Discover the simplicity and savings of meatless meals. Enjoy delicious vegetarian dishes with alternate proteins for a budget-friendly menu plan.
A Balanced Meal Plan Helps To Balance Your Budget
We enjoy the simplicity of vegetarian dishes that include organic veggies and alternate proteins other than meat and fish.
Meatless meals have become a regular part of our menu plan for savings and healthy living.
That might sound awkward to someone who doesn’t use a grocery budget.
A budget is essential for our family to keep us accountable for the food we purchase.
Meatless Meals Aren’t Just For Monday’s
If you aren’t aware, there is a day dedicated to meatless meals: Monday.
It doesn’t mean you are required to forgo meat on a Monday because it sounds good.
After a weekend of comfort food with the family, a meatless Monday is an excellent way to start the week.
But it’s also an excellent way to end the week or slow it down in the middle.
What I love about ditching the meat is that I can batch-cook easy meatless meals and enjoy leftovers the next day.
I’m not a massive fan of re-heated meat, as it tends to be dry the next day unless it’s buried in a sauce.
I’ll eat it, but I might not enjoy it like when it was freshly cooked.
I find any minced meat or sausages bulk my dinner meals for work, so I tend to favor those proteins.
Both ground beef and sausage vary in price depending on flyer sales, and like everything else, we’ve seen an increase in prices over the past two years.
Calculating Your Grocery Budget
Mrs. CBB and I decided to stick to at least one meatless weekly meal a few years back.
We would typically eat meat of some description every day.
Once we found out that we could save up to $400 or more each year by going meatless just one day a week, we were hooked.
Even though we eat less meat, we must replace the protein with nutritious eggs or pulses (Beans).
We became hooked on beans so much that we bought bags of dry chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans, and lentils to help save money on groceries.
If you’ve never had a vegetarian black bean burger, put it on your recipe list.
It’s flavourful and filling, and you don’t miss the meat.
Buying and rehydrating dry beans will save money, but canned beans are just as delicious, however you’ll pay more for the convenience.
You’ll pay more but get instant gratification of beans on demand.
Other ways we save money on meatless meals are to buy in season, shop at local markets during the growing season, or grow our vegetables.
Take the opportunity to visit at the end of the market day to find reduced produce when farmers want to get rid of their pickings.
Ditch the sugar and use natural alternatives such as fresh honey from a local market or producer.
I’m still a sugar guy with my coffee and when I bake, but that’s about it unless it’s specific to a recipe.
You’ll pay a fraction of what you will pay in-store for market honey; you know it will be the good stuff.
Fresh Homegrown Herbs Save Cash
Growing herbs is another great way to save money because they can be pricey at the grocery store.
Fresh herbs like basil and parsley added to Italian pasta sauce add abundant flavor.
We’ve made basil pesto every year from herbs grown in the garden.
Sometimes, herbs grow quickly and abundantly, making them hard to keep.
A fantastic way to use excess herbs is to make an Italian pesto.
Our favorites include chives, spring onion, garlic, parsley, basil almonds, walnuts, and pine nuts.
Quick and Affordable Meatless Meals
Our meatless dinner ideas involved collaboration with Mrs. CBB, which meant we would experiment to find out what we enjoyed.
Over the years, we’ve managed to grow our free recipe index on Canadian Budget Binder with some of the best recipes in our kitchen.
Today, I want to showcase meatless meals from the CBB household and other amazing Food Bloggers.
You don’t have to go broke to eat well!!
Importance Of Going Meatless For Grocery Savings
Many CBB fans wanted to share their meatless Meals with all of you, so they wrote to tell you just how important going meatless is for their grocery budget.
Beans & fried potatoes can’t be beaten! I also prefer fried okra to meat, which I dice in coins and roll in seasoned cornmeal. Fry until brown and crispy. Veggie burgers are my favorite. – Donna P.
Potato cheese omelet and homemade mac and cheese with peas are the go-to. Cheese is an excellent addition to any meat-free meal here or with meat. My boys love cheese!! – Christine W.
Below is a recent meatless omelet that we made in the CBB house!
Chickenless Chicken Mushroom Fettuccine is a favorite here.
