A while back did a survey and asked my newsletter readers what I could provide that would serve them best. The two biggest things that I heard back were saving money on groceries and healthy recipes. Given how much the cost of food has gone up lately, and how much it will probably continue to rise, I definitely understand that.
One great budget-friendly solution for feeding your family is to cook more at home. But even I have days when I’m just not in the mood to cook. I know, shocker right? You probably thought that because I’m The Ingredient Guru I just spend massive amounts of time playing in the kitchen.
Well, actually, I do.
But sometimes you need a day off.
Plus for a lot of people, real life doesn’t always cooperate with the idea of making a recipe that requires a lot of time. Yes everyone needs to be fed. And…kids need to get to sports or there’s a meeting you want to attend. Maybe you’d rather read a book. Whatever it is in your life that you’d rather be doing life is too short to spend most of it in the kitchen.
The good news is that if you want to eat healthier but don’t like cooking you can still create affordable and nourishing meals. And no, it doesn’t mean relying on convenience foods, pre-packaged meals, and it also doesn’t have to blow your budget.
Read this for my five favorite ways to make “fast” food that’s good for you.
Bowl-theory
Making a delicious, budget-friendly bowl can be a great way to pull a meal together quickly. Any kind of a one bowl meal is great. Buddha bowls are really popular right now plus they’re quick and easy to put together. Especially when you’re not in the mood to cook. Bonus, if you’ve done meal planning ahead of time you’ll have very little cooking to do. Begin your bowl by adding a base of quinoa, shredded greens, or something of your choosing. Start adding proteins and veggies. Then top with hummus, salsa, or a homemade dressing and you’re ready to go.
Eggs Are Amazing
Quick, easy, budget friendly, eggs can be a great choice for a meal. Scrambled eggs are certainly easy but what about quiche muffins, a frittata, shakshuka, or any one of the dozens of ways you can cook with eggs. Served with a salad or some cooked veggies (roasted is my favorite), eggs can be great to keep in your fridge for an always ready go-to meal.
Zoodle-love
When trying to make a meal fast and on a budget you may be thinking about pasta. The problem is that’s not really a healthy choice. But you can put a healthy spin on it by making zoodles. Using spiraled zucchini, or other vegetables, you’ve got a great base. Add your favorite sauce, some protein, and a side salad and you’ve got a quick and easy meal. Plus you’ll be getting more veggies in your diet. And that’s always a good thing.
Roast Chicken
Okay, so admittedly this isn’t a time-saving idea because it does take a while to roast a whole chicken. The good news is that when you do that you’ve got a lot of meat that you can use to make bowls, salads, or even just serve up with some veggies and a salad. Cooking that one meal can give you a fast solution for more meals depending on how many people you’re feeding. Please don’t try to save time on this one by buying one of those rotisserie chickens at the grocery store. Most of those have added ingredients in them, like carrageenan, modified potato starch, and dextrose. That rotisserie chicken may seem like a good deal but it’s not a healthy one.
Fast Fun Freezer Meals
One of the best ways to save time in the kitchen is to do some meal prepping. My favorite way is to use my Fast Fun Freezer Meal Program. You can get 20-24 servings of dinner prepped for the freezer in 90 minutes or less! Then when you want a meal it’s already assembled and just needs to be cooked. That’s a great way to get a healthy meal on the table without a lot of time in the kitchen.
