The Best 10 Cheap Meals to Make at Home for a Healthy Lifestyle

Whipping up cheap meals to make at home doesn't necessitate a hefty grocery bill. Implement these top ten budget-friendly ingredients in your homemade dishes and you'll notice a substantial cut in your food expenses.

As we grapple with escalating food prices, finding strategies to minimize expenditures becomes a necessity. A surge in gas prices, supply chain holdups, conflict, and labor shortages have inflated the costs of fundamental foods. Moreover, inflation has eroded the purchasing power of the dollar.

However, certain food categories have taken a harder hit in this turbulent economy than others. Beef, chicken, eggs, milk, butter, ready-made frozen items, and even fresh fruit have experienced double-digit percentage price increases. Consequently, grocery stores are transferring these inflated costs to consumers like us. To offset the swelling manufacturing expenses, companies are beginning to scale back the size or quantity of products. Adapting your shopping list to accommodate these changes is vital in navigating this potentially transient reality. By focusing on cheap meals to make at home and learning to be flexible with our choices, we can still manage to enjoy healthy meals to cook at home.

Ten Economical and Nutritious Ingredients for Creating Healthy and Cheap Meals at Home

If you're seeking cheap meals to make at home without compromising on nutrition, the following affordable and healthful ingredients are ideal for you. These components serve as the basis for a variety of healthy meals to cook at home, ensuring you save money while enjoying a balanced diet.

1. Cabbage

Cabbage is the cornerstone of many cheap meals to make at home. Its versatility allows it to be braised, grilled, shredded for slaw, or diced for a wholesome stir-fry, making it a key player in many healthy meals to cook at home. Among the myriad of ingredients available, cabbage stands out for its extended shelf life, ensuring it's ready whenever you need it for your home-cooked dishes.

This humble vegetable is not just an economical choice, it's also low in calories and high in fiber, making it a stellar component for any healthy meals to cook at home. It's an excellent ally for your digestive system and contributes to your daily dietary needs without straining your budget.

Cabbage isn't only valuable for creating cheap meals to make at home, it's also rich in several antioxidants that combat free radicals and alleviate cell stress. Anthocyanin, one of these antioxidants, offers several benefits, including protecting red blood cells. Therefore, cabbage is not only affordable and versatile but also a superfood that contributes significantly to your wellbeing.

2. Beans

Beans, a key ingredient in many cheap meals to make at home, are often priced at less than $1 per can, making them an ideal staple in every home cook's pantry. The range of dishes featuring beans is diverse, ranging from vegetarian burgers and Tex-Mex delicacies such as burritos and tacos to heartwarming soups, stews, and vegetarian chili - all forming healthy meals to cook at home.

As each bean variety possesses a distinct flavor and texture, we recommend experimenting with various types such as chickpeas, pinto beans, and pigeon peas. In addition to their culinary versatility, beans are an excellent source of plant-based protein and fiber, thus cementing their status as a nutritious and cost-effective staple for cheap and healthy meals to cook at home.

3. Oats

Oats are an affordable cornerstone for cheap meals to make at home. Among the most nutritious grains, oats are rich in a variety of nutrients that bolster heart health, manage blood sugar levels, and maintain a healthy weight. They're filling and incredibly beneficial, perfect for a bowl of creamy oats, served cold as muesli, or blended into a delicious smoothie. These nutrient-dense grains are excellent for promoting a healthy digestive system, muscle growth, and satiety. Oats also contain a unique fiber called beta-glucan, known for its cholesterol-lowering effects, making them a perfect addition to your list of healthy meals to cook at home.

4. Cornmeal

Cornmeal, a staple in Southern-style cuisine, is a wonderful ingredient for a variety of cheap meals to make at home. It can be used in deep-dish polenta pizza, smokey grits and greens, and maple cornbread biscuits. Affordable and long-lasting, cornmeal is an energy-boosting food rich in dietary fiber, iron, and phosphorus.

5. Edamame

Edamame, or young soybeans, are an excellent option for plant-based, healthy meals to cook at home. Available shelled, in the pod, fresh, or frozen, edamame can be a wholesome addition to meals. Microwave the whole pods for a quick snack or use shelled edamame in a salad, stir-fry, or hummus. Edamame is a flavorful meat substitute, rich in plant-based protein and vitamins.

