My husband and I really try to keep our lives relatively simple – we don’t like to be so busy that we’re running from one activity to the next without really taking time to be present in whatever it is we’re doing. We like to have the ability to be flexible with our schedule, at least a little bit, and to spend plenty of quality time just being with our children. In addition to all that, we value eating healthy, homemade meals as well as need to meet a very tight budget at the moment. Most of the time, we do a pretty good job, at least in my opinion.
Right now, however, is busy. The things that are making us busy are all great and are definitely important and worthwhile long-term, but I will definitely say that I will be glad when these things are taken care of and we can get back to a little more restful state. My husband is finishing his Master’s degree, we’re trying to sell our house, and we’re in the middle of making a decision about where we’ll be moving in August. Also, during this past month while our friends were living with us, there were about two full days in which none of the seven of us were sick.
Unfortunately, the fact that we’re busy does not mean that our grocery budget is any larger. If it wasn’t so incredibly much more expensive to get dinner from the Whole Foods bars or even buy a frozen natural/organic lasagna or something like that, I would (and maybe I still will if it really becomes necessary). Most of the time, our deep freezer is well-stocked with soups, casseroles, lasagnas, etc. that I’ve purposely made more of for busier times. But we’ve been trying to empty it out in preparation for moving and only have a random assortment of single ingredients remaining (including seven of those eight pounds of liver I mentioned previously). And, the “busier times” we’re encountering at the moment are more like six months instead of the few weeks that our freezer meals could normally sustain us.
So, when life gets busy, what do you do for meals? Do you tend to eat out more? Get takeout? Buy pre-made things at the grocery store? If not, how do you manage eat nutritious and frugal meals during busy (both time-wise and brain-energy-wise) seasons of life? I’d love some encouragement and advice!
(For reference, L is for lunch and D is for dinner. Links are to the recipes we’ll be using.)
Monday
L: leftover beans and cheese
D: special dinner out for my husband and I; macaroni and cheese for the kids (yes, boxed!)
Tuesday
L: leftovers from the fridge
D: scrambled eggs, country sausage, blueberry muffins
Wednesday
L: PB&J, strawberries
D: mixed green salad with simple balsamic vinaigrette, stir fried steak and greens
Thursday
L: sandwiches, roasted delicata squash
D: with family
Friday
L: omelets with spinach and cheese
D: pesto pepperoni and spinach pizza, simple salad greens
Saturday
L: leftover pizza
D: roasted chicken, simple vegetables
Sunday
L: leftover pizza or chicken
D: sausage, tomato and brown rice casserole
Breakfast options for the week: cold cereal with milk, oatmeal with peanut butter and raisins
Ah, the quick options can be so tricky. We definitely resort to a very unhealthy Papa Murphy’s pizza or the fact that the local thai restaurant will deliver. Otherwise, we definitely use breakfast for dinner as an option. Recently, we have been baking chicken breasts on Sunday so that we can use it during the week in salads, sandwiches or I have thrown it in soups or pasta. Ah, and we resort to store-bought organic spaghetti sauce too. Those are the things off the top of my head!
So glad to see a post from you today — I have missed reading your thoughts and your menus.
When I get really busy, I really use my slow cooker. There is still some preparations involved, but it is relatively fuss-free, and it allows me to use the same wholesome ingredients that I use when I have more time. As an added plus, it’s frugal. There is no end to the various slow cooked dishes that include dried beans, lentils, or peas. Chilis, soups, and stews come together quickly and leftovers can be frozen. Your local library is bound to have many slow cooker cookbooks available, if you’re in need of inspiration — or, there are many slow cooker recipes available online.
I’ve become particularly fond of sandwiches lately, as well. Just last weekend, I sauteed a huge batch of sliced peppers, zucchinis, and onions, and I froze some of it in ziplock bags to put into sandwiches later on. A particular favorite is a variation on the toasted cheese — with sauteed vegetables. It’s an excellent way to eat cheaply without sacrificing nutrition or that “wow, that’s delicious” factor that is so important.
I find that when time and money are tight, it is particularly difficult for me to BOTH stay within budget as well as eat healthy, wholesome meals. I wish you luck and inspiration!
I’m now on a mission to come up with something for you to do with all of that liver…I admit i am stumped.