As I watch these low budget weekly meals, again it’s so important to stress that in order to save money, you must build a pantry. You don’t have to do it all at once but every week you should be getting a pantry staple item or two. It will save you so much in the long run
That’s so true! I completely agree with you! I want to do a pantry staple video soon. I’ll definitely have to mention that. Thank you so much for sharing!
Facts! If it weren't for my pantry(which has taken me a year to start rebuilding after a sudden move), I'd be spending WAY more than I thought I would! I used a bit of my family's tax refund this year to fund the pantry. Otherwise I'd be out of luck.
Thank you for noticing and you’re welcome! I didn’t go into detail as much this time. I’ll try to point more out next time I do a meal plan like this. I love comparing and learning new things about the food I eat every time I shop. 😄
Thank you so much! That’s actually one of the reasons I started making these budget meals. 😄 I couldn’t find many other creators that cooked like this.
Omg you even used the banana peels!!! 20/10 lady! I would try with apple cider vinegar for a little bit of extra sweetness and some cinnamon to boot. Let's experiment with our scraps! I would also deglaze that pan to make a lush sauce to pour over them. You are a budgeting genius!!! Cabbage steaks are the boss, you;re right those brown crispy parts are the BEST so yummy!
Oh my goodness, thank you so much! I’ll definitely try apple cider vinegar and cinnamon next time 😋 I can’t believe I didn’t think to make a sauce with the yummy bits in the pan! That’s brilliant!! Thank you for the suggestion! I definitely want to experiment more with my scraps. It’s been so fun and eye opening!
@@rosemarygreen2001 no, they are commonly eaten in some other countries. It wasn't too long ago when I discovered a whole slew of vegan banana peel "meat" videos. I was a little surprised.
I've made the banana bacon and I found adding liquid smoke and a bit of maple syrup in the marinade is really yummy. I usually look up the marinade used for hot dog carrots. These were very helpful recipes for me to try this week. Trying to keep to a $40 weekly budget for three people.
Oh my goodness, what?! Hot dog carrots?! I’ve gotta try that! Thank you for the suggestion! I’ll give that a try next time! I hope you love the recipes! I can’t wait to hear what you think if you decide to try anything ☺️
I love the quick reheat-able breakfasts!!!! Never thought about using quinoa as a breakfast, but I looove rice pudding so I think this will be awesome for me :)
My tip is to be flexible. My last trip to the store, I found a big bag of bananas for 99 cents, and Mexican rice, and 80/20 ground beef in the markdown bin. It changed my meal plans and I came out way cheaper.
Breakfast: coffee, water, egg spinach omelet & banana. Lunch. PBJ and Apple, milk Dinner. Beans, w rice. Chicken legs. Frozen broccoli. Jello for dessert. Not bad. Take your daily vitamins.
I love the simplicity of your meal plan! I’m working on a very basic plan just like that actually! I want to show how easy it is to throw things together, if need be, on a budget ☺️
The banana peel sounded SO wacky, you are braver than I to try! Thanks for another great video with creative ideas. Sometimes having variety and “fun” foods makes up for thin times. ❤ from Iowa
Thank you so much! I appreciate that! ☺️ I was definitely apprehensive about the banana peels but I’m so glad I tried them! They turned out better than I imagined!
I gotta admit I'm impressed by the variety these recipes offer! Way too many of these videos only focus on calories and protein, get really repetitive or boil down "eat rice and beans" - while you offer plenty ideas that look actually appetizing. Love to see grilled cabbage, it's one of the most delicious things one can do with cabbage and really low-effort, too. I personally love serving it with mashed potatoes 🙂
Thank you so much! I truly appreciate that! ☺️ oh my goodness, cabbage steaks with mashed potatoes sounds divine!! I’m going to do that next time! Thank you for the suggestion!
To make your own "nut milk"- 1 teaspoon of nut butter (hazelnut or almond or whatever) in 1 cup of cold water, blend. Drink fresh. Great with frozen fresh fruit for a smoothie
All looks so good. I am going to try the cabbage steaks for sure, been hearing about how great it tastes on thumbs. The chocolate mouse is also a given. All looks so good. Never made my own peanut butter so think I will try that too. Thank you for all the work you did to film this. Great job again. Peace!
Thank you so much! I can’t wait to hear what you think! I was SO surprised by the cabbage steaks! I was sad I didn’t have leftovers 😂 I hope you love the peanut butter! Some people add honey to it too!
I always learn something new from you!❤ I have never heard on putting the tomato upside down before. We bought a tomato Monday. Bought the best one they had but it’s still hard by Saturday. I should have put it in a brown bag but finally did this morning. After hearing that tip from you I opened the bag and flipped it upside down. 🙃😂
So glad the algorithm showed me your videos! Trying to balance whole food, plant-based, budget-friendly, and delicious is such a challenge, and I'm always looking for new recipes!
Thank you for giving me hope again! I just recently found your videos. It feels like i can actually eat healthier on a budget. Living in vegas with our prices, at about a .20-.75 more per item (even though it doesn't seem like alot it adds up) makes it hard to even think about fresh veggies and fruit when you have to eat for the whole 2 weeks. I've made one meal from here, and it's so good and super easy to make. Again, thank you!
I’m so glad to hear that! I know how challenging it can be, especially in cities where prices are higher. I’m in Southern California and my ALDI is by far the cheapest store around. They’ve made it so much easier for me to eat healthier on a budget. If I’m shopping at any other store, I lean into the ads as much as I can for produce.
An old fashion girl scout Desert is slit the curved banana down the middle and any kind of hard chocolate and mini marshmallows if you like. Wrap with foil place on tray bake until banana is mushy 😊
Boil the peanut butter and cocoa powder in the milk or water it will melt and blend smoothly.i make chocolate pb oatmeal all the time for the last 15 plus yrs
Well done! Gosh, I'm jealous of your grocery prices! 🇨🇦 Our tomatoes are close to $3/lbs and avocados on sale at $2 each. I did a quick online cart and approx the same thing comes to $76, but still cheaper than my usual grocery shop 👍
I absolutely LOVE all of your recipes! Thank you for sharing and showing how we can be frugal w/ our food and still be versatile and eat well! I love the “ no waste “ approach too!
