Budget Dinners

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/4/2007 2:25:32 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

jandagriffin writes:

 

 

> Food budget is going to be tight this next week. I need budget,

> healthy, vegetarian meal ideas. Please help!!!

 

Food budget is always tight here -- my meal plans are very simple. I have

coleslaw nearly every day instead of lettuce type salad -- much cheaper in

winter. I make a list of grains, a list of legumes and another list of nearly

ready to eat protein foods like TVP in various flavors or my home made gluten.

I

take one from the ready protein list or a grain and legume, then add spices to

complement the mix then add home canned or frozen veggies -- also from a

list, then dinner is ready.

 

For example we had brown rice, lentils, onion, home canned tomatoes in a dish

that was seasoned with Indian spices -- and it was wonderful. Tonight we are

having spaghetti with beef flavored TVP bits in tomato sauce with cole slaw

for salad with a few onion slices. Tomorrow is " chicken " noodle soup night

with home made biscuits. I start off making the noodles and while they are

drying a bit I start the vegetable broth heating, then add the vegetables --

canned

peas, corn, chopped spinach or whatever greens available, heat to boiling

then add the noodles and the Chicken TVP bits, season with poultry seasonings

and

celery salt or celery seed, garnish with celery leaves if you have some.

 

Summer

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Food budget is going to be tight this next week. I need budget,

healthy, vegetarian meal ideas. Please help!!!

[Guest guest]

, Morkaleb2 wrote:

>

> In a message dated 10/4/2007 2:25:32 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

> jandagriffin writes:

>

>

> > Food budget is going to be tight this next week. I need budget,

> > healthy, vegetarian meal ideas. Please help!!!

>

Something I do every single week is plan my menus for the entire

week. I do it around whats in season and whats on sale at the

stores. I save a bundle by doing this. Dried beans, and whole

grains are relatively inexpensive and can be bought in large amounts

or small amounts. A bag of lentils costs me 58 cents and I get a

huge amount of lentil " taco filling " . Cook off 2 bags and make a

lentil loaf for later in the week (see the recipe files). Greens are

inexpensive this time of year. Most times I can pick up fresh greens

for 65 cents a pound. If you live in a farm area, visit your nearest

farm stands for squash, they are out in abundance now.

 

The key to cutting back, using fresh and keeping it healthy is by

planning ahead. I find when I am not organized and prepared, I make

quick things that really arent that good for us and tend to cost more

in the long run.

 

Hope this helps.

Roxy, Philly PA )