Feed Your Family (Not Your Budget)
$93 Groceries for 2 Adults: Our Meals & Grocery Tips
Personal Hook
I still remember that one time my wife and I went to the store on a full stomach after eating a huge breakfast, and we ended up buying way less junk food than usual. It was like our brains were saying, “Hey, we’re good, let’s just get the essentials!” Little did we know, this simple trick would become a game-changer in our weekly grocery runs.
The Realization
As I looked around at our overflowing fridge and pantry, I realized that the secret to our manageable grocery bills wasn’t about being a master chef or having some sort of superhuman willpower. It was actually quite simple: we just planned ahead! By making a list of meals for the week and using up leftovers, we were able to avoid buying unnecessary stuff.
The Hack
So here’s the deal – make a list of meals you want to cook for the week, and then use up what you already have in the fridge. It sounds crazy simple, but trust me, it works! Aldi’s is our go-to grocery store, and we also hit up Indian and Asian stores for those ethnic goodies. We even eat a big meal before shopping on a full stomach (hello, fewer junk food cravings!). As for snacks, we stick to fruit or mixed nuts – that’s it!
Reflection
Our lives changed in the best way possible after implementing this hack. We saved money, reduced waste, and even got creative with our recipes! Plus, our meals are now so much more varied (hello, gyoza and stir-fried cauliflower!). It’s been a total win-win.
Funny Fail Moment
One time, I tried to make my own version of the pre-packaged salad kits my wife loves. Let’s just say it was… an adventure. I ended up with a weird-tasting mess that even our dog wouldn’t touch (sorry, pup!). Needless to say, we stuck with the store-bought stuff after that!
Meal Recipes
- Fried Rice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qURmdmgCCOI
- Gyoza: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z60_v7NhFck
- Cauliflower Stir Fry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juJExyqr5W4
- Chicken Lo Mein: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRxDpjNDt3A
- Omelette: Stir fry chopped onions, tomatoes in a skillet, add spinach and stir until it wilts. Add beaten eggs with salt and pepper, add cheese of your choosing, and roll that MF.
- Salmon and Potatoes: Chop potatoes into bite-sized pieces, coat with olive oil, air fry 400F 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Immediately season with salt and pepper. Cut the salmon into 1-inch strips. Salmon marinade – 1 tbsp Chilli powder, 1 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tbsp corriander powder, salt, juice of 1 lime, 1.5 tbsp ginger and garlic paste, 1 tsp black pepper. Pan fry on low heat, flipping occasionally until cooked.
- Chicken Fajita Tacos: Stir fry chopped chicken breast in a skillet, add ginger and garlic paste, add fajita seasoning. For the sauce, mix 2 spoons of mayo, a little hot sauce of your choice, onion powder, garlic powder. For the pico de gallo, chop one onion, one tomato, a little cilantro, juice of 1 lime, salt and pepper. Assemble – taco shell, then sauce, then chicken, then pico.
The Wife’s Lunch Hack
She adds diced air fried chicken breast to her pre-packaged salad kits for an extra protein boost!