I don't peel carrots if I'm going to shred them. In fact I never peel them. If you have a vegetable brush, most are fine if you just scrub them really well. Cuts down on food waste.
I love that!! I have a brush so I’ll give that a go next time 😄 I use my carrot scraps for vegetable stock! I throw them in a bag in the freezer with my other veggie scraps and when the bag is full, I make a delicious homemade veggie stock 😋
@@perle13930 I scrub them first. There are various methods to wash them that will remove most pesticides but I guess peel them if you are worried about it. Some things you really can't peel, such as peppers, etc.
New subscriber, love your meals. I’m 76 years young, looking for new simplified recipes to try. Love saving money. I usually cook a regular recipe and make freezer meals for busy days. My granddaughter just started college and still needs rides, to cheer leading or to visit her friends.
I’ve watched a number of videos following a meal budget challenge. Yours, hands down, is the best use of your grocery money! So much good fresh food which all looks delicious. Thanks for the great suggestions!
I personally love cabbage steaks. I've done them several times and they are absolutely delicious. I agree with you those brown bits are the best and the Cabbage get super sweet the same way carrots do after being baked in the oven like that. And you can eat it by itself or add it with other toppings if you want. Anything from mushrooms and onions to a fried egg to alfredo, the sky's the limit
I love cabbage, making it stirfried with onions, carrots, onion, and topped(bc it burns) with onion&garlic powder, soy sauce and Sriracha and put it with rice and fried eggs and it’s delicious😋
Thank you for making this video! You inspired me to use the half a cabbage and pack of tofu I had sitting in the fridge--that first recipe is delicious! I also love that you showed us your shopping trip and how you adjusted your list as you shopped. Super helpful!!
We save all the peels of a lot of veggies (like broccoli, cabbage, zucchini, carrots etc., but not peppers and eggplant). We collect them in a bag in the freezer until it is full, then we cook a broth from it.
I had some almonds in the pantry that were old and hard. Chop them almost to butter and add olive oil and honey. I guess it could be power balls. My husband was so impressed 😁💯. Plus we used something that could have been thrown away. Thank you for all the smart ideas in the kitchen. 🎉🎉🎉❤
@@beckywhinery4652 oh my goodness, that’s brilliant!! Thank you for the idea! I’ll definitely have to try that with some of my random bags of nuts I have on hand. And you’re welcome!! I’m so glad you’re finding some inspiration ☺️
I love your videos. That breakfast quinoa looks amazing, almost like cocoa wheats I grew up on. I’m definitely going to make it. Another no waste idea for banana peels; I put them in a pot of water, boil them, let them cool completely and water my plants with the water. It’s loaded with nutrients and your plants will love you!
My goodness! You are a wonderful cook. Who would have thought to use banana peels.....fantastic. I can't wait to try the tofu and the cabbage steaks... I love 💕 cabbage 🥬!! So looking forward to all your upcoming recipes! New subscriber here. Thank you!! Sincerely, from Debbie🙋and Dexter-Dog 🐕 my sweet tiny rescued Chihuahua companion living a quiet crafty life🏠🌵in southern California. 🙏🧑🦽🏜️🏖️😎🖐️🥪🙏.
I recently started watch your videos. Had planned to make Stir Fry tonight and changed it up some to your Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce. Yum! Family agreed it was the best stir fry ever. Peanut Sauce went together very easy. I added left over chicken. Delicious!
Totally agree regarding animals & so many things you both share including Mike. Would love to see youns do some simplistic camping . I am sure you could share some great ideas with us ! Thank you!!!♥️🩷💜💞💖💕
Quinoa always boils over on me, and I use water. I have to be right there in the kitchen to catch it when it first gets hot. I love that you have mostly vegan recopies! My husband's surgeon recommended we be 80%-100% vegan, so we only eat meat and dairy when we're out.
How interesting! That quinoa was really giving me trouble at first 😅 And thank you! My doctor also recommended plant based, so I’m trying to do my best to switch us over to meatless at home.
Thanks for doing a budget meal plan that is actually healthy. I’ve seen so many of these that contain heavily processed foods, are way too high in fat, sugar, or sodium and include too few vegetables. My only suggestion would be to rethink eating banana peels. I understand that they’re dipped in pesticides prior to shipping. Organic is an option but might defeat your attempts to strictly budget.
Oh my! Yes, thank you for the suggestion! They need to be cleaned really well before eating them. I’ll see if I can do a budget friendly organic meal plan soon! I’m sure it’ll be a little more pricey but I think I can make it work on a small budget still ☺️
Wow, impressing cooking skills girl! You should seriously think about writing a book with all those recepies ❤ On a budget delicious, nutritious meals 😋
Thank you for the video! One thing, though. Maybe bring reusable bags for your produce so that nothing is sitting directly in the cart. Grocery carts are some of the dirtiest surfaces around according to news articles recently. Just passing info along in case it's helpful.
@@donnaleveron5711 I'm more concerned with the adults (and children) who sneeze and don't cover their mouths. Or who cover their mouths then proceed to use the nasty hand on the cart and throughout the grocery store. Hmmm...why wash your produce?
