do you have any healthy, easy, and inexpensive food ideas?

Question

okay, so i'm on a *super* tight budget trying to save money to take time off work after the baby is born... (i only get fmla--12 wks unpaid, and i don't have sick days, Aflac, vacation, and i'm slightly over the income limits for WIC--so i don't qualify for that either).

i'm supposed to limit my sodium somewhat (which definitely makes Ramen out of the question!!).

i've only got about $25-$40 a week to spend on groceries for myself & my husband, and i'm fairly handy in the kitchen.

i need some things high in protein, especially. and things to grab for my 10 hr work days (i eat breakfast & lunch at work, usually, and a snack). also some quick & easy dinners (that can be sans veggies for the hubby).

so, got any inexpensive food ideas that are healthy for a woman almost in her 3rd trimester, and easy?

thanks a lot!!

My3Boys- I LOVE Rachel Ray!

LoriBeth- peanut butter is def. a staple on all those things! (as well as cheese)

Answer 1

Go to rachaelray.com. She's got oooooodles of great recipes in there, ranging from budget conscious ones to all out ones. Lots and lots and lots.

The Smoky Turkey Shepherd's Pie is a very healthy one, and takes low cost ingredients, for example.

Virtually everything she creates is quick and easy.

Answer 2

I've been doing a lot of pot roasts. Really easy if you have a slow cooker you can borrow and plenty of left overs too.
We're in the north so we have Kroger stores and every few weeks they do a buy one get one free sale for roasts. That's a whole lot of meat for 10-13 dollars. all you have to add is a few basic cheap veggies like potatoes, carrots and onions, mushrooms if you like them. You can add some egg noodles to the broth and make a stew for the next day. If it's not too much on the sodium you can add a couple beef bullion cubes while it's cooks for more flavor. That's about the best I've got, homemade chicken soup is cheap to get a big pot, egg noodles cut up and cooked your own chicken add carrots and celery and cook. I'm still looking for quick healthy snacks myself so no suggestions there. Good luck and congrats on the upcoming arrival.

Answer 3

Fruits and vegetables can be purchased inexpensively and are really the best things for you while you're pregnant. You could purchase apples, oranges and whatever other fruits are on sale and make yourself a fruit salad for breakfast and eat the fruits and veggies for snacks. Other meal ideas that come to mind that can be made for cheap are stroganoff or spaghetti (you can omit the meat if you can't afford it or use stew meat or whatever is on sale). Taco salad would be delicious and healthy if you used just a handful of crushed tortilla chips on the bottom of your plate, top with lettuce and tomatoes and a mixture of canned beans (high in protein) and/or ground beef - sautee your meat mixture with a packet of taco seasoning or a combination of your own seasonings. French bread pizzas are one of my favorite meals and are super easy on the wallet - just purchas a loaf of french bread and top with tomato sauce and shredded cheese and whatever topping you enjoy (veggies would be inexpensive and healthy). Might I also recommend that you start clipping coupons and scouring the ads before you shop. You can really save a ton of money by doing this.

Answer 4

Meal 1- Chicken with home-made-coleslaw (Cabbage)
Meal 2- Chicken rice (make some minute rice... in a pan : garlic, mushroom, the rice, chicken, and then soya sauce)
Meal 3- In a bowl, mix minute rice (not cooked), ground beef, tomato soup, soya sauce and (if you want) garlic. Cook in a pan, with sliced cabbage. Add more tomato soup / tomato dices to give "spaggheti-sauce" texture. It's like cabbage rolls only easier
Meal 4- Spaggheti ;)

Answer 5

Cottage cheese and canned peaches
Canned soups (you can get low sodium) and grilled cheese sandwiches
Omelets, fried eggs, egg sandwiches
Peanut butter sandwiches
Salads

This time of year you can buy turkey and ham cheaper, and beef shoulder is also a cheaper cut of meat. They are all good because they yield a lot of food and you can cook them and use for multiple meals. You can also freeze it after you cook it for later use. Think dinner one night, left overs for sandwiches and salads, at work, put in omelets for breakfast, and freeze some for next week.

Good luck!

Answer 6

a cheap snack that i always ate while pregnant was apple slices dipped in peanut butter. you can also put peanut butter on crackers or celery. spaghetti is very cheap to make in large amounts, you can make a big pot and save the rest to take for lunches. look for recipes for a vegetable and beef soup, a pot of that will last awhile too. my fiance makes it with hamburger meat instead of chunks of beef, it's cheaper and still tastes great. chicken and rice is also a cheap dish that's easy.

Answer 7

bread and water