Many of us struggle making healthy grocery purchases under a budget but keeping some staples that won’t expire quickly will help you reduce food waste. Below is a list of common, cheap grocery staples that can be used for many different meals and recipes. It is really unmotivating to eat healthy and buy fresh fruits and veggies that are a little more expensive, and then they go bad. In this blog, I will list staple foods and recipe ideas that use those staple groceries! A few meal ideas have recipes attached so be sure to check those out!
If you have no ideas for meals and have a lot of random food in your house, click this link. All you have to do is enter all the food and ingredients you have in your house and it will show you all your possibilities for recipes!
Staple Foods:
Almond Milk, Bananas, Beans, Bread, Carrots, Cauliflower, Canned Tomatoes, Chia or flax seeds, Chicken Breast/Thighs, Chicken stock, Chickpeas, Dried fruit, Eggs, Flour, Frozen Vegetables, Frozen fish or shrimp, Green Beans, Ground Beef, Honey, Olive oil, Onions, garlic, Peanut butter / Nut butter, Peanuts, Peppers, Popcorn, Rice or quinoa, Root veggies, (potatoes/squash), Salt & pepper, Squash, Sweet Potato, Tortillas, Whole, Grain Oats, Whole Wheat Pasta, Yogurt
Meals:
Avocado toast
« Staple Foods Used: bread, chia/flax seeds, salt & pepper
Baked Salmon or Fish
Chicken and Rice or Noodle Soup
« Staple Foods Used: chicken, chicken broth, rice/noodles, carrots, green beans, onions & garlic
Enchiladas
« Staple Foods Used: chicken/ground beef, onions & garlic, can of tomato’s,
tortillas
Fried Rice
« Grab some leftover rice and throw in frozen, canned, or fresh veggies in a big pan with a few eggs and you have a whole meal. Throw in protein of choice!
« Staple Foods Used: rice, eggs, olive oil, garlic & onions, any veggies, salt & pepper
Mini Zucchini Pizzas
Protein Oatmeal
« Getting your morning boost with a protein packed breakfast is a great way to start your day. BONUS: It’s healthy and CHEAP!! Throw any dried or fresh fruits in with a scoop of nut butter, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and maybe some honey. Top it off with some chocolate chips or any other of your favorite toppings!
« Staple Foods Used: oats, honey, nut butter, almond milk or water, chia/ flax seeds
Roasted Carrots
Roasted Chickpeas
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
« Staple Foods Used: sweet potatoes, honey, olive oil
Spinach and Tomato Omelette
« Staple Foods Used: eggs, tomatoes, salt & pepper, garlic & onions
Cooking can be frustrating, time consuming, and sometimes feels like too much work. Give it time and use the internet to your advantage! Google recipes, watch videos if you are scared to cook something, YOU GOT THIS!
Cook away!!
Strive for progress not perfection!
Kayla Withrow