Eating Well on Sixty: 7/3-7-9 Competitive Spirit Savings Version

I could easily spend an entire paycheck at the store each week. Sometimes I make excuses to go to Whole Foods when I really don't need to. Luckily, Brett is quite good at knowing when we really do need to, and when I'm just having WF hallucinations. (That alone probably saves us close to $1000 each year).But now that new school bills are looming in the very near future, it's time to get serious. And since I couldn't find many $60 meal plans that were healthy, delicious and vegetarian, I decided that I would create my own. Armed with three $20 bills, we will eat. And we will eat well.

I haven't gone to the store yet. Because I'm trying to make meals around what we have, I know that we will spend very little this week. So I'll update with the grand total.

$__34.33__

^I'll put it RIGHT there^

An ole pal from way back in my high school days (ok, not way back) left a comment on my last Eating Well:

"Hey Emma D stumbled (literally, via facebook) upon this blog and I enjoy it. I live in a big co-op house in Brookline with 16 others, and we all pitch in for groceries, cook family dinners Sun-Thurs, and eat really great veg fare. It is great having so many cooks because you see so many styles and recipes (I've thought about doing a Hive cookbook)...and all that for 25$ a week/person, which includes farm share produce and supermarket foods. hah don't mean to rub it in, $60 is a good number to shoot for, for 2 a couple. Sounds like you and Brett are doing well, I am glad to hear it... Keep cooking awesome food! "

So naturally, in the spirit of community, I felt compelled to out do him.

But seriously, his comment got me thinking. If you're looking to cut your bill down further, consider grouping together with friends and family one or two nights each week. Have each person bring one side, one dish, a bottle of wine, or even one ingredient! As comfortable as your two person dinner table may be, bust out of your comfort zone and enjoy a table full of good food, good beer/wine/lemonade, and neat people.

This week:

Breakfast

-oatmeal with raisins and walnuts and butternut squash

-toast with peanut butter and fruit
-grapefruit and toast
-chocolate blueberry pancakes (leftovers that we froze!)

-greek yogurt/granola/berry parfait

Lunch

Most days, leftovers from dinner will be eaten the next day as lunch. Other days, these are what I rotate in:

-veggie burger veggie wrap with veggies and slice of cheese

-baby green salad with green peppers, tofu

-brown rice, broccoli, spinach, and tofu

Dinner


Sunday

-Salad with veggie burgers, fresh fruit

Monday

-Fourth of July cookout with family!

Tuesday

-General Tso's Tofu with steamed broccoli and brown rice

 

Wednesday

-Butternut squash ravioli made with homemade wonton wrappers and salad (Again, this recipe is from SB book- I LOVE it. )

*The first time that I made this, I froze the wrappers. I think I should have put separating sheets between each one, because it literally took an hour to separate all of them. Any suggestions? Parchment? Wax paper?

 Thursday
-BBQ Tofu on the grill with veggie mac n' cheese and salad

Friday

-Pizza on homemade dough


Saturday

-Chili with salad and whole wheat cornbread
(this is leftover from last week, waiting for us in the freezer!)

Snacks/Treats

-popcorn with Parmesan cheese and spices
-lemon poppy seed muffins
-greek yogurt with grapes

-mini smoothies with frozen fruit

Last Week


Enjoy!