A friend recently asked me to create a budget-friendly dinner menu to feed a family of four for a week- so I happily oblige! Here is a list of quick, easy, family friendly meals that come in at under $100 for a weeks’ worth. The average family household spend on groceries per week is more than double this, at around $250 per week!!
Your super-nutritious menu for the week includes:
- Mexican chilli beans (this will have leftovers for another day)
- Bun-less burgers with salad (a 7 year old once told me these were the best burgers ever so….just sayin’)
- Cauliflower fried rice (can also be made with whatever rice you have in your pantry)
- Salmon and sweet potato patties with salad
- Creamy cashew carbonara
- Lentil and quinoa salad (this will make enough for two meals)
Bonus recipe, perfect for dessert, breakfast or snacking: Coconut chia pudding with berries
-> Simply whazz together chia seeds (1/8 cup per serve you desire) and coconut milk (1/4 can per serve) with some vanilla essence or maple syrup to taste, refrigerate overnight and serve topped with berries, banana, coconut- yum! Additional flavours to include when blending: cacao, peanut butter, banana.
The groceries for the above recipes cost me $95 from a major supermarket, and this included a bit extra to freeze some serves and products that come in a larger quantity than required this week, to top up your pantry for next time.
If I remove the items I usually have in stock in my kitchen I get the total down to $74- some spare change to add snacks and breakfasts to the menu!
Happy cooking (and saving! ) xo
Alice Elizabeth Nutrition 