I really liked that you took us on your shopping trip with you.❤ (To be edited after i watch the rest of the vid) Edit: when making pb samiches, add sliced banana AND honey to it. YUM!❤ ALSO, I can tell im gonna have to tweak a LOT of these recipes, but they sound good! 1. Im gonna use REAL bacon. 2. Im gonna use chicken instead of tofu. 3. Im gonna use real eggs for the breakfast scramble.❤ Ive never seen himemade pb before, it was a bit more lose than i expected it to be. Im used to the store bought jars that are more "firm". Pretty neat!❤
Thank you so much! I can’t wait to hear what you think of the recipes when you try them! I love that they’re so easy to customize and tweak! I’ll definitely have to try banana and honey with the PB! That sounds amazing! Thank you for the suggestion ☺️
Some good ideas. I'd try some of these for sure. Tofu isn't my family's thing, so I'd be switching that for something else to make them work here. Thanks for the ideas
I was skeptical when this popped up on my feed but I watched and enjoyed it! I liked some of the recipes and it gave me some ideas. I’ll have to check out some more of your videos. Thanks ❤❤
🌻It's so nice to meet you, Laura! WOW! I didn't know that banana peels are edible, and seeing the way in which you prepared and cooked them looks delicious actually, I'm going to give that a go! ALL of your recipes look fantastic, so I'll be giving those a go as well. Thank you for taking us shopping for your menus and showing us how to prep and cook them. I love how you use fresh produce in your cooking! I'm now a New Subscriber, so Thank You for creating your channel, I'm looking forward to more of your great ideas! Take care, God bless you 🌻.
Welcome to my channel and thank you so much! It’s nice to meet you too! I hope you love the recipes and I can’t wait to hear what you think when you try anything! ☺️
How impressive! I have never eaten tofu before. I do like cabbage in stir-fry so maybe on the cabbage steak. I was very impressed how you created such well balanced meals.
Thank you so much! Yes! I always require that they at least taste exactly what I’ve made so they can discover new things but then I also give them a deconstructed version of the ingredients I made haha. For some reason, they like to pick and choose certain ingredients (they’re both little though 😄)
Try your avocado toast with Mikes hot honey drizzled over. Thank you for all the recipes that are meat free. The banana peel bacon try Bachans Japanese bbq sauce. It is a family owned company that makes natural flavored soy sauce. The original flavor is my favorite but they also have a sweet honey one that is good also. I air fry my bacon peels and they come out delicious.
Thank you so much for the suggestions! I’ll DEFINITELY have to try that hot honey on avocado toast! That sounds amazing! Are the Bachans sauces available at the regular grocery store? I’ll have to see if I can find them!
Love the idea of the cabbage steaks. Banana skins can be used for a whole host of vegan recipes, most ask for the skins to be as green as possible though.i like the idea of the bacon and although I’m not vegan, I will try it.
2nd video, just subscribed. I'm a mature cook, but am always on the lookout for new ideas, recipes, etc. Your tofu crumble looks yummy, a few peanuts sprinkled on top would add extra crunch, going to try this one.
That chocolate quinoa looks SO interesting! So weird that I HAVE to try it!😂 Thank you so much!!❤ Definitely gonna re-up my quinoa supply next time I go to Aldi & I'm gonna try! I'll report back..if i remember😂❤
Try banana peel pulled "pork"! One concern I have is, are you getting at least 46 grams of protein a day in the meal plan? Many of us are eating less protein because of the cost. I was told my protein level was low recently and had to make sure I get at least the minimum of 46 grams a day. My doctor would like closer to 60 if possible. I do love that you had a good amount of fruit and vegetables and not mostly carbs.
I’ll have to give that pulled “pork” a try! It sounds really interesting! When I entered all of this food into MyFitnessPal, it showed an average of 62 grams of protein a day if I ate everything I picked up at the store, plus the things I used from the pantry (not including all the soy sauce 😅). I’m not sure if it’s 100% accurate but it looked pretty close to correct. I always recommend adjusting any of the meal plans to fit your specific nutritional needs ☺️ I personally ate all the bread but I didn’t drink all the milk. I did have some snacks from my pantry during the week (chips, nuts, candy haha).
I stalk my sales prioritize aldi and use meijer and coupons and buy a fee things there that now I get my perks claims offers for sometimes resulting in it freeee, if you know where to look and how to look you get all the dealios
Very detailed in shopping and making things, didn't know how simple it was to make peanut butter. Came across your channel and now I subscribed...Let's see what else I find interesting here 😊
Thank you so much!! ☺️ I’ll give that a try! I’ve never had black salt so I’ll have to pick some up and give it a go! What all do you recommend I use it for?
@@LauraLeggeit has a nice sulfuric smell and taste that mimics eggs. So a lot of vegan recipes use it to include egg flavor. I’ve seen it in vegan fried rice, vegan deviled eggs, and tofu scramble. My favorite was in the tofu scramble though
Thank you for sharing! Everything looks so yummy! Question: did you add water for peanut butter? I couldn’t tell in video. Loved that you made your own!
Thank you! No water - I just blended the peanuts until they were nice and smooth. It takes about 8-10 minutes of blending for the oils to release and for everything to emulsify
Thanks for sharing. I know this sounds bad, but sincerely the restaurants near me give away condiments so, I always grab soy sauce packets and I ask my coworkers for them there is usually 1-2 teaspoons in a packet makes for easy measuring and not spending $3 for condiments.
Hi laura i am 63 and going to try the egg roll in a bowl recipe with the tofu, i buy most of my groceries at Aldi and they had the tofu this week.this will be my first time tring tofu...😅
@@karenchakey oooh yay!! I can’t wait to hear how it turns out for you! I like to cook my crumbled tofu until it gets nice and golden for that dish! 😋 I hope you love it!
Thank you! I’ve been experimenting more with meatless meals over the past year or two and it’s been amazing! So many fun things to make without meat! ☺️
I can't wait to try the cabbage and carrot stir-fry this week. I freeze dried a lot of both from 2 years ago garden. The cabbage steak will have to wait for this year's harvest. Is there a reason why you use spaghetti noodles instead of a Ramen? I have bean noodles that turn out like a clear spaghetti when prepared, that I do with a lot of noodle dishes.
As I watch these low budget weekly meals, again it’s so important to stress that in order to save money, you must build a pantry. You don’t have to do it all at once but every week you should be getting a pantry staple item or two. It will save you so much in the long run
That’s so true! I completely agree with you! I want to do a pantry staple video soon. I’ll definitely have to mention that. Thank you so much for sharing!
Facts! If it weren't for my pantry(which has taken me a year to start rebuilding after a sudden move), I'd be spending WAY more than I thought I would!
I used a bit of my family's tax refund this year to fund the pantry. Otherwise I'd be out of luck.
