If you are on a tight budget, but still want healthy meal choices the possibilities are more endless than one might think! Healthy eating on a budget is always doable. Yes, you can mimic dishes that might be on the pricier side if you were to eat out. There are ways to make the same quality of food for much less money. Cheap healthy meals made at home are one way to save a lot of money. You can enjoy these meals without feeling like a major spendthrift.
If you need some ideas for simple and delicious foods to make at home that are budget-friendly, then take a look at these popular easy to make foods that make great dishes:
Get Creative with Chicken Breasts
Healthy eating on a budget must always include chicken. Chicken breasts can be cooked in the slow cooker or on the stove to make tender, flavorful, moist, and nutritious chicken dishes. Try using the juices from boneless chicken breasts (Additionally, add chicken broth or chicken bouillon cubes). A mixture of water, lemon juice, and olive oil can be used to help flavor and coat the meat. Cook up your favorite vegetables and voila cheap healthy meals from basic ingredients.
You can be more experimental with chicken breasts by flavoring with herbs and spices to make a delicious and healthy meal that is easy to make. This is one of the most versatile dishes you can make, and you can vary the spices and herbs for different tastes.
Spruce Up a Cabbage Dish
Cabbage is a cheap healthy food. Cabbage is one of the most common and easy to cook vegetables. Having cabbage on your grocery list is a good healthy eating on a budget move. Cabbage can be steamed, sauteed, baked, and broiled. There are many different ways you can season your cabbage to make it a unique and delicious dish that will have everyone raving. You can even add a variety of fresh vegetables to the mix. Give your stomach a warm sensation after a hearty, flavorful meal with cheap healthy food.
Homemade Flavorful Fish Tacos
Making fish tacos is as simple as picking out the fish of your choice and then throwing them on top of your corn tortillas. Well, of course, there is a little more to the process. For a healthier option, sure to bake your fish. You can still bake your fish with a little olive oil which will give it a crisp, crunchy texture. Another way to make your fish tacos sizzling and tasty is by grilling your corn tortilla. For toppings add fresh or sauteed cabbage, onions, and bell pepper. The combination of cabbage, onion, and bell pepper will give you a spicy, fresh taste.
Delicious Vegan Tofu Scramble
A stellar option for healthy eating on a budget. The idea of a vegan tofu scramble can be intimidating to some people. If you’re serious about being able to eat cheap and healthy foods. But, what if I told you tofu actually makes a good substitute for fried eggs? Most people who wish to go completely vegan or simply eat more whole vegetarian food find that eggs are very hard to substitute. This is exactly where a good, cheap tofu scramble comes to the rescue. Often, it is done right and can even mimic the taste and texture of plain old-fashioned scrambled eggs.
Cook in a pan over medium heat with oil until the tofu begins to “scramble”. If desired, you can add herbs and spices to the mix as well. For best results, use good quality firm (over soft) tofu. This is a guaranteed yummy scramble, that you can eat cheap and healthy over again.
Easy Ground Turkey Enchiladas
If you are looking for a great new way to impress the family (or just want to try out an easy and delicious Mexican meal), then you may want to learn how to make one of the cheapest healthy meals, ground turkey enchiladas (this recipe supports eating on a budget). While enchiladas are usually served with beef and/or chicken, ground turkey is a great alternative on its own, especially if you are looking to use a more healthy meat option.
Depending on how healthy you want to be, you can use flour tortillas, or corn. Corn is the healthier non-processed option. Corn tortillas are usually a cheaper option as well, making eating on a budget quite easy.
We do recognize that cheese is full of fat, but there are ways around that fact. You do not have to feel guilty about including cheese in your meal. You’re free to get creative with reduced-fat versions, or even vegan substitutes. If you really have eating on a budget as a major priority, you can skip the cheese altogether!
The secret behind how to make enchiladas that taste amazing is by using the freshest produce available and making sure that you alter the recipe you choose according to your health preferences.
Savory Beef with Zucchini Noodles
Are you over steaks and potatoes? If this is the case then you should try steaks with zucchini noodles. Though this meal can look “expensive” it is still good healthy eating on a budget option. There are a number of recipes that take zucchini noodles and beef into a mouth-watering, yummy meal that you won't be able to stop eating. This may not qualify as one of the cheapest healthy meals, but it won’t break the bank.
Let’s add some garlic to boost the flavor. Garlic steak With zucchini noodles is another delectable healthy alternative to your usual hibachi restaurant trip or beef dinner. Spicy garlic, steak strips loaded with zucchini noodles ties everything together, perfectly. For tender steaks that almost melt in your mouth, be sure to marinate them overnight.
Don’t forget your spiralizer! A spiralizer (for your zucchini) can make the job a lot easier. This is especially true when cooking for more people than just yourself.
Healthy eating on a budget can open up a whole new realm of fun with cooking cheap healthy meals. If you allow yourself to be creative enough, you can find the cheap healthy food version of a lot of what you love to eat. Happy healthy eating on a budget!