What We Ate This Week On A Low Budget! 4-30-23

Introduction

Hey guys, welcome back to my channel! If you're new here, my name is Mandy and I'm a full-time working mom of three. This week, I wanted to share with you what my family and I ate for dinner over the past two weeks. We've been on a tight budget lately and have been trying to use up ingredients that we already have in our fridge, freezer, and pantry. So, if you enjoy these types of videos, please give me a thumbs up and let's dive into what we ate!

Week 1: Pizza, Brats, and Ribs

We kicked off the week with some delicious homemade pizzas for lunch. Who doesn't love a good pizza, right? Then, for dinner, we decided to have some brats with the leftover pepperoni pizza from lunch.

On another night, we skipped the brats and had ribs instead. To complete the meal, we also had baked beans and street corn. The combination of flavors was simply mouthwatering.

Weekend Breakfast Bonanza

One Sunday morning, I decided to treat my family to a big breakfast. I made chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, hash browns, and eggs. It was a feast! However, my excitement quickly turned to disappointment when I realized there was only one pancake left. As much as I love cooking big breakfasts, it's definitely a challenge to satisfy everyone's appetites!

Healthy Alternatives with Spaghetti Squash

To keep things interesting, I decided to do a little meal prepping. I bought some spaghetti squash and cooked it in the Instant Pot. The squash turned out nice and soft, and I didn't have to worry about it being undercooked. I also saved some of the seeds to try growing my own spaghetti squash in the future. Why not add another item to my gardening list?

While waiting for the squash to cook, I whipped up some cookie dough using a copycat recipe for crumble chocolate chip cookies. They turned out absolutely delicious, with a perfect balance of crunchiness on the outside and softness on the inside.

Once the spaghetti squash was ready, I scooped out the insides and added some roasted garlic alfredo sauce and Parmesan cheese. This healthy alternative to pasta was a hit with me, even though the desire for a big bowl of pasta never truly goes away.

Low-Calorie Lunches and Fresh Greens

For my lunches, I decided to keep them low in calories and carbs. I measured out some Parmesan cheese and added it to my salad. I also used two servings of Alfredo sauce to keep the calories in check. This meal was not only delicious but also satisfying.

To make the salad extra special, I picked lettuce, spinach, and kale from my garden. The freshness and flavor that homegrown greens add to a salad is unmatched. I also grew some radishes, but I learned that breakfast radishes weren't our family's favorite. However, regular radishes were a hit, and I will continue to grow those in the future.

Quick and Easy Dinners

On Monday, we grilled some chicken breasts and paired them with salad, peas, and a box of Pasta Roni. It was a simple, yet satisfying meal.

Another night, we enjoyed homemade hamburger buns with mock Philly cheese steaks. These sandwiches were loaded with peppers, onions, ground beef, and provolone cheese. They were finger-licking good!

For our Thursday night dinner, we had a quick and easy meal of pigs in a blanket, along with leftovers from the previous days. Sometimes, a simple meal is all you need.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into what my family and I ate for dinner over the past two weeks. Despite being on a tight budget, we managed to create diverse and delicious meals using ingredients we already had. Cooking at home not only allows us to save money but also allows us to get creative in the kitchen. Until next time, happy cooking!