6. Frozen Fruits and Veggies

As the cost of fresh produce rises, frozen fruits and vegetables remain a budget-friendly choice for cheap meals to make at home. They often come pre-sliced, have a longer shelf life, and are harvested at peak freshness. They're excellent for stir-fries, soups, smoothies, desserts, and pasta dishes.

7. Dried Lentils

Dried lentils and split peas are members of the legume family, which also includes beans, soybeans, peanuts, and chickpeas. They are an inexpensive and nutritious ingredient for healthy meals to cook at home, offering health benefits such as diabetes prevention, obesity control, and cardiovascular health.

8. Rice

Rice is a universal staple food and a versatile choice for cheap meals to make at home. Whether it's white, brown, basmati, or jasmine rice, it serves as an excellent base for a variety of dishes such as fried rice, pilaf, Thai rice salad, and more.

9. Potatoes

Potatoes are a staple of American cuisine for a reason. Affordable and versatile, they can be mashed, baked, fried, or used in soups. Both russet and red potatoes are cost-effective choices, rich in vitamins, and provide a healthy amount of carbohydrates and fiber.

10. Tofu

Tofu, with its varying textures from extra firm to silken, is a perfect ingredient for healthy meals to cook at home. It's an affordable source of all nine essential amino acids and a variety of vitamins and minerals. You can use tofu to create satisfying dishes like tofu chicken wings, nuggets, bacon, and even a delicious vegan tikka masala. Tofu is flavor-absorbing when marinated, just ensure to remove any excess moisture before cooking.

Final thoughts 

Making cheap meals to make at home a priority is essential for everyone, including those on a budget. Even on a budget, it's quite possible to enjoy a vast array of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and other nutritious foods. An excellent method for budget-friendly, healthy meals to cook at home is utilizing a meal prep service like Clean Eatz Kitchen.

Clean Eatz Kitchen provides the convenience of pre-prepared meals, aiding in reducing grocery expenses, adhering to your monthly food budget, and minimizing food waste. It not only saves you considerable time in the kitchen but also makes the creation of cheap meals to make at home a breeze. Clean Eatz Kitchen offers a plethora of healthy meal options designed with both your health and wallet in mind, thereby making it easier to craft healthy meals to cook at home. Visit our website today and start curating your meal plan.

FAQ

Why is it becoming necessary to focus on cheap meals to make at home?

A: Escalating food prices, surges in gas prices, supply chain holdups, conflicts, and labor shortages have inflated the costs of fundamental foods. Inflation has eroded the purchasing power of the dollar. By focusing on cheap meals to make at home, we can navigate this potentially transient reality and enjoy healthy meals without straining our budget.

What are some affordable and nutritious ingredients for cheap meals at home?

A: Economical and nutritious ingredients for creating cheap meals at home include cabbage, beans, oats, cornmeal, edamame, frozen fruits and veggies, dried lentils, rice, potatoes, and tofu. These ingredients serve as the basis for a variety of healthy meals, ensuring you save money while enjoying a balanced diet.

How can cabbage contribute to cheap and healthy meals at home?

A: Cabbage is versatile, economical, and rich in fiber, making it a great choice for healthy meals at home. It can be braised, grilled, shredded for slaw, or diced for a wholesome stir-fry. Cabbage is also rich in several antioxidants that combat free radicals and alleviate cell stress.

Are frozen fruits and vegetables a good choice for cheap meals at home?

A: Yes, as the cost of fresh produce rises, frozen fruits and vegetables remain a budget-friendly choice. They often come pre-sliced, have a longer shelf life, and are harvested at peak freshness. They're excellent for stir-fries, soups, smoothies, desserts, and pasta dishes.

What is a good strategy for making budget-friendly, healthy meals at home?

A: Utilizing a meal prep service like Clean Eatz Kitchen is an excellent method. This service provides the convenience of pre-prepared meals, aids in reducing grocery expenses, and minimizes food waste. It not only saves you considerable time in the kitchen but also makes the creation of cheap meals to make at home a breeze.

How can tofu contribute to cheap and healthy meals at home?

A: Tofu, with its varying textures from extra firm to silken, is an affordable source of all nine essential amino acids and a variety of vitamins and minerals. You can use tofu to create satisfying dishes like tofu chicken wings, nuggets, bacon, and even a delicious vegan tikka masala.