Food Archives - Making Sense Of Cents

10 Easy And Delicious Lunch Ideas For Work

August 16, 2019 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 3 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Finding exciting lunch ideas for work is one of the best ways to start saving money on your food spending. That’s because buying lunch at work can really add up if you do it too often.

When I worked as a financial analyst, I tried to bring my lunch as much as possible. But, it was easy to get caught up with others who were going out to grab a quick lunch. The leftovers or sandwich I packed never sounded as exciting as going out.

Sure, it’s fun to go out to lunch from time to time, but it adds up quickly.

I would find myself spending anywhere from $10-$15 when I did go out for lunch. Even just $5 for lunch here and there can add up to a lot of money when you’re trying to cut your budget.

So, to help you save money on lunch, I have some delicious and healthy lunch ideas for work that will get you excited about packing your lunch.

This list is full of healthy lunch ideas for work, including a great vegetarian quinoa bowl with beans, corn, and a lime vinaigrette. There are low carb options like chicken fajita bowls and an avocado chicken salad (this one looks so pretty in the pictures!). [Read more…]

10 Easy Freezer Meal Recipes

May 30, 2019 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 6 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

On nights when you are busy, having a freezer meal ready to go is one of the best ways to feed you and your family. So, to help you get ready for your week, I have 10 easy freezer meal recipes for you to try, from breakfast burritos to meatless shepherd’s pie.

Freezer meals are simply meals you prep and cook in advance, stick in the freezer, and pull out to reheat when you need them. They are simple, healthy, and help you save money.

If you’ve never made freezer meals before, here are a few tips:

Batch cook several meals at once.
Label your meals with reheating directions.
Use freezer quality bags so your food doesn’t get freezer burn.
Make a list of what freezer meals you have and put it on your fridge or somewhere else that’s easy to see.

Trust me, these meals are nothing like the frozen dinners you would buy from the store – home cooked always tastes better (the from scratch Hot Pockets on this list look delicious!).

And, one of the best things about these easy freezer meal recipes is that you can save a lot of money on your monthly food budget. You will be less likely to get fast food or take out when you know that you have a delicious meal at home that you just need to pop in the oven or microwave. [Read more…]

10 Easy Road Trip Snack Recipes

April 8, 2019 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 3 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Road trips are one of the best ways to travel affordably, and they can be a lot of fun for families, couples, or a way to travel on your own. Even though we no longer have a car, we did RV for several years, so we are road trip pros, haha.

Now, while road trips can be an affordable way to travel, it is also very easy to buy snacks every time you need to get gas or use the restroom. Even though they are usually somewhat cheap, the cost can really add up. That means you will probably be spending much more money than if you made your own road trip snacks in advance.

The other bad thing about the kind of road trip snacks you find in gas stations is that they are usually full or sugar, sodium, and just aren’t very healthy for you.

I have gotten much better at not grabbing candy or chips when on a road trip because I hate how it makes me feel afterwards. But, I also hate how quickly the cost of those snacks adds up.

So, if you’re wanting some ideas for healthy, make at home road trip snacks for your next adventure, then I have a great list of delicious recipes for you to try.

They are delicious snacks for anyone who might be joining you on the road, and they hardly take any time to make. [Read more…]

10 Easy And Affordable Meal Prep Ideas

March 14, 2019 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 14 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Food is one of the budget areas that many people overspend in. That’s because cooking dinners and making lunches can feel like a lot of work when you are already busy. But, finding delicious and easy meal prep ideas can keep your budget (and maybe your diet too) in shape.

Meal prepping works so well because you do all of the work ahead of time. You cut the vegetables, cook everything, and then portion the meals into individual containers. Then, you have a meal all ready to go.

You can grab these meals before work so you don’t spend money on lunch. You can also use these meal prep ideas to make dinner time easier.

In this list of budget friendly recipes you will find something for nearly every diet out there too – from Keto to vegan.

I’m getting really excited to try some of these meals, especially the nourish bowl!

