BROKE? Ideas for Meals in Those Times

Happy Tuesday my friends.  It is VERY chilly here this morning.  In the 40's(F).  Yesterday stayed in the 60's all day.  Funny how things can change - yesterday highs in the 60's and in a week, they will be in the mid 90's!  Going from early April temps to mid-July temps in a week.   

Yesterday I took a day off (for the most part) and had a play day!  I laughed so much yesterday - such a fun day.

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Now on to serious business.

BROKE?  Many who are starting out on this journey, have not learned ways to feed a family on very little money!  Using what is in the house!  Getting cheap ingredients!  Yep, it can be done.  Now let me say - not all these ideas may be the healthiest ideas on the planet - but starving isn't healthy either.  We as adults can truly eat about anything to fill our bellies and be happy - (not nec. advisable), but children need their bellies full of something other than junk food.

So let us talk about some cheaper things and ways to help get through a rough time.

Pasta, rice, potatoes, oats and dried beans are all relatively inexpensive foods to buy and to have on hand.  They all can be transformed into many things.  Make sure you have these foods on hand (stock in the good times).  Don't forget peanut butter too!

Baked potatoes can be a meal.  Top a nice baked potato with absolutely ANYTHING you have left in the frig, or with cheese, cream cheese, soup, meat scraps, veggies, etc.

Potatoes can be mashed, fried, baked, added to soups and casseroles and made into salads.

Think about spaghetti and sauce.  You don't have to have meat in your sauce, but if you choose you can add any kind of meat you have.  You can also add beans to the sauce.  Remember you can top any style of pasta you have on hand - it does not have to be spaghetti noodles!  Mix up the use of pasta for whatever you have.

You can also turn spaghetti noodles into lo mein.  Add leftover veggies and a little soy sauce in a pan and you can have a yummy meal.

Mac and cheese - add any type meat leftovers you have or a can of tuna.  Add veggies to it and you have a meal.

Pasta can be added to any salad veggies to stretch.  Add to soups as well.

Rice can be a base for a stir fry type meal (using your leftovers) or it can be added to soups or casseroles or it can be a great side dish.  Season your rice to add flavor with bouillon or whatever you have.  Top with anything.  Add to a can of soup to stretch it.  G used to love leftover rice with a little added sugar and butter for a breakfast meal.

Fried rice is so easy - use your rice, leftover veggies or meats, add an egg if you have and some sauce.  Super easy and filling.

There is always soup beans - super cheap and easy.  Throw beans in a crockpot in the morning and you have a cheap dinner.  Add rice or pasta or potatoes if you want.  Love fried potatoes and soup beans!!

Beans and rice are tasty.

For a fun breakfast make a bunch of pancakes or waffles ahead of time.  You can freeze and have for quick breakfasts.  Breakfast burritos (cheap or homemade tortillas) or biscuits are good as well.  How about the old time favorite of 'toad in a hole'!!! (egg in bread)

Make it fun.  Throw and egg in the middle and fry.

Never forget oatmeal!  That is filling and warm.  Add any fruit or toppings you like.  You can even make baked oatmeal - for something different and for those that don't like regular oatmeal.  There is always cereal as well - though it tends to be expensive and loaded with false calories.

Soups - throw together whatever leftover veggies you have with some broth, tomatoes, meat if you have and seasonings.  You can also add rice or pasta to soups to stretch them and make them feel heartier.

How about grilled cheese and tomato soup?  That has always been a go to for me.

If all you have is some canned soups - eat them!  Add things if you want to stretch a can of soup or serve it over pasta, rice or potatoes.  There are many ways to stretch it.

Yes, I know Ramen is bad - but if that is what you have, throw in a bunch of leftover veggies and any meat scraps you have leftover and jazz it up.  Sometimes it is what you have!  Been there and done that!

Heck, I have made tomato soup with pasta added as a meal in years past (I still like it)!!!  

Trust me, many of us have been in this position and have eaten whatever we had to get by!!

Think about cabbage - it is generally inexpensive compared to other veggies,  You can add to soup, or you can saute' or fry.  It is good for you and can be added to many things.  Throw some chopped cabbage, tomatoes, rice and a little ground meat together in a skillet and you have a skillet version of stuffed cabbage!

Goulash is easy - a little ground meat, tomatoes and pasta - hearty and tasty.  Top with some cheese if you have it.

Tuna salad, chicken salad, or whatever you want to make.  It doesn't have to be a sandwich if you have no bread.  Make a nice plate with some crackers and any veggies you have - fresh or cooked.

Think about peanut butter and cracker or a peanut butter sandwich - full of protein and filling.

Veggie sandwiches are very tasty.  You don't need meat.  I love a tomato sandwich often in the summer!

Fritters are easy to make and you can utilize any veggie you have into them.  A little flour, an egg or two and your chopped veggies - then fry up.  YUM

Salads of any type can be added into a meal or eaten as a meal.  Anything can be a salad.  Add pasta to veggies or rice and throw in dressing and you have a hearty salad.  Make a bean salad - throw in a hard boiled egg or two (chopped).  Potato salad, egg salad, rice salad, corn and beans, bean salad, pasta, the list goes on and on.  There is no limit to what can be a salad.

Biscuits and gravy - that was a staple in my house growing up.  It sure is easy to make and costs very little.  Mom fed us a hearty gravy over biscuits and sometimes just over bread.  I still do this.

Mmmmmmm

Super easy and warm and yummy!

Another easy-peasy fix.  Check your pantries - if you have some canned chicken, make nuggets.  Heck you can make patties or nuggets with canned tuna as well or salmon.

Remember you can substitute what you have.

If you have leftover beans and or rice - think about making some enchiladas or burritos.  Add a little salsa or sauce and top with a little cheese or sour cream and you have a new meal.  Always can add tortillas instead of bread.

Think cornbread as well - easy to make.  My siblings and dad and even my G liked cornbread with a little milk on it and it was like a breakfast!  You could also top with a little syrup or jelly.

There is noooooo limit to what you can do.  You have to look at things differently sometimes.  Yes, rice and cornbread aren't always thought of as a breakfast - but why not?  

Use what you have.  Whatever you get from food pantries - get creative with it.  I know often food pantries give basics - but there is a lot that can be made.

Remember not EVERY meal has to have meat!  You can add in other proteins and have a good meal.  

Life can be complicated sometimes.  People worry about feeding their families, now more than other times, as prices have climbed so.  You can use the basics and eat well.  It DOESN'T have to cost a fortune.  

Ask questions on sites like this one or others - go to sites like Myfrigfoods.com - it gives great ideas on recipes using what you have.  There are lots of places you can check and get ideas.

Just don't give up.  Feed you family and feed them well.

Many of us have been in this position at some point in our lives.  It isn't fun I know - but it is possible.

Get creative and make do.

YOU CAN DO THIS.

I hope this gives someone HOPE!