![]() It wasn't until I stuck to a $40 budget that I realized how much excess cash I usually spend on food. It's easy to lose track of how much I spend on meals throughout the week. I saved a ton, and the week put my spending habits into perspective. Ultimately, though, this meal plan doesn't require a ton of meal prep. I could have cooked all the chicken thighs on one night and chopped my vegetables at the beginning of the week. While none of these recipes took longer than 30 minutes, I could have saved even more time by meal prepping more. Sure, there were moments I was tempted to skip cooking and pick up dinner on my way home from work, but since everything was mapped out for me, I felt compelled to stick with my cooking. Having a well-thought-out meal plan helped me stay focused. But once I'd successfully mapped out my meals, the rest was easy. The hardest part of all was coming up with a meal plan that was both budget-friendly and still exciting to eat. Whether you're hoping to try this meal plan at home or you're just curious how it went, here are some takeaways: ![]() ![]() BUT if you plan your meals ahead of time and commit to following a schedule, you'll be set. I often get home from work feeling tired and lazy, and if I don't know exactly what I'm cooking, it's straight to the takeout menus. Map out a meal schedule ahead of time for the whole week and follow it. On top of that, supplement with plant-based protein like beans, chickpeas, and tofu. You don't have to cut out meat completely, but try to look for inexpensive cuts of meat. Meat is by far the most expensive section of the grocery store. Of course, you don't have to stick to a theme completely, but it will make meal planning simpler. This made it easy to buy ingredients that go well together. For example, I went into this week with a Mexican-ish theme in mind. Try building your meal plan around a theme or a type of cuisine. That way you'll buy ingredients that work for multiple meals and won't be surprised when you get to the register. Carefully craft your grocery list ahead of time and price it out the best you can.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |