Thrifty Living Tips - Thrifty Meals For Two
When there are only two people in the house, it is hard to plan meals.
Somehow with only two of you it seems unnecessary to plan.
After all couldn't you just grab something out of the refrigerator and whip it up? How much planning do you need to make a thrifty meal for two? Surprisingly, when cooking for two, it is more important to plan out the meals.
If you don't have a plan, you tend to grab snacks instead of eating actual meals, or you end up going out to eat.
Going to a restaurant is not a thrifty option.
You need to keep in mind what foods will get eaten in your house and plan accordingly.
Instead of leaving your nutrition to chance, begin by planning out the evening meals for an entire week.
Some good meal plans for two are:
This will require you to know what you already have in your kitchen so you can purchase the rest.
When you do your grocery shopping, stick to your list.
This one tip will save you tons of money.
In fact this may be the most critical tip for making thrifty meals; do not impulse buy in the grocery store! Keep in mind that cooking for two doesn't mean cooking too much and throwing out the rest.
You can cook smaller portions leaving no leftovers, or you can cook big portions and freeze all but one meal.
If you make a big pot of soup, freeze the leftover amount in two person servings.
Soon you will have a freezer of meal options for those nights when you forgot to plan the meal.
Somehow with only two of you it seems unnecessary to plan.
After all couldn't you just grab something out of the refrigerator and whip it up? How much planning do you need to make a thrifty meal for two? Surprisingly, when cooking for two, it is more important to plan out the meals.
If you don't have a plan, you tend to grab snacks instead of eating actual meals, or you end up going out to eat.
Going to a restaurant is not a thrifty option.
You need to keep in mind what foods will get eaten in your house and plan accordingly.
Instead of leaving your nutrition to chance, begin by planning out the evening meals for an entire week.
Some good meal plans for two are:
- A small cut of steak and a salad - check the markdown area of the meat department for an inexpensive package of steak and pair it with a tossed green salad,
- Two pork chops with green beans and stuffing - you can grill, fry or bake the pork chops.
Serve them with green beans and either make some stuffing from scratch or use the stuffing in a box, - Hamburgers with french fries or potato salad - hamburgers are always a good choice, just make sure you have hamburger buns and anything else you like on your hamburgers.
These can be served with french fries you make from scratch or the frozen kind that you bake.
If you aren't fond of french fries, opt for a potato salad or cole slaw, - Two small fish fillets with fried or grilled potatoes - look in the meat department for a sale on fish fillets or just find the least expensive kind you like and serve with potatoes,
- Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches - this is a good combination, use a can of tomato soup cooked by the instructions on the can and make grilled cheese sandwiches,
- Panini's with pasta salad - if you don't already know how to make Panini's look on the internet, there are several kinds and most are pretty easy to make.
Pasta salad can be purchased already made or you can make your own, - Grilled chicken breast with corn and potatoes - chicken breasts can be grilled, fried or baked and served with corn on the cob or plain corn.
Any way you like potatoes would work or you could make rice or pasta, - Hot soup with a chunk of crusty bread - soup can be purchased in cans that are just right for one or two people.
Soup is delicious served with crusty, chewy bread, - Spaghetti with meatballs or meat sauce and green salad - you don't have to make a huge pot of spaghetti sauce, but if you do it freezes nicely and you can have it on hand whenever you want some.
Serve with a green salad and garlic bread for a good meal choice, - A small pan of chili with crackers and fresh vegetable slices - chili can also be purchased by the can and there are many varieties to choose from, or you can make it from scratch.
Chili also freezes nicely if you make a big pot of it, - Green salad topped with marinated chicken strips - tenderize your chicken then marinate in your favorite marinade.
An easy one is a spicy Italian salad dressing - just cover the chicken and leave for 30 minutes to 4 hours, then cook, slice and serve over a tossed green salad, - One small to medium pizza with salad - you can either make a pizza from scratch or buy one, either way when you are only feeding two it doesn't break the bank,
- Burritos or tacos with lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream and guacamole - find a simple recipe for burritos or make up all the ingredient and let everyone assemble their own.
The tacos can be made from a kit that has everything in it that you need except the meat.
Serve with the lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and all the toppings you like on tacos.
This will require you to know what you already have in your kitchen so you can purchase the rest.
When you do your grocery shopping, stick to your list.
This one tip will save you tons of money.
In fact this may be the most critical tip for making thrifty meals; do not impulse buy in the grocery store! Keep in mind that cooking for two doesn't mean cooking too much and throwing out the rest.
You can cook smaller portions leaving no leftovers, or you can cook big portions and freeze all but one meal.
If you make a big pot of soup, freeze the leftover amount in two person servings.
Soon you will have a freezer of meal options for those nights when you forgot to plan the meal.
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