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Wow, one week and it is over! I participated in the #SurviveOn35 Challenge with 9 other #FitFluential ambassadors and Anytime Fitness. It was a program that was very dear to my heart. And I am hoping beyond HOPE that the Manhattan Breadbasket will be awarded the $1,000 at the end!
I had a budget of $110 to spend on my family this week. The food had to be completely healthy and I was asked to get creative. This was fun for me because I was able to use my mom’s tips and tricks for making food stretch and taste delicious meal after meal. (No, hunger is not fun. But working with my mom to create healthy meals on the cheap was)
Just like she taught me as a kid, I created a menu using inexpensive meal options and made my list. Then, I was off to Dillons to buy my groceries. You can click the receipt collage below to see exactly what I bought. I stuck with store brand items and almost everything I bought was on sale. (Ground turkey was buy one get one free)
Here is what I thought we could eat on for one week! (Turns out I had to go back and get one more gallon of milk, my children drank more than I thought they would)
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The first day!
For breakfast I made us all scrambled eggs. Their favorite! Then for lunch the kids ate PB & J sandwiches while I had a filling salad. For dinner I took another tip from my mom. I browned the entire pound of Turkey and put half in the spaghetti. Then I saved the other half for another meal.
Day 2 was delicious! Again, eggs and bread for breakfast, but this time runny (or as Lizzie calls the, “leaky eggs). Lunch was grilled cheese and apples and bananas. And for dinner I used the rest of the ground turkey. I made a sweet chili that was scrumptious, filling, and inexpensive! Paired with green beans it made for a very healthy meal.
Sweet Chili ingredients (put this all in a pot and that is your meal – easy!)
*1 can black beans *1 can Kidney beans *1/2 lb ground turkey *1 can diced tomatoes no salt added *I chopped fresh tomato *1 T brown sugar *1 teaspoon vinegar soooo goood!!!
On day 3 I made pancakes for breakfast. Like when I was a kid, I used powdered sugar instead of syrup. You use less so the kids get less sugar and it saves you money! Lunch – homemade mac & cheese and carrot sticks. Dinner I used the leftover chili and put it on top of mashed potatoes and ate the rest of the green beans!
I remember my mom doing this a lot – using the same foods in different meals. A really great way to stretch the dollar for her.
On the 4th day I used some of my whole what tortillas and made breakfast burritos. All that is inside is scrambled eggs and salsa though. The banana was delicious. Then at lunch I grilled some chicken thighs (that were on sale, or I would have bought chicken breasts). I made a delicious salad with Italian dressing. My mom used to make a killer oil & Vinegar dressing too.
Then dinner I used the rest of the chicken thighs in a stir fry! Brown rice, chicken, carrots and a dash of stir fry (or low sodium soy) sauce. It was fast, cheap and easy.
On day 5 I had a bunch of rice to use up. For breakfast I made “sweet rice” – dash of brown sugar, cinnamon and milk. The kids ate a little bit of it but chowed down on the apples that I dusted with cinnamon.
Lunch (which I accidentally put 3 on, but 2 is dinner, I promise) I made quessadillas and spanish rice. My quesadilla had black beans, fresh tomatoes and cheese on it. The rice was fried black beans, rice and chili pepper. The kids asked for cheese quessadillas.
Dinner (#2 top right) I used more leftovers in a DIY burrito night.
Then we ran out of milk! I went to the store and bought some fresh fruit and veggies too with the money I had left. I saw pineapples and avocados on sale and decided I’d get creative and use them somehow.
On Day 6 I tried a new flavor of oatmeal – peanut butter and jelly banana. It was too sweet for me, but the kids loved it! They called it “cookie oatmeal.” For lunch I used the leftover burrito ingredients in my own salad while the kids had PB & Js again.
Then I was so happy I bought those avocados! I boiled whole wheat rotini noodles, steamed some frozen broccoli and chopped up the avocados. Put it together with some Italian dressing and it was an amazing and filling dinner.
Then there was the final day. We had a basic oatmeal raisin breakfast. Lunch was leftover pasta salad with cucumber spears and vinegar to dip in (my favorite!). Then I found a way to use the pineapple! I put the rest of the chicken thighs in some foil and put it in the oven with the pineapple and the lime. It was moist and delicious! Paired that with some baked potato “fries.” Kids loved it!
Thoughts?
Please show your support for The Manhattan Breadbasket by telling me which day looks the most delicious to you or tell me how you support your local food pantry.
Please: take every opportunity to support your local food pantry and other meals ministries. You never know who you are blessing!
TWITTER CHAT NEWS!
Join @AnyTimeFitness @FitFluential and me @MamaDweeb and the rest of the ambassadors for the twitter chat on Thursday, July 26th at 6pm CST. Hashtag is #SurviveOn35 and they will announce which 2 pantries will get the $1,000! (Crossing fingers for Manhattan!)
FitFluential LLC compensated me for this Campaign. All opinions are my own.
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