Other recipe roundups to check out:

Note: If you're looking for easy weekly meal plans that are full of budget recipes, I recommend $5 Meal Plan. $5 Meal Plan is a meal planning service that sends you a delicious meal plan and shopping list every week for just $5 a month.

Here are 10 easy and affordable meal prep ideas.

[Read more…]

13 Instantpot Thanksgiving Side Dishes

October 17, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 5 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

My 10 Budget Recipes roundup proved to be popular, so I'm back at it again with 13 Instantpot Thanksgiving Side Dishes.

Thanksgiving isn't too far away, which means that you may be looking for some Instapot Thanksgiving side dishes.

I recently purchased my first Instapot, and will definitely be using it for Thanksgiving.

We've always had a slow cooker. I bought one about ten years ago for a whopping $14, and I've used it multiple times a week ever since.

I've definitely gotten a ton of value from that small purchase and decided to upgrade to an Instapot since my crockpot was falling apart.

If you're looking to get your own Instant Pot, I recommend checking out the one I purchased – Instant Pot 3 Qt 6-in-1 Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, and Warmer.

If you want easy Instant Pot recipes that are budget friendly and delicious, don't worry, it is possible! The Instantpot Thanksgiving side dishes included in this roundup are affordable, easy, and you may already have many of the ingredients in your home! [Read more…]

10 Easy Fall Recipes – Best Fall Dinner Ideas For Your Meal Plan

September 5, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 9 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

I can’t believe that fall is almost here! I love the summer months, and I find that I’m eating lighter, fresher meals when it’s hot outside. But, when the weather starts to cool down, I am in the mood to warm up with something that’s a little more hearty, while still being healthy and not breaking the budget.

A new season is a change in weather, but it also means there are new fruits and vegetables in season. Both of these are good reasons to add some new meals into your weekly meal plan.

My 10 Budget Recipes roundup proved to be popular, so I'm back at it again with 10 Easy Fall Recipes.

I absolutely love the fall months. The weather is cooler, leaves change colors, and more delicious fall comfort foods are being made.

While these easy fall recipes are great for weekly meals, many of them would make great leftovers to bring to work. They would also be easy and delicious meals for a dinner party with friends or for bringing to a potluck.

Doesn’t that sound great? A fall dinner party or potluck with friends would be a frugal way to have fun this fall. These easy fall recipes mean you don’t have to spend over your budget, whether it’s for entertaining or just trying to make your weekly meal plan. [Read more…]

10 Easy Homemade Snacks To Bring On Your Next Hike

June 20, 2018 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 11 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

10 Easy Hiking Snacks To Make. Going on a hike soon? Here are 10 easy hiking snacks and backpacking food to make. These all look so delicious and will be a great addition for your next trip #hikingsnacks #backpackingfood

Hiking is definitely one of my favorite activities.

I love exploring new areas, going on exciting adventures, and seeing beautiful views, all while getting in a fun and enjoyable workout.

For a good hike, though, you also need hiking snacks. Whether I'm hiking, biking, or something else, I always bring a snack. Lately, I've been making more homemade hiking snacks. Homemade ones are great for a lot of reasons, and one of them is that homemade hiking snacks usually taste better and are healthier than what you may find at the store.

Plus, making them at home means you will probably even save a good amount of money. Hiking snacks at the grocery store are not cheap!

The hiking snack recipes mentioned in today's article can be great snacks for other times too – not just hiking!

Other recipe roundups to check out:

10 Easy And Delicious Lunch Ideas For Work

10 Easy Freezer Meal Recipes

10 Easy Road Trip Snack Recipes

10 Easy And Affordable Meal Prep Ideas

Here are 10 easy and affordable meal prep ideas.

13 Instantpot Thanksgiving Side Dishes

10 Easy Fall Recipes – Best Fall Dinner Ideas For Your Meal Plan

10 Easy Homemade Snacks To Bring On Your Next Hike

Here are 10 easy hiking snacks and backpacking foods to make:

[Read more…]

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