut butter in your refrigerator after opening it. Use it as a dip for snacks with other fruit or even celery sticks throughout the week.