How about a pantry and meal plans for a low budget gluten and dairy free diet?
My husband abandoned can’t eat gluten and I store several items that I can make a meal that adjusts to his needs
@@LauraLegge Hi Laura, can you PLEASE let me know what grocery store did you use??? Thank you !!!
Thanks for paying attention to the micros and showing the shopping. It's the best part of these videos and most people skip the shopping.
Thank you for noticing and you’re welcome! I didn’t go into detail as much this time. I’ll try to point more out next time I do a meal plan like this. I love comparing and learning new things about the food I eat every time I shop. 😄
I appreciate that your budget meals include fresh food and recipes. So many creators that do budget meals use prepackaged food.
Thank you so much! That’s actually one of the reasons I started making these budget meals. 😄 I couldn’t find many other creators that cooked like this.
Agree!
I agree also - thank you for keeping it “clean”.
I agree. ❤️
Lifesaver!
Omg you even used the banana peels!!! 20/10 lady! I would try with apple cider vinegar for a little bit of extra sweetness and some cinnamon to boot. Let's experiment with our scraps! I would also deglaze that pan to make a lush sauce to pour over them. You are a budgeting genius!!! Cabbage steaks are the boss, you;re right those brown crispy parts are the BEST so yummy!
Oh my goodness, thank you so much! I’ll definitely try apple cider vinegar and cinnamon next time 😋 I can’t believe I didn’t think to make a sauce with the yummy bits in the pan! That’s brilliant!! Thank you for the suggestion! I definitely want to experiment more with my scraps. It’s been so fun and eye opening!
Wow, I’ve never seen anyone use banana peels for anything. What a great way to reduce waste. That’s super creative, too! 🙌🏼
Thank you so much! I saw the idea and I had to try it! Someone said I can even make banana bread with them. I’ll have to give that one a try next!
It's a great idea. I would still only use organic bananas though, conventionally grown bananas are sprayed with pesticides and other nasty things
I had always heard that banana peel was poisonous.
I compost mine and then use them to fertilize the garden!
@@rosemarygreen2001 no, they are commonly eaten in some other countries. It wasn't too long ago when I discovered a whole slew of vegan banana peel "meat" videos. I was a little surprised.
I've made the banana bacon and I found adding liquid smoke and a bit of maple syrup in the marinade is really yummy. I usually look up the marinade used for hot dog carrots. These were very helpful recipes for me to try this week. Trying to keep to a $40 weekly budget for three people.
Oh my goodness, what?! Hot dog carrots?! I’ve gotta try that! Thank you for the suggestion! I’ll give that a try next time!
I hope you love the recipes! I can’t wait to hear what you think if you decide to try anything ☺️
@@LauraLegge Brand New vegan carrot hot dogs . So good . Sometimes I used canned sliced, drained carrots for the recipes. Still so good .
@@LauraLeggeHot dog carrots are delicious just add the same toppings you would as a regular hot dog. ❤
@@AngelaBrown-jf3vc oooh yum!! Ok! I’ll try that! Thank you for the suggestion!
Idk that carrots are a good meat substitute because they're so low in calories and protein
I love the quick reheat-able breakfasts!!!! Never thought about using quinoa as a breakfast, but I looove rice pudding so I think this will be awesome for me :)
Yay! I would love to know what you think if you try it ☺️
My tip is to be flexible. My last trip to the store, I found a big bag of bananas for 99 cents, and Mexican rice, and 80/20 ground beef in the markdown bin. It changed my meal plans and I came out way cheaper.
I just LOVE that!! You’re right, it’s so important to scope out the sale items! It saves a ton!
Thank you for having a meal plan with no meat i really appreciate it
You’re welcome ☺️ I hope you love the recipes!!
Yes meat doubles the budget, whether people want to admit it or not.
Breakfast: coffee, water, egg spinach omelet & banana. Lunch. PBJ and Apple, milk Dinner. Beans, w rice. Chicken legs. Frozen broccoli. Jello for dessert. Not bad. Take your daily vitamins.
PS. Your meals much more creative than mine.
I love the simplicity of your meal plan! I’m working on a very basic plan just like that actually! I want to show how easy it is to throw things together, if need be, on a budget ☺️
The banana peel sounded SO wacky, you are braver than I to try! Thanks for another great video with creative ideas. Sometimes having variety and “fun” foods makes up for thin times.
❤ from Iowa
Thank you so much! I appreciate that! ☺️ I was definitely apprehensive about the banana peels but I’m so glad I tried them! They turned out better than I imagined!
I gotta admit I'm impressed by the variety these recipes offer! Way too many of these videos only focus on calories and protein, get really repetitive or boil down "eat rice and beans" - while you offer plenty ideas that look actually appetizing. Love to see grilled cabbage, it's one of the most delicious things one can do with cabbage and really low-effort, too. I personally love serving it with mashed potatoes 🙂
Thank you so much! I truly appreciate that! ☺️ oh my goodness, cabbage steaks with mashed potatoes sounds divine!! I’m going to do that next time! Thank you for the suggestion!
To make your own "nut milk"- 1 teaspoon of nut butter (hazelnut or almond or whatever) in 1 cup of cold water, blend. Drink fresh. Great with frozen fresh fruit for a smoothie
Yum!! That sounds delicious! I’ll have to try that. Thanks so much for the recommendation!
I'm gonna have to try! I just bought almond butter!
@@youmakemehappy7 remember to use cold water...and blend well. I use a Nutribullet for the blending. Use straight away.
I get bags of oatmeal free at food pantries you make oat nut milk from that
Great suggestion to make your own oat/nut milk. I’m going to make the simple recipe.
All looks so good. I am going to try the cabbage steaks for sure, been hearing about how great it tastes on thumbs. The chocolate mouse is also a given. All looks so good. Never made my own peanut butter so think I will try that too. Thank you for all the work you did to film this. Great job again. Peace!
Thank you so much! I can’t wait to hear what you think! I was SO surprised by the cabbage steaks! I was sad I didn’t have leftovers 😂 I hope you love the peanut butter! Some people add honey to it too!
