WisteriaSky233's Notizen, 24 Okt 23

One of my favorite meals is a salad with protein on top. Your salad can have a variety of ingredients, including asst. veggies, nuts, cheese, chopped pickles, beans, boiled egg, etc. Top with chicken, ground beef, salmon, shrimp. Bulk it up with lower cal ingredients. 

Look for meat sales because a lot of places will put sale items on certain cuts of meat to draw customers in. I find that roasts, pork loins and chicken go the farthest on a budget and then stick to the generic canned vegetables because they are healthy too and usually cheaper. Using a crockpot for a roast, potatoes and carrots is a very cheap meal and can make leftovers.  

@SherryeB Thanks, I do enjoy salads. Everything is expensive now. But you aren't right. My friend has chickens and is graciously giving me some eggs. @Redporchlady Roasts are tasty. We had one Sunday. He ate some leftovers last night, ate all the meat. So I have gravy left think I'll mix it with rice and make something with it.  

To add to things Sherrye an Red Porchlady said, try stir fry. It will go a long way with a bit of meat or chicken and lots of vegetables. 

Omelets, even at night are great if you have eggs from your friends. Also, when I'm cutting back the budget, I sometimes find things in my freezer I can use. Beans are relatively cheap and can be thrown in a crockpot with other things. I know they have carbs, but not horrible. Can make a nice soup or dish in the crock. Beans and rice with some ham or bacon (often you can get the off-cuts of ham or cheese at your grocery deli) and spices are a go to for us. Quick during the week too. I hope things begin to turn around soon for you. 

Rotisserie chickens go along way for us, we have it for a dinner one night and then I make a chicken vegetable soup broth with the bones and the rest of the meat. I make a lot of the soup so we have a few meals after that. Luckily my husband loves my soups and stews.  

Chicken quarters are the best value. Even if they don't advertise them in their sale papers, grocery stores will almost always have packages that are absurdly affordable. A quarter consists of a drumstick and a thigh (learn to like dark meat). They are great grilled, roasted, and they do beautifully in a crock pot with seasonings or a can of cream of mushroom soup. If you do them in a crock pot, experience has taught me to remove the skin first. Otherwise there is way too much fat in the gravy. 

Thanks everyone for the feedback so far.  

I like homemade chili. Last year I found an awesome recipe that uses dry beans..I make it in my Instantpot and it is awesome!  

I like chicken salad egg omelets and yogurt. 

Sam's club rotisserie chickens are a super value at $5. They are huge, at least 3 meals for the 2 of us. Really convenient since they're already cooked. I sometimes get 2 and freeze the deboned meat in portions. Then boil the carcasses with vegetables. Freeze for quick casseroles or soups. It makes wonderful crustless pot pie topped with mashed sweet potato. This is a great time saver since you don't always know when your husband is going to be home.  

Wisteria what state are you in? He’s a truck driver right? I keep seeing that fed ex is paying big money 

Do you have an ALDIs near you? Always great prices on salmon, ground chicken and ground Turkey, chicken and ground beef 

California is clamoring for AMAZON drivers. We have lots of jobs, but nobody wants to work 

Beans cooked with a little smoked meat for flavor. Also, watch for sales on meat; I got pork loin for $1.75 a pound last week. Hope he gets a job soon, so sorry for your troubles. 

When it comes to buying meats never go into the store looking specifically for one protein type. Buy what is on sale or better yet reduced for sale and stock in your freezer. I checked out your food diary to see what you are eating and spending your money on. You seem to use a lot of snacked packed and single serving sized items. Those will drain your wallet fast !! Buy large sizes and repack into washable reusable plastic or glass containers. Not throw away plastic baggies which go in the trash. I made a post this morning with you in mind. Add some frozen fruit and save buckets of $$. Check it out.😄 

Thanks yall. He isn't driving at the moment because he was helping run a trucking company the issues came up with truck repairs and flaky employees. He told me he is looking into being an instructor. The business is just downsizing until they can rebuild. Yes, I thought about a popcorn popper in one instance to quit buying bagged corn. Price per items with the shakes isn't too bad compared to eating out or even canned soup, which was my staple in the day. Aldi is in the next town. I think I will head down there soon. I really like some of the products I got there, like the pasta. And cheese.  

Curries are inexpensive and filling. Basmati or jasmine rice as the base, then top with a lentil curry or chickpea curry. Both should have tons of chopped up veggies like tomatoes, spinach, onion, potato.