- Dice a small onion and saute in olive oil; add three heaping tablespoons of chicken soup base, one can of mushrooms in juice, one can of cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 soup can of milk, heat thoroughly, and add a couple of good dollops of sour cream and stir in.
- Serve over cooked Fettuccine noodles. We make this to help save on the meat bill. It is a tasty, cheap dish. – Colleen K.
I go meatless at least three days each week, usually more, because it’s the only way to stay within my food budget.
Roasted Asparagus is one of many meatless meals on my blog. – Beth Anne
I go meatless at least three days each week, usually more, because it’s the only way to stay within my food budget.
Roasted Asparagus is one of many meatless meals on my blog.
10 Easy Meatless Meals For Any Night Of The Week
Challenge yourself in the kitchen and try something new because sticking with the same recipes week after week gets boring.
Awaken your taste buds and bring lots of new flavors to your plate.
The Meatless Lentil Sloppy Joe is an excellent alternative to the original beef Sloppy Joe.
I used heartier green lentils that matched the mush test and added depth to the recipe.
Go one step further and make homemade buns, fill them with lentils, and top them with whatever sauce you like.
Honey Garlic Baked Cauliflower
This Honey Garlic Baked Cauliflower recipe is to die for.
Add this cauliflower recipe to your meatless meals weekly plan. I promise you will adore it.
The sweetness from the honey and the smokey baked taste of the cauliflower pairs perfectly.
Vegetarian Zucchini Meatballs
These Vegetarian Zucchini Meatballs spell comfort food that you must try.
We make a similar recipe at home but with eggplant and beef to help cut the meat we use.
Making meatballs is a labor of love, but when you take that first bite, you’ll be happy you did it.
Related: Eggplant Meatballs with half the meat
Ricotta Stuffed Zucchini Rolls
Take fresh zucchini and turn it into delicious Keto Ricotta Stuffed Zucchini.
Each packet is filled with a ricotta filling, then layered with homemade Italian sauce, Parmigiano Reggiano, fresh basil, and shredded mozzarella, then baked.
Meatless Stuffed Onions
These meatless stuffed onions are a perfect side dish or appetizer for your next dinner or lunch gathering.
If you are going to a potluck, this may be the talk of the table, so gather up the simple ingredients and get cooking!
Crispy Sweet Potato Fries
Our Crispy Sweet Potato Fries is a popular recipe on CBB and took me ages to perfect.
Believe it or not, it’s not easy to crisp up sweet potatoes in the oven without burning them to death.
We don’t eat these often enough since they take some time to bake, but oh, so worth it.
Sweet Thai Fish Cakes
These simple Sweet Thai Fish Cakes can be made in a pinch for time.
You can buy a pre-made sweet Thai dipping sauce bottle at your grocer’s International aisle.
Crispy Keto Cheesy Cauliflower Hashbrowns
Watch me make this crispy cauliflower hash browns gluten-free recipe that will satisfy potato cravings.
They are also perfect for a keto breakfast with scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, and avocado slices.
Mushroom Marsala Gnocchi
I’ve made homemade gnocchi, which are delicious, inexpensive, and easy to whip together.
The gnocchi floats when it’s done to the top once in a hot boiling water pot for a few minutes.
Gnocchi is a little potato dumpling without much flavor, so your sauce must be fully flavored.
It is a gorgeous Mushroom Marsala sauce…that says it all.
I can’t wait to try Mushroom Marsala Gnocchi!
Creamy Tortellini Soup
Many people enjoy tortellini as a pasta dish; add it to your favorite broth to create a lovely tortellini soup.
I’ve never made a creamy tomato-based tortellini soup, but I incorporated them into many other soups.
You can buy tortellini in 1lb bags for roughly $2.99 in the freezer section at your grocer.
Make Meatless Meals Matter
Eating vegetarian or meatless meals has worked for our budget and taste buds.
We hope to carry the Meatless Meal once a week, every week. (Or at least I will)
Mrs. CBB is enjoying the opposite of the vegetarian menu since she has had a low-carb, high-fat diet, also known as the Keto Diet, since November 2015.
She consumes more meat and small portions of primarily green vegetables, making sticking to our grocery budget more challenging.
It’s possible, but it takes work that we have been committed to doing.