I always learn something new from you!❤
I have never heard on putting the tomato upside down before. We bought a tomato Monday. Bought the best one they had but it’s still hard by Saturday. I should have put it in a brown bag but finally did this morning. After hearing that tip from you I opened the bag and flipped it upside down. 🙃😂
Yay! I grow tomatoes every year and that’s my favorite way to ripen them so the birds don’t get them 😅
Love these budget meals. Would love to see some for two people. Thanks
Ok! I’ll work on that ☺️
So glad the algorithm showed me your videos! Trying to balance whole food, plant-based, budget-friendly, and delicious is such a challenge, and I'm always looking for new recipes!
@@JoannaLoomis I completely understand! I hope you love the recipes! ☺️
Thank you for giving me hope again!
I just recently found your videos. It feels like i can actually eat healthier on a budget.
Living in vegas with our prices, at about a .20-.75 more per item (even though it doesn't seem like alot it adds up) makes it hard to even think about fresh veggies and fruit when you have to eat for the whole 2 weeks.
I've made one meal from here, and it's so good and super easy to make.
Again, thank you!
I’m so glad to hear that! I know how challenging it can be, especially in cities where prices are higher. I’m in Southern California and my ALDI is by far the cheapest store around. They’ve made it so much easier for me to eat healthier on a budget. If I’m shopping at any other store, I lean into the ads as much as I can for produce.
Pro tip. Hit the cabbage stem with the palm of your hand. It breaks off from the leaves and you can pull it out
@@jamiedriscoll9781 thank you so much for the tip! I’ll give it a try!
Better her, hold the head with both hands, stem down, and whack it on the counter. It’ll save your hand. Works on lettuce, too.
That chocolate recipe is very interesting. Add bacon bits for the last 5 mins on the cabbage steaks is awesome.
Oh my!! That sounds divine! Thank you for the suggestion 😋 I’m gonna try that!
If you’re looking for more ways to use cabbage try giving Haluski a go. It’s so delicious! Egg noodles are cheap as is kielbasa
Oooh! I’ve never heard of that before! I’ll look for a recipe! ☺️ Thank you so much for the suggestion!
You make the best budget meals, in my opinion!
Oh my goodness, thank you so much! I really appreciate that ☺️
An old fashion girl scout Desert is slit the curved banana down the middle and any kind of hard chocolate and mini marshmallows if you like. Wrap with foil place on tray bake until banana is mushy
😊
Oh my goodness, that sounds so delicious and so fun!! I’m definitely writing that down so I can try it later! Thank you for sharing the recipe!
@@LauraLegge you could top it with your homemade peanut butter. That sounds hella good. I'm definitely trying that
@@VanitysGunn oh my gosh, yes!! That’s brilliant!!
Everything looks so good and not expensive,I will try some of those recipes ,Thank you !
...
Thank you so much!! And you’re welcome! I hope you love the recipes ☺️ I can’t wait to hear what you thought!
Boil the peanut butter and cocoa powder in the milk or water it will melt and blend smoothly.i make chocolate pb oatmeal all the time for the last 15 plus yrs
Oooh great tip!! Thank you so much for sharing that! I’ll try that next time!
Well done! Gosh, I'm jealous of your grocery prices! 🇨🇦 Our tomatoes are close to $3/lbs and avocados on sale at $2 each. I did a quick online cart and approx the same thing comes to $76, but still cheaper than my usual grocery shop 👍
The avocados were a $1,49 each at our grocery store.
Oh wow! It’s wild how different the prices are! Avocados are usually $2 each here at other grocery stores but my ALDI has great deals all the time 😄
@@LauraLeggeThere’s no ALDI where I live. Prices are considerably higher
@@luvslyfe1same
I absolutely LOVE all of your recipes! Thank you for sharing and showing how we can be frugal w/ our food and still be versatile and eat well! I love the “ no waste “ approach too!
Thank you so much!! I’m so glad to hear that! I’ve been challenging myself to think outside the box over the last few years and it’s been so fun! ☺️
I don't peel carrots if I'm going to shred them. In fact I never peel them. If you have a vegetable brush, most are fine if you just scrub them really well. Cuts down on food waste.
I love that!! I have a brush so I’ll give that a go next time 😄 I use my carrot scraps for vegetable stock! I throw them in a bag in the freezer with my other veggie scraps and when the bag is full, I make a delicious homemade veggie stock 😋
Honey, if the don’t peel the skin on your veggies you will be consuming arsenic and other various pesticides 😢
@@perle13930 I scrub them first. There are various methods to wash them that will remove most pesticides but I guess peel them if you are worried about it. Some things you really can't peel, such as peppers, etc.
Honestly you can't make me believe if the peel is drenched in poison that it doesn't pinetrate the peeling.
I buy organic carrots, and we still prefer them peeled, but I usually chop up the peels and give them to our chickens.😊
I really appreciate the emphasis you make on nutrition! I also love the plant based meals, thanks for all you do!🙏
Thank you so much! I’m so glad to hear that! ☺️
I loved every one. Love that they are vegetarian. Genius, Laura ❤️🇦🇺
Thank you so much!! ☺️
They all looked so great! So many work for fasting. Thank you!
@@mariekelly1175 thank you!
New subscriber, love your meals. I’m 76 years young, looking for new simplified recipes to try. Love saving money. I usually cook a regular recipe and make freezer meals for busy days. My granddaughter just started college and still needs rides, to cheer leading or to visit her friends.
@@glendamartin8424 thank you and welcome to my channel! I love freezer meals too! They’re so nice to have on busy days!
I’ve watched a number of videos following a meal budget challenge. Yours, hands down, is the best use of your grocery money! So much good fresh food which all looks delicious. Thanks for the great suggestions!
@@kellycoxsemple thank you so much!! I really appreciate you saying that ☺️ I hope you love the recipes!
Thank you so much for the details on your website and the recipes. As a family of 4, I was looking for more affordable recipes and I found them here.
