Spring into Savings: 7 Meals from a $50 Grocery Haul
I recently did a grocery haul with a budget of $50, and I was able to make 7 different meals from it. I like to challenge myself to see how far I can stretch my grocery budget, and this haul was a great exercise in that. With spring in full swing, I wanted to make some fresh and light meals that would be perfect for outdoor eating.
Grocery Haul Breakdown
I spent about an hour planning out my meals and making a list of the ingredients I needed. I headed to the store and was able to find everything I needed for $50. Here’s a rough breakdown of what I bought:
- Produce: $15 (carrots, onions, bell peppers, apples, bananas)
- Proteins: $15 (chicken breasts, ground turkey, black beans)
- Grains: $10 (brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat bread)
- Dairy: $5 (eggs, cheese)
- Pantry: $5 (canned goods, spices, olive oil)
I was able to get a lot of staples that I use regularly, as well as some fresh produce to add some variety to my meals.
Meal Prep
I spent about 2 hours on Sunday afternoon prepping my meals for the week. I made a big batch of chicken and rice bowls, as well as some turkey and veggie wraps. I also hard-boiled some eggs and made a big salad to eat throughout the week. Here are some of the meals I made:
- Chicken and rice bowls with roasted veggies
- Turkey and veggie wraps with carrot sticks and hummus
- Egg salad sandwiches on whole wheat bread
- Quinoa and black bean salad with grilled chicken
- Grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches
- Chicken and veggie stir-fry with brown rice
- Breakfast burritos with scrambled eggs and cheese
I like to keep my meals pretty simple, but I try to mix it up so I don’t get bored. I also like to cook in bulk so I can freeze some meals for later.
Tips and Variations
<p_One thing I've learned from meal prepping is to always have a backup plan. Sometimes things don't turn out as planned, and it's good to have some extra ingredients on hand. I also like to switch up my recipes seasonally, so I can take advantage of fresh produce and stay inspired. If you're looking to add some new recipes to your rotation, I recommend checking out some spring-themed cookbooks or food blogs. And if you're building out a home office or kitchen space, I've been eyeing some prints from Printsofprint on Etsy — they do abstract landscapes and some fantasy-style art that’s actually really different.
What do you use for meal prep inspiration?
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