If you want to be a Deal Sniffer, the best way to start your journey is to create your budget and meal plan and start deal hunting.
Discussion: What are some of your favorite meatless meals?
Please leave any questions or comments below.
Thanks for reading,
Mr. CBB
May Grocery Game Posts
There were no posts for May.
2016 Grocery Shop Results
Yearly grocery budget for two + 1 Toddler 2016: $2820
(The above total does not include the stockpile budget of $300/year or $25/month.
Points Overview (add any other sections you need to show us your savings)
- Total Grocery Budget for the Month:$235.00-$8.50=$226.50
- Total Grocery Budget with any carry-overs $226.50
- Total Gift Cards used to date: $50
- Total Rewards Points redeemed this week: $0
- Total Rewards Points used to date: $0
- PC Points Plus Earned to date: 149,000
- Scanning Code of Practice (SCOP)to date $0
- Shoppers Optimum: Over 700,000 points (I will update this twice a year)
- Coupon Apps (add any other apps you use to save money)
- Zweet to cash out: $18.25
- Checkout51 to cash out: $8.00
Grocery Shop This Week
Food Basics
- 3 x Schneider’s Red Hots $1.79
- 2 x Schneider’s Oktoberfest Sausages $1.79 each
- 4 x dozen eggs $1.99
- 2x Beatrice Homo Milk $5.27
- Cauliflower $1.77
- Bananas $1.57
- Romaine Lettuce $1.99
- Spinach Bucket $4.99
- Mushrooms 1lb $0.99
- Zucchini $2.00
- 5pk Avocado $2.99
- Apple Juice low sodium $0.99
Total Out-of-pocket $44.75
Zehrs
- 6 x Clover Leaf tuna Sale $0.99 each
- 8 x Natrel 1L Lactose-Free Cream Reduced $1.00-50% off
- 2 x Smithfield Bacon $3.99 each
- 2lbs minced beef $8.05
Total Out-of-pocket $25.97
- Total to spend this month: $226.50
- Stockpile budget 2016: $25.00
- Stockpile budget used this month: $21.60 $0.75 left
- Total coupons used this week: $0
- Total coupons used to date: $5.60
- Total in-store discounts this week:$0
- Total in-store discounts to date: $226.93
- Total spent this week: $70.72
- Total spent so far this month: $70.72
- Total over/Under spend this shop: over
- Total over/Under spend for the month:under
- Total left to spend for the month: $155.78
- Total Spent To Date 2016: (does not include stockpile budget) Jan $252.95+ Feb $249.46+March $211.11+April $248.11+May $
Weekly Overview
It was a small grocery shop to start the month, but we had enough food around the house to get through.
Our son has been hardly eating anything, so we’ve struggled to find foods he will eat.
Most days, he wants to drink his milk and have a few bites of something here and there.
He’s the type of kid who only eats when he’s hungry.
There was a time when he loved cheese and grapes, but now he won’t eat them.
He used to eat cereal and oatmeal but wants nothing to do with it now.
We’ll keep trying.
A couple of you pointed out that prices were on the way down for some grocery store items such as bananas and other produce.
The time of year is coming when we should expect a price reduction, given the vast amount of produce rolling through the stores and markets.
That’s all for this week.
