Cheap and Healthy Meals for Families

Balancing a tight budget with a desire to feed your family healthy meals can be challenging, but it’s definitely achievable. While “cheap” and “healthy” aren’t always synonymous, with a bit of planning, you can nourish your family without breaking the bank—especially in today’s economic climate, where many of us are getting creative in the kitchen.

Here are a few strategies I use when planning our weekly meals to keep costs down while still serving nutritious, satisfying dishes.

1. Shop by Category and Look for Sales

The first thing I do when planning meals is check what’s on sale— especially in key categories like Meat/Seafood, Dairy/Eggs, Produce, and Frozen foods. Focusing on the perimeter of the grocery store, where these items are typically found, helps me avoid processed, expensive extras. By concentrating on the primary components of the meal, I can skip unnecessary add-ons.

I’m also not a fan of recipes with a laundry list of ingredients— unless half of them are dried spices I already have. Keeping things simple saves money and time.

2. Stretch Your Protein

One of my go-to tricks is making multiple meals from a single protein. When I spot a good deal on bulk meat, I stock up and plan several different meals using that same protein, cooked in various ways to avoid repetition. For example, if chicken breast is on sale, I might prepare diced chicken for one meal, whole chicken breasts for another, and shredded chicken for yet another dish. Changing up the flavor profiles ensures no one gets bored, and buying in bulk always saves money.

3. Focus on One-Pan, Crockpot, and Casserole Recipes

These types of meals are my secret weapon—they allow you to pack in tons of nutrients without a long list of ingredients. One-pan meals, slow cooker recipes, and casseroles are lifesavers when you want to feed the whole family without spending a fortune on groceries.

4. Stock Up on Pantry Staples

Never underestimate the power of a well-stocked pantry. When items like pasta, sauces, oils, and spices are on sale, I make sure to grab them. Having these staples on hand means fewer last-minute trips to the store, where I might be tempted to pick up things I don’t need. (We all know how easy it is to fall into the “Target Syndrome!”)

Favorite Budget-Friendly, Healthy Meals

Here are some of my family’s favorite go-to meals that are cheap, easy to prepare, and nutritious. They may not scream “healthy” at first glance, but I make sure each dish provides a good balance of protein, carbs, fats, and vegetables or fruit.

• BBQ Chicken Sliders

• Meaty Baked Ziti

• Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

• Egg Roll in a Bowl

• Slow Cooker Pot Roast

• Chicken Caesar Salads (or wraps)

• Taco Casserole

• Stuffed Peppers

• Pita Pizzas or Pizza Bagels

• One Pan Pork Chops and Apples

Each of these meals is a hit in our house and easy on the wallet. With a bit of creativity and planning, feeding your family healthy meals without overspending is totally doable!