Making meals on a budget

When it comes to planning meals on a budget, many of us just groan. After all, planning out our family's meals is a chore many of us put off due to lack of time and busy schedules.

The good news is that it doesn't have to be the dreaded chore we make it out to be. With a little savvy thinking we can create healthy, delicious meals on a budget. And most of the time, your family will never know the difference.

Savvy strategy #1: Scour your pantry

Chances are you've got a fairly well-stocked pantry. But, how often have you really assessed what you have in there?

You likely have tins pushed in the back that could create some really lovely meals. But you'll never know unless you start digging around! Using what you have on-hand before buying something else is a smart strategy if you want to cut down on your spending. After all, even tins go bad eventually, and if you don't use them up that's just money you're wasting.

Savvy strategy #2: Cook with your leftovers

If you want meals on a budget, then one of the smartest things you can do is to cook or use up all your leftovers. Leftovers from yesterday's dinner can make a perfectly good lunch. Some more ideas include:

• Making a chicken stock or base for soups with the leftovers of roast chicken.
• Making a tasty rice salad or fried rice dish from leftover rice.
• Leftover pasta can be heated with olive oil, butter and parmesan for a great side dish.
• Make up some traditional leftover meals like bubble and squeak (mashed potato and cabbage), when mixed with gravy and a couple of sausages is heart-warming and yummy.
• Leftover baked potatoes can be cut up and fried, or creamed for potato soup.
• Make fritters, omelettes or frittatas with left over veggies, cheese and eggs.
• Finally, freeze any leftovers that you can't use in the next day or so.

Savvy strategy #3: One pot cooking

Your oven uses a lot of energy, especially when you're cooking multiple dishes and it's on for hours. You can save a lot of time, and reduce your energy bill, by cooking one-pot meals. These are meals like stews and casseroles that are cheap and easy to make. Everything goes into one pot, and you're done!

You're not just limited to these heavy stews and casseroles, however. You can make lighter dishes with pasta and fresh vegetables. And if you're vegetarian, using tofu and beans is just as easy (and more affordable) than using meat. There are thousands of recipes for one pot meals online.

Savvy strategy #4: Use your freezer

When planning your meals on a budget, you can save by cooking in bulk. This means effectively using your freezer.

For instance, if you're making lasagne for your family why not make two while you're at it? Lasagne freezes beautifully, and by making two you can use up all your ingredients, and have a complete dinner stashed away for next week. Researching recipes that freeze well can save you significantly over time, especially when you buy larger “bulk” items at the store. And, you'll love the feeling of not having to cook a few nights a week!

Savvy strategy #5: Take advantage of store offers

Your local market probably has amazing deals from time to time. Often, stores will double coupons, or offer “two for one” specials. Taking advantage of these savings is a great way to make your meal budget go further. Make sure you check your local paper, or the store's website, every week to see what special they're running. When something you use often goes on sale, stock up!

Last word…

We know that making meals on a budget takes time and advanced planning. But it's really worth the investment. Aside from housing costs, food is the largest expenditure for most families. Using smart strategies to make your food budget go further will definitely pay off in the long run.