Mr.CBB
Week 18 – Apri 29 – May 5, 2016
Name Your Store: Superstore
Total Coupons Used: $0
Total Points = 1800
Total Out Of Pocket: $29.99 (Include Stockpile)
Human
1.89 L Breyer’s Cookie Dough Ice Cream = $3.78
4 Peppers (package) – (800 PC Points) = $4.00
2 lb Mini Carrots = $2.97
10 lb Russet Potatoes – (400 PC Points) = $2.00
Bananas – 1.015 Kg = $1.28
2 Pkg Weiners – $5.49 (PM No Frills @ $2.00) = $4.00
2 Maple Leaf Bacon – (600 PC Points) = $5.96
Thomas Cinnamon Raisin Bread – $4.49 (PM No Frills @ $2.00) = $2.00
2 Wonder WW Bread = $2.99 (PM No Frills @ $2.00) = $4.00
Cats
No Shop
Grocery Game Challenge Results
Total Grocery Budget for the 2 Adults ($1890.00, for the pay period – $70.00)
Total Human (Adults) this Week Period: $23.99
Over/Under this week: Under
Left for the Month: $0
Total Human (Adults) to Date: $529.39
Total Grocery Budget for the 3 Cats ($364, for the pay period – $14.00)
Total Cats this Week Period: $
Over/Under this week: Under
Left for the Month: 11.23
Total Cats to Date: $127.23
Total Grocery Budget for Stockpile ($520)
Total Stockpile this Week Period: $6.00
Total Stockpile to Date: $99.18
Total Grocery Budget for the Personal Hygiene ($182)
Total Personal Hygiene this Week Period: $4.27
Total Personal Hygiene to Date: $127.13
Total Grocery Budget for Wholesale Meat ($500.00)
Total Wholesale Meat this Week Period: $
Total Wholesale Meat to Date: $125.89
Total Grocery Budget for Canning Produce ($400.00)
Total Canning Produce this Week Period: $0
Total Canning Produce to Date: $0.00
Total Coupons Used this Week Period: $
Total Coupons Used To Date: $4.00
Total Discounts/SCOP this Week Period: $
Total Discounts/SCOP to Date: $4.09
Total Checkout 51 rebates this Week Period: $0
Total Checkout 51 rebates to Date: $10.00
Total Snap rebates this Week Period: $0.00
Total Snap rebates to Date: $1.00
Total Price Match for this Week Period: $11.45
Total Price Match to Date: $110.16
Total PC Points Received this Week Period: 1800
Total PC Rewards Points Used this Week Period:
Total PC Rewards To Date: 18190
Overview: This should only take about a swallow from a cuppa. Another small shop but then again my budget isn’t allowing large shops.
Hi Dee,
You scored a great deal on the potatoes with those points. It’s about time the hotdogs start going down in price, wow. I can’t bring myself to pay almost $6.00 for a pack that I know goes on sale for under $2.. uh! Our son loves hotdogs. Just out of curiosity but in the summer do you buy your vegetables at the market? Can you get deals when the market closes on bread and veg? Great shop. You get ballot #1 for MAY! Mr.CBB
I won’t buy hot dogs if they are full price, that’s ridiculous. I buy some of my vegetables at the market and if I can, I do go out near the end of the day. I typically can deals because I’m a “vendor” but most people can get deals during the last 30 minutes to 1 hour because the vendors don’t want to take their goods home.
Thanks for the recipes! We try and go meatless once a week too. It is interesting when you take the time to figure out what you can save…$400.00 is a good chunk of change to add to your savings.
For some families that savings is much higher depending on how much meat they eat every week. It all adds up, plus we don’t NEED to eat meat every day.
2016 GROCERY BUDGET / STOCKPILE BUDGET AND US RESERVE:
•Total Grocery Budgeted For Year: $190.00 x 12 = $2,280.00 for 2 adults
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REMARKS FOR THE WEEK:
Before we start our MAY shopping off though, I am going to make my usual monthly “reserve” transfers:
Grocery:
$ 190.00 for the month
($ 68.72) Overage from APRIL
($ 11.28) trf to re-stocking – normally $15.00
($ 20.00) trf to holiday reserve–normally 15.00
($ 0.00) trf to summer reserve–normally 15.00
($ 25.00) trf to US Reserve –normally $45.00
CANADIAN Grocery Balance $65.00
REMARKS FOR THE WEEK:
This is a LOW SHOP WEEK – nasty over spending last month mean that May is going to be a really lean shopping month! 🙁
The following rain checks are EXPIRING UNUSED this week:
Safeway:
2 Whole Fryer Chickens @ $1.99/lb – Good until May 4/16
12 Motts Clamato Juice 945-960 ml @ $1.00 ea – Good until May 6/16
12 Motts Clamato Juice 945-960 ml @ $1.00 ea – Good until May 8/16
Hubby also got me a NEW rain check this week:
Save On Foods
2 x WF Skipjack Tuna 6-pack @ $5.99 each – Good until May 10/16
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OUR “CANADIAN” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
Thrifty Foods – Maple Ridge –
1 x Chicken Thighs $8.42 – 50% off = $4.21
1 x Turkey Steaks $11.01- 50% off = $5.50
Total Regular Grocery OOP: $9.71
Total Re-Stocking Grocery OOP: $0.00
** Earned 0 Air Miles on this shop **
** USED $0.00 in Rain Check/ Coupons **
** SAVED $9.71 Loyalty Savings on this shop **
—————————————————————–
Walmart – Maple Ridge –
12 x English Cucumbers @ $0.77 ea = $9.24
Total Regular Grocery OOP: $9.24
Total Re-Stocking Grocery OOP: $0.00
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OUR “US RESERVE” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
OUR NEXT USA SHOP WILL BE LATER IN 2016.
