The family budget is fairly predictable with very little room for adjustments. If your budget is tight, groceries will probably be the one space with wiggle room. Allow Redner’s Markets to provide quality food at excellent prices, and we have a few suggestions for what to buy and cook when the goal is to prepare family meals on a budget.
Budget-friendly family meals are accessible and simple when you keep your pantry, fridge, and freezer well-stocked with versatile ingredients and staples. A few easy recipes handed down or collected on social media can help you make every dollar go as far as possible.
What to Buy
Affordable Protein
When planning to feed a family with fewer dollars, prioritize affordable protein sources. Eggs, canned tuna, dried and canned lentils and beans, ground turkey and chicken, and peanut butter are excellent protein sources while also being budget-friendly.
Affordable Produce
Produce is an essential part of every diet, but the prices of fresh fruits and vegetables can make them out of reach for struggling families. We suggest stocking carrots, potatoes, onions, and cabbage pretty much all the time; they’re affordable, versatile, and have a long shelf life. Frozen vegetables are also an excellent option for families since the nutritional levels are similar, and frozen vegetables are generally cheaper.
For fruits, we suggest you focus on bananas and apples, which are usually family-friendly and inexpensive. In-season fruits should make up the rest of the fruits that your family is currently enjoying.
Affordable Grains and Pantry Staples
Some ingredients should always be on hand because of their ubiquity in budget-friendly recipes. These include all of the following (add ones that you frequently use in your family’s favorites):
- Brown rice and whole wheat pasta
- Oats
- Tortillas
- Canned tomatoes
- Canned tomato paste
Affordable Dairy (and Alternatives)
Make smarter dairy choices for budget-friendly menus. We suggest block cheese instead of shredded because you can use it in more recipes. Milk and plain yogurt are also useful to keep on hand for various recipes and substitutes for other ingredients.
What to Cook
A kitchen filled with ingredients will do you no good without ideas of what to cook. The power of social media extends beyond family updates and memes; you can also find plenty of excellent recipe ideas. For easy and fast recipes, consider the following:
- One-Pot Rice and Beans
- Pasta with Veggie Sauce
- Loaded Baked Potatoes
- Quesadillas
- Stir Fry
- Soup or Stew
- Brinner (Breakfast for Dinner)
Maximize Every Food Dollar
Behavior will also affect every family’s food budget. The number one rule should be to stop purchasing fast food. The convenience isn’t worth the money or the poor health consequences. We suggest that you plan your weekly menu ahead of time – shop your pantry and sales. Redner’s Markets offers Redner’s Rewards, which is a simple measure you can take to save even more on our already low prices.
For convenience’s sake, consider cooking in batches over the weekend or doubling recipes so that you’ll have meals to freeze and use when life gets busy.
Click here to begin filling your Redner’s Markets shopping cart, focusing on a plan of what to buy and cook when the goal is to make family meals on a budget, when every dollar matters.