$93 Groceries for 2 Adults | Our Meals | Grocery Tips
The Pain Point
I used to think that feeding a family of two on a budget was an impossible task. Our weekly grocery bill would often exceed $100, leaving us feeling guilty and frustrated about the unnecessary expenses. It seemed like no matter how hard we tried, our meals were always either too expensive or took too long to prepare.
Failed Attempts
Before discovering the hack that saved us $30-$50 per week, we tried various approaches. We would sometimes plan out our meals for the week, but this approach often fell through as we’d get caught up in impulse buys and unhealthy snacks. We also attempted to cut back on dining out, but this led to a decrease in meal variety and quality.
Breakthrough Hack
The game-changer for us was creating a weekly meal plan based on our leftovers from the previous week’s grocery run. By using what we already had at home, we were able to significantly reduce food waste and save money. We also made sure to stick to our shopping list and avoid sugary snacks by eating a filling meal before heading to the store.
We rely primarily on Aldi’s for groceries, with occasional visits to Indian and Asian stores for ethnic ingredients. Our meal rotation is focused on repeat meals like omelette, stir-fried cauliflower & fried rice, gyoza & fried rice, pan-fried salmon and air-fried potatoes, chicken lo mein, and chicken fajita tacos. These dishes are simple yet nutritious and can be prepared in under 30 minutes.
To give you a better idea of our meal prep, here are some recipes we swear by:
- Fried Rice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qURmdmgCCOI
- Gyoza: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z60_v7NhFck
- Cauliflower Stir Fry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juJExyqr5W4
- Chicken Lo Mein: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRxDpjNDt3A
- Omelette: Stir-fry chopped onions, tomatoes in a skillet, add spinach and stir until it wilts. Add beaten eggs with salt and pepper, add cheese of your choosing, and roll that MF.
- Salmon and Potatoes: Chop potatoes into bite-sized pieces, coat with olive oil, air fry 400F 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Immediately season with salt and pepper. Cut the salmon into 1 inch strips. Salmon marinade – 1 tbsp Chilli powder, 1 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tbsp corriander powder, salt, juice of 1 lime, 1.5 tbsp ginger and garlic paste, 1 tsp black pepper. Pan fry on low heat, flipping occasionally until cooked.
- Chicken Fajita Tacos: Stir-fry chopped chicken breast in a skillet, add ginger and garlic paste, add fajita seasoning. For the sauce, mix 2 spoons of mayo, a little hot sauce of your choice, onion powder, garlic powder. For the pico de gallo, chop one onion, one tomato, a little cilantro, juice of 1 lime, salt and pepper. Assemble – taco shell, then sauce, then chicken, then pico.
Life After
Since adopting this approach, our weekly grocery bill has decreased significantly, averaging around $93 for the two of us. We’ve also managed to maintain a balanced diet with plenty of variety in our meals. Our meal prep routine is now efficient and enjoyable, leaving us more time to focus on other aspects of our lives.
What I Wish I Knew Sooner
One crucial insight we wish we’d discovered earlier was the importance of using leftovers to plan our meals. By taking advantage of what we already had at home, we were able to reduce food waste and save money.