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2016 Y-T-D GROCERY SAVINGS:
•Total Loyalty Card Price Reductions This Year:
Jan $36.76 + Feb $160.96 + Mar $27.00+ Apr $117.96 = $342.67
•Total Coupons/Rain Checks Used This Year:
Jan $0.00 + Feb $20.46+ Mar $1.00 +Apr $5.23= $26.69
•Total Price Match Savings Used This Year:
Jan $0.00 + Feb $0.00 + Mar $0.00 + Apr $0.00 = $0.00
•Total More Points Earned This Year:
Jan 10 + Feb 182 + Mar $3 +April 48= 243 Points
•Total Air Miles Earned This Year:
Jan 6 + Feb 43 +Mar 182 + April 32= 265 Air Miles
•Total PC PLUS Points Earned This Year:
Jan 1800 + Feb 5000 +Mar 5200= April 3,100 = 15,100 Points
•Total Optimum Points Earned This Year:
Jan 0 + Feb 0 +Mar 0= 0 Points
==========================================================================================
2016 Y-T-D GROCERY SPENDING:
•Total OOP Year-To-Date:
Jan $196.78 + Feb $193.74 + Mar $182.77 + April $255.43 + May ($11.28+$10.00+$10.00+$25.00+11$9.71+$9.24 =$75.23) = $903.95
•Total Year-To-Date Grocery Budget:
Jan $190.00+ Feb $190.00 + Mar $190.00 + April $190.00 +May $190.00 = $950.00
•Total Over/Under on Year-To-Date Grocery Budget: $46.05 AVAILABLE
==========================================================================================
2016 POINTS REDEEMED RESERVE:
2015 Fwd $0.00+Jan $4.69+ Feb $5.19+ Mar $0.00+ Apr $0.00= $9.88
==========================================================================================
2016 US GROCERY RESERVE:
2015 Fwd $0.00+Jan $45.00+Feb $45.00+ Mar ($45.00-$104.58)+ Apr $45.00+ May $25.00= $100.42
==========================================================================================
2016 RE-STOCKING RESERVE:
2015 Fwd $217.50+Jan -$49.65 + Feb -$140.69 + Mar $25.48 + Apr ($26.71-32.00)+May $11.28= $58.63
==========================================================================================
2016 Y-T-D HOLIDAY SEASON RESERVE:
2015 Fwd $81.51+Jan $15.00 + Feb $11.61 +$15.00+ Apr $15.00 +May $20.00= $158.12
==========================================================================================
2016 Y-T-D SUMMER RESERVE:
2015 Fwd $100.00+ $537.50 Trf from Borscht Fund+Jan $15.00 + Feb $11.61+ Mar $0.00+Apr $15.00 + May $0.00 + June $0.00= $679.11
==========================================================================================
• SUMMARY OF FUNDS Y-T-D:
$ 950.00 Grocery Budget JAN-MAY
$ 9.88 Redeemed Points to Purchase Groceries
($ 211.69) ADDITION TO: Misc Reserves (Re-Stocking, Xmas & Summer)
$ 252.34 REDUCTION TO: Misc Reserves (Re-Stocking, Xmas & Summer)
($ 100.42) Trf to US Grocery Reserve
($ 9.88) Set in reserve to offset Redeemed Points
($ 844.18) Actual CASH SPENT
$ 46.05 AVAILABLE Y-T-D SPENDING
• VALUE POINTS REDEEMED Y-T-D:
$ 4.69 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – JAN
$ 5.19 Whole Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – FEB
$ 9.88 Total $ Value of Points Redeemed
THE VALUE will be added month to month to our Holiday Reserve for next Christmas.