@@firesong100100 you’re welcome! And I’m so glad! I hope you love the recipes ☺️
I personally love cabbage steaks. I've done them several times and they are absolutely delicious. I agree with you those brown bits are the best and the Cabbage get super sweet the same way carrots do after being baked in the oven like that. And you can eat it by itself or add it with other toppings if you want. Anything from mushrooms and onions to a fried egg to alfredo, the sky's the limit
Yes!! That all sounds so delicious! I can’t wait to experiment! I can’t believe I’ve never had them until now
I love cabbage, making it stirfried with onions, carrots, onion, and topped(bc it burns) with onion&garlic powder, soy sauce and Sriracha and put it with rice and fried eggs and it’s delicious😋
@@nanny8675309 oh my goodness, yum!! Your stir fry sounds amazing!!
These recipes look absolutely amazing. I love the ingredients in all of them and going to try all of them this week.
Yay!! I can’t wait to hear what you think! ☺️
I'm amazed about how you combined all this food together. Wow! The most surprising video for the last month for sure 👍
@@jane7354 thank you so much! ☺️
These meals are all FIRE!!! I can't wait to try them, you nailed it this time!
Oh my goodness, thank you so much!! ☺️ I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Thank you for making this video! You inspired me to use the half a cabbage and pack of tofu I had sitting in the fridge--that first recipe is delicious! I also love that you showed us your shopping trip and how you adjusted your list as you shopped. Super helpful!!
Yay! Thank you so much and I’m so glad to hear that you loved the cabbage and tofu recipe! ☺️
We save all the peels of a lot of veggies (like broccoli, cabbage, zucchini, carrots etc., but not peppers and eggplant). We collect them in a bag in the freezer until it is full, then we cook a broth from it.
I love that!
Shredded cabbage and noodles tastes like an egg roll. Add a little shrimp or ground meat, delicious
@@dawnjenney5519 yum!!!
What kind of noodles?
@ just regular egg noodles
I love the variety non boring foods you put together!
Thank you so much!! I really appreciate you saying that! ☺️
These recipes are really fun, I want to try them, especially banana bacon and roasted cabbage. Thx
Thank you! I can’t wait to hear what you think! The roasted cabbage really surprised me and I can’t wait to make it again!
Avacado, Eggs and meat really keep me feeling full & satisfied! Dont need many of carbs unless you have huge energy needs.
I had some almonds in the pantry that were old and hard. Chop them almost to butter and add olive oil and honey. I guess it could be power balls. My husband was so impressed 😁💯. Plus we used something that could have been thrown away.
Thank you for all the smart ideas in the kitchen. 🎉🎉🎉❤
@@beckywhinery4652 oh my goodness, that’s brilliant!! Thank you for the idea! I’ll definitely have to try that with some of my random bags of nuts I have on hand.
And you’re welcome!! I’m so glad you’re finding some inspiration ☺️
Cabbage steaks are so good!! I also love cabbage patties. Just make them like you do for salmon or tuna patties. Zucchini patties are a favorite too!!
What?! That sounds amazing!! I’ll have to look that up! I’m excited to try it!
I love your videos. That breakfast quinoa looks amazing, almost like cocoa wheats I grew up on. I’m definitely going to make it. Another no waste idea for banana peels; I put them in a pot of water, boil them, let them cool completely and water my plants with the water. It’s loaded with nutrients and your plants will love you!
@@MsV3 I love that idea! Thank you so much for the tip. I’m going to do that next time. I can’t wait to hear what you think of the quinoa!
So glad this video was recommended to me! Excited to try your recipes.
Love the shopping portion and the way you described how to prepare everything!!
Thank you so much!! I can’t wait to hear what you think of the recipes ☺️
I love saving a lot ,am on low income in a developing country so budgeting its a way to get everything kicking your way🎉
You did a wonderful job. Even tons of fiber. Which is our best friend
Thank you so much! ☺️ That was definitely one of my focuses! Fiber is so important!
My goodness! You are a wonderful cook. Who would have thought to use banana peels.....fantastic. I can't wait to try the tofu and the cabbage steaks... I love 💕 cabbage 🥬!! So looking forward to all your upcoming recipes! New subscriber here. Thank you!! Sincerely, from Debbie🙋and Dexter-Dog 🐕 my sweet tiny rescued Chihuahua companion living a quiet crafty life🏠🌵in southern California. 🙏🧑🦽🏜️🏖️😎🖐️🥪🙏.
@@debbiechaney6607 thank you so much!! I can’t wait to hear what you think! ☺️ And welcome to my channel!
They all look good! I've added ingredients to my next grocery trip. Thanks
@@tinadavis9796 you’re welcome! I can’t wait to hear what you think!
You did amazingly well. I am blown away. Feel like trying everything. Got some great tips.
Thank you so much!! I appreciate you saying that and I hope you love the recipes ☺️ I can’t wait to hear what you think!
I recently started watch your videos. Had planned to make Stir Fry tonight and changed it up some to your Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce. Yum! Family agreed it was the best stir fry ever. Peanut Sauce went together very easy. I added left over chicken. Delicious!
Yay! I’m so glad to hear that! ☺️
I love how healthy your meal plan is ❤ a lot of budget meals I see are mostly of processed/junk food.
Thank you so much!! I appreciate that ☺️
43 dollars for a weeks food. Oatmeal for breakfast, big salads for lunch, fruit for evening snack or maybe a potato.
Totally agree regarding animals & so many things you both share including Mike. Would love to see youns do some simplistic camping . I am sure you could share some great ideas with us !
Thank you!!!♥️🩷💜💞💖💕
So creative - and healthy, too! I will be trying some of these ideas!
Thank you so much! I hope you love the recipes! ☺️
Quinoa always boils over on me, and I use water. I have to be right there in the kitchen to catch it when it first gets hot. I love that you have mostly vegan recopies! My husband's surgeon recommended we be 80%-100% vegan, so we only eat meat and dairy when we're out.
How interesting! That quinoa was really giving me trouble at first 😅
And thank you! My doctor also recommended plant based, so I’m trying to do my best to switch us over to meatless at home.
Thanks for doing a budget meal plan that is actually healthy. I’ve seen so many of these that contain heavily processed foods, are way too high in fat, sugar, or sodium and include too few vegetables. My only suggestion would be to rethink eating banana peels. I understand that they’re dipped in pesticides prior to shipping. Organic is an option but might defeat your attempts to strictly budget.
Oh my! Yes, thank you for the suggestion! They need to be cleaned really well before eating them. I’ll see if I can do a budget friendly organic meal plan soon! I’m sure it’ll be a little more pricey but I think I can make it work on a small budget still ☺️
Wow, impressing cooking skills girl!
You should seriously think about writing a book with all those recepies ❤ On a budget delicious, nutritious meals 😋
Thank you so much! That’s so nice of you to say!
Thank you for the video! One thing, though. Maybe bring reusable bags for your produce so that nothing is sitting directly in the cart. Grocery carts are some of the dirtiest surfaces around according to news articles recently. Just passing info along in case it's helpful.
Thank you! I have reusable ones in my grocery bags but I always forget to get them out 😅 I’ll try to remember!
That's a great tip, especially when you've seen toddlers standing in the carts.
This is such a great thought. I don’t want to waste another plastic bag so I just put it in the cart. Great observation!!
@@donnaleveron5711 I'm more concerned with the adults (and children) who sneeze and don't cover their mouths. Or who cover their mouths then proceed to use the nasty hand on the cart and throughout the grocery store. Hmmm...why wash your produce?
I really liked that you took us on your shopping trip with you.❤
(To be edited after i watch the rest of the vid)
Edit: when making pb samiches, add sliced banana AND honey to it. YUM!❤
ALSO, I can tell im gonna have to tweak a LOT of these recipes, but they sound good!
1. Im gonna use REAL bacon.
2. Im gonna use chicken instead of tofu.
3. Im gonna use real eggs for the breakfast scramble.❤
Ive never seen himemade pb before, it was a bit more lose than i expected it to be. Im used to the store bought jars that are more "firm". Pretty neat!❤
Thank you so much! I can’t wait to hear what you think of the recipes when you try them! I love that they’re so easy to customize and tweak!
I’ll definitely have to try banana and honey with the PB! That sounds amazing! Thank you for the suggestion ☺️
@@LauraLegge you're welcome! It's my favorite way to eat on samiches!🥰
And I can't wait to try these recipes! They looked delicious!❤️
Some good ideas. I'd try some of these for sure. Tofu isn't my family's thing, so I'd be switching that for something else to make them work here. Thanks for the ideas
@@muskokaoma7470 you’re welcome! That would definitely work great! I hope you love the recipes ☺️
@LauraLegge I know I will. Lots.of inspiration in the video.
@@muskokaoma7470 thank you so much ☺️
Definitely going to try everything but the sweets 👍
Yay! I can’t wait to hear what you think!
I was skeptical when this popped up on my feed but I watched and enjoyed it! I liked some of the recipes and it gave me some ideas. I’ll have to check out some more of your videos. Thanks ❤❤
Yay! I’m so glad to hear that! ☺️
🌻It's so nice to meet you, Laura! WOW! I didn't know that banana peels are edible, and seeing the way in which you prepared and cooked them looks delicious actually, I'm going to give that a go! ALL of your recipes look fantastic, so I'll be giving those a go as well. Thank you for taking us shopping for your menus and showing us how to prep and cook them. I love how you use fresh produce in your cooking! I'm now a New Subscriber, so Thank You for creating your channel, I'm looking forward to more of your great ideas! Take care, God bless you 🌻.
Welcome to my channel and thank you so much! It’s nice to meet you too! I hope you love the recipes and I can’t wait to hear what you think when you try anything! ☺️
They all look delicious. I'm definitely going to try a few of them, especially the quinoa.
Thank you so much! I hope you love the recipes and I can’t wait to hear what you think ☺️
How impressive! I have never eaten tofu before. I do like cabbage in stir-fry so maybe on the cabbage steak. I was very impressed how you created such well balanced meals.
Thank you so much!! ☺️ I can’t wait to hear what you think if you try anything! The cabbage steaks are SO delicious! 😋
So glad i found your channel! Really nice to see how you can still have fun with food on a budget
Welcome to my channel! I hope you love the recipes! ☺️
Your recipes looked great, and the dessert! Yummy!
Thank you so much! I really enjoyed this week! It was super delicious 😋
Amazing video, pro tip: if you bake or air fry or microwave the banana peel it will sweeten and be ready that day 😃
Liquid smoke is also great , a little goes a long way
@@zyannaikigai9923 thank you so much for the tips!! I’ll definitely give those a try next time 😄
What a variety of meals! Banana peels??wow! Your budget meals are awesome! Did your kids try these meals??😊
Thank you so much! Yes! I always require that they at least taste exactly what I’ve made so they can discover new things but then I also give them a deconstructed version of the ingredients I made haha. For some reason, they like to pick and choose certain ingredients (they’re both little though 😄)
Try your avocado toast with Mikes hot honey drizzled over. Thank you for all the recipes that are meat free. The banana peel bacon try Bachans Japanese bbq sauce. It is a family owned company that makes natural flavored soy sauce. The original flavor is my favorite but they also have a sweet honey one that is good also. I air fry my bacon peels and they come out delicious.
Thank you so much for the suggestions! I’ll DEFINITELY have to try that hot honey on avocado toast! That sounds amazing!
Are the Bachans sauces available at the regular grocery store? I’ll have to see if I can find them!
Love the idea of the cabbage steaks. Banana skins can be used for a whole host of vegan recipes, most ask for the skins to be as green as possible though.i like the idea of the bacon and although I’m not vegan, I will try it.
Thank you so much ☺️ I hope you love the recipes!
2nd video, just subscribed. I'm a mature cook, but am always on the lookout for new ideas, recipes, etc. Your tofu crumble looks yummy, a few peanuts sprinkled on top would add extra crunch, going to try this one.
Thank you so much!! I hope you love the recipe ideas! I’ll have to try the crumbled tofu with peanuts next time. That sounds delicious!
New here can't wait to see what you came up with from them items you got from the store for your meals
Yay! I hope you love the recipes ☺️
You did amazing with the budget you had, well done.🥰🇬🇧🐾🐾🌷
Thank you so much!! ☺️
That chocolate quinoa looks SO interesting! So weird that I HAVE to try it!😂 Thank you so much!!❤ Definitely gonna re-up my quinoa supply next time I go to Aldi & I'm gonna try! I'll report back..if i remember😂❤
Haha yes!! Definitely let me know how it turns out for you! It reminded me of chocolate cereal in milk 😄
Try banana peel pulled "pork"! One concern I have is, are you getting at least 46 grams of protein a day in the meal plan? Many of us are eating less protein because of the cost. I was told my protein level was low recently and had to make sure I get at least the minimum of 46 grams a day. My doctor would like closer to 60 if possible. I do love that you had a good amount of fruit and vegetables and not mostly carbs.
I’ll have to give that pulled “pork” a try! It sounds really interesting!
When I entered all of this food into MyFitnessPal, it showed an average of 62 grams of protein a day if I ate everything I picked up at the store, plus the things I used from the pantry (not including all the soy sauce 😅). I’m not sure if it’s 100% accurate but it looked pretty close to correct. I always recommend adjusting any of the meal plans to fit your specific nutritional needs ☺️
I personally ate all the bread but I didn’t drink all the milk. I did have some snacks from my pantry during the week (chips, nuts, candy haha).
That is great amount of protein!
@@LifePrepared yes! It turned out to be a really nicely balanced week for me! ☺️
I haven't bought wheat spaghetti in quite a while because I love chickpea pasta. I was blown away that the spaghetti was $2.
Yes!! I can’t wait to try the spaghetti! I love the penne so I’m hoping I’ll like this one too
Red cabbage has 10x the nutrition of green cabbage
I stalk my sales prioritize aldi and use meijer and coupons and buy a fee things there that now I get my perks claims offers for sometimes resulting in it freeee, if you know where to look and how to look you get all the dealios
@@breezy_the_faere3997 yes! I love that!! Great shopping!
Thank you for the meal inspo! Looks so great, cant wait to try it. Love your videos :)
You’re welcome! And thank you so much ☺️
Fantastic ideas I will be trying a number of those. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you so much!! ☺️ I can’t wait to hear what you think!
We loved the Cabbage steaks, and I still have to make the peanut butter. Using up peanut butter, I brought when on sale. Last two jars now left.
I’m so glad you loved the cabbage steaks! Definitely let me know how the peanut butter turns out when you make it too ☺️
Very detailed in shopping and making things, didn't know how simple it was to make peanut butter. Came across your channel and now I subscribed...Let's see what else I find interesting here 😊
Thank you so much! I’m excited to hear what you think of other tips and recipes! ☺️
You have some really good ideas. I save veggies I never thought to save tomato pieces from the tops.
Thank you so much! I love the flavor that the tomato tops add to a stock too! A little sweetness 😋
Awesome video. Love the healthy take on budget meals. I would recommend liquid smoke for the banana peel bacon and black salt for the tofu scramble :)
Thank you so much!! ☺️ I’ll give that a try! I’ve never had black salt so I’ll have to pick some up and give it a go! What all do you recommend I use it for?
@@LauraLeggeit has a nice sulfuric smell and taste that mimics eggs. So a lot of vegan recipes use it to include egg flavor. I’ve seen it in vegan fried rice, vegan deviled eggs, and tofu scramble. My favorite was in the tofu scramble though
@@joescibelli1308 perfect!! Thank you! I’m excited to try it!
I always did cauliflower steaks. Have to try the cabbage 🥬
Yum! I haven’t tried those yet! I’ll definitely have to give them a go!
Do your own Oatmilk. 1l water blend with 100 g oats. Sweetener if needed. That one in this shop is way to expensive
I love that!! Thank you for sharing that tip. I’ll give it a try ☺️
Thank you for sharing! Everything looks so yummy! Question: did you add water for peanut butter? I couldn’t tell in video. Loved that you made your own!
Thank you! No water - I just blended the peanuts until they were nice and smooth. It takes about 8-10 minutes of blending for the oils to release and for everything to emulsify
Wish food was that cheap here. What you got would be $40 or more in my location
Thanks for sharing. I know this sounds bad, but sincerely the restaurants near me give away condiments so, I always grab soy sauce packets and I ask my coworkers for them there is usually 1-2 teaspoons in a packet makes for easy measuring and not spending $3 for condiments.
@@patriciaa2524 I love that!! I keep all my condiment packets too! Every little bit helps with the budget 😄
Hi laura i am 63 and going to try the egg roll in a bowl recipe with the tofu, i buy most of my groceries at Aldi and they had the tofu this week.this will be my first time tring tofu...😅
@@karenchakey oooh yay!! I can’t wait to hear how it turns out for you! I like to cook my crumbled tofu until it gets nice and golden for that dish! 😋 I hope you love it!
@@LauraLegge how many servings does the eggless tofu scramble make. I don't see it on the recipe?
I like your channel for a plant based diet. I try to add more plant based protein into my diet rather than having a lot of meat.
Thank you! I’ve been experimenting more with meatless meals over the past year or two and it’s been amazing! So many fun things to make without meat! ☺️
Such healthy budget options! Wish we had Aldi here in Oregon.
Thank you! I hope y’all get one soon!
The cabbage steaks sound great will try them.
Thank you! They really surprised me! I can’t wait to hear what you think ☺️
I can't wait to try the cabbage and carrot stir-fry this week. I freeze dried a lot of both from 2 years ago garden. The cabbage steak will have to wait for this year's harvest. Is there a reason why you use spaghetti noodles instead of a Ramen? I have bean noodles that turn out like a clear spaghetti when prepared, that I do with a lot of noodle dishes.
I can’t wait to hear what you think!!
The spaghetti noodles are just the ones we prefer so feel free to use whatever you have on hand ☺️
Nice tip on cooking the frozen veggies!
@@rachelkerr37 thank you! 😄