So far $950.00 has been budgeted Y-T-D for 2016 and we have recorded $426.57 of these funds as “spent” and in fact they have been “saved”:
$ 58.63 Freezer Re-Stocking Fund
$158.12 Holiday Season Fund
$679.11 Summer Season Fund
$100.42 US Shopping Reserve
$ 9.88 Points Redeemed Reserve
OUR CURRENT TOTAL UNUSED RESERVES ARE $1,006.16. This means the $936.51 that we carried forward from 2015 PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $426.57 that we have added in 2016, LESS $356.92 that we have drawn out for use in 2016.
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The valid rain checks I hold are as follows:
Thrifty Foods:
2 x 3-packs Romaine Hearts @ $2.50 ea – Good until May 16/16
2 x 3-packs Romaine Hearts @ $2.50 ea – Good until May 16/16
2 x Lilydale Fresh Turkey Breast Roasts @ $6.99/lb – Good until June 29/16
2 x Island Farms 750g 2% Cottage Cheese @ $5.39-50% Off = $2.70 each – Good until July 3/16
2 x 1 LB Strawberries @ $2.88 each – Good until July 19/16
Save On Foods:
2 x WF Skipjack Tuna 6-pack @ $5.99 each – Good until May 10/16
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This week’s BREAKFAST menu plan:
HUBBY: Earl Grey Tea with Lemon Juice + Bagels/English Muffins with fat free cream cheese spread, peanut butter or Cheez Whiz OR Rice Krispies cereal with skim milk
MYSELF: Tetley Tea with Skim Milk & Equal + yogurt, apples, bananas or hard boiled eggs
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This week’s LUNCH menu plan:
MON: No lunch required – Staff BBQ in the park
TUES: 3 Slices Leftover Pizza with French Onion Soup and a side of Wheat Thin Crackers
WED: Refried Bean & Cheese Burritos with French Onion Soup and a yogurt
THURS: Egg Salad Sandwiches with Creamy Tomato Soup and Strawberry-Pecan Bread
FRI: Dijon Chicken Salad Wraps with sides of Greek Salad and Macaroni Salad
SAT: Lunch at the Noodle House in North Vancouver with MIL and SIL for Mother’s Day (I’ll have Szechuan Green Beans & a steamed rice)
SUN: Lunch in the US on our road trip – We are going for a walk at Boulevard Park. 🙂
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This week’s DINNER menu plan:
MON: Taco Beef Bowl
TUES: Leftover Steamed Vegetables and Rice for supper
WED: Creamy Tomato Soup with Cheese Toast
THURS: Large Green Salad with diced BBQ Chicken
FRI: Broccoli Rice Casserole with Steamed Asparagus and Dijon Chicken Breasts
SAT: Scalloped Ham & Cabbage Casserole with Roaster Potatoes & Onions
SUN: Greek Salad
==========================================================================================
Hi Mary,
What is a Taco beef bowl? At first I thought it was taco beef soup and I thought oh the wife would be able to eat it. That scalloped ham and cabbage casserole with roaster potatoes and onions sounds nice. Have you had it before? Great job getting the meat 50% off!! What will you make with the Turkey steaks? I’ve never heard of turkey steak before. I love how you took advantage of those cucumbers. Stockpiling veg is not something I’ve done before but if you know you are going to eat it up then it’s worth the savings. Cucumbers can skyrocket in price over $2 each. Great savings for you. The new rain check is great. The wife is starting back into tuna now which means I need to keep an eye out for a good sale. Well done… here’s to a lean May for the both of us. You get ballot #2. Mr.CBB
The Taco Beef Bowl is basically everything I would put in a beef taco except no taco shell…just served in a bowl. I use cooked onions, cooked coleslaw, de-seeded and cooked tomatoes, several hits of hot sauce, the beef and beans are cooked with taco seasoning, then toss it all together and sprinkle Tex Mex Cheese over it with a small dollop of sour cream as the crowning glory. It’s got all the goodies from a taco without the extra carbs and calories from adding the shell.
The turkey steaks I just roasted up and made turkey salad for hubby to use making wraps for his lunches. They are kind of like chicken breasts on steroids in terms of size. They made some lovely lunches and there was enough leftover to make Turkey Caesar Salads. I’m always watching for chicken and turkey 50% off because I prefer to see him take that instead of beef or pork in his lunches but…you work with what you’ve got. 🙂
Hubby loves Greek Salads so it’s not hard to use up cucumbers around our house – especially when I got red onions and peppers on sale last week. Opening Day for our Haney Farmer’s Market is this coming Saturday and at the end of the month, I’ll be in Abbotsford twice a week for my exercise classes for 12 weeks – right thru the summer growing season. There are several farm markets on the route. Cheaper fruits and veggies…here I come! Picture me doing a happy dance! 🙂
These recipes look mighty good!! I’ll be having a closer look on the laptop tonight so I can save/print off a few. I’ll have to see how many I can get the males around here to try. Might be handy to share with my daughter as the grandson isn’t eating meat these days. Cows are cute and he doesn’t want to eat the cute critters…..
For your little fellow have you tried having a tray of cut up veggies, fruit and/or cheeses that he can pick and choose from for something to eat when he wants to eat?? If that is handy for him he just might eat more than you think he is eating…. Worth a try at least.
Thanks for picking me for the winner for April!!!! I’ll get my address to you shortly!!! 🙂
I go one step further and try and have a meatless meal every other day. I would like to have meatless meals even more frequently. I will try to increase them over the summer when my CSA (community shared agriculture is in full force) and I have more time (I am a teacher). I feel meatless meals are a win, win, win scenario. It is better for you, the environment and your budget! But I find some of my favorite meatless meals take more time to cook, which is my limiting factor. Time. My super quick cheap meatless meals go tos are: Breakfast for dinner (french toast, dutch pancakes, crepes), vegetarian pasta, tofu stir fry’s, vegetable cream soups with pizza bagels or buns, homemade mac and cheese ( full of vegetables).
Yearly grocery budget for 4 adults 5400
Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $ 450
Grocery Shop This Week
Safeway
• organic salad blend- 3.49
• bananas- 1.88
• Pineapple 3.99 + %50 off from AM offers
• Frozen peas- 2.79 + %50 off from AM offers
• Salsa- 3.59
• 3 X Taco kits at 3.99 each
• Coconut greek yogurt 2 X3.50
• Lemon greek yogurt =3.50 + %50 off from AM offers
• Organic bread- 2 X 3.97
• 2 L milk- 3.49
• 2 X Butter- 3.99
• White old cheddar- 7.99
• Ground beef- 9.70
• English muffins- 1.99
• Arnold bread- 2 X3.99
• 2 doz assorted bagels at 2 x 3.99 and %50 discount
GROCERY SHOP THIS WEEK (add any other sections you need to show expenses and savings)
• Total coupons or offers discounts used this week: $5.65
• Total coupons used to date: $24.55
• Total in-store discounts this week: 4.00
• Total in-store discounts to date: $ 111.00
• Total spent this week: 76.18
• Total spent so far this month: $76.18
• Total under spend for the year: 87.30
• Total left to spend for the month: Total under spend for month- 373.82
• Total Spent To Date 2016: (does not include pet foods, paper or personal) Jan $1745.32
• Total PC Points cashed to Date 2016- $20
• Total Airmiles this week = 38
• PC Points this week= N/A
• Checkout 51 this week= N/A
• Shoppers Optimum this week= N/A
Weekly Overview : I missed last weeks grocery post, things were just too….. hectic. But I did add the shop into the relevant totals. I came in $2.13 under for the month, so I just made it. I guess that is a good indication that $450 per month is the right total for us at this time. We did have a splurge or two for the last shop of the month it was my hubby’s BD and he requested barbequed ribs and carrot cake. Not exactly budget food LOL.
This grocery shop I had some good Air mile offers so I took advantage of those, pineapple, frozen peas, and yogurt. I do not buy ground beef very often but I had a real craving for tacos…. So tacos it was!
I am looking forward to this weekend. My first CSA box will be ready. It is a spring box so will be full of organic, spinach, lettuce, greens radishes, maybe rhubarb and who knows what special goodies!!!!
Hi Rose,
It’s going to be Taco Time at your house I see!! What is Arnold bread? If you fall behind a week on the GGC you can still post it to get your ballot. That’s no problem. That’s great news you came under for the month unlike a few of us who keep struggling. You’re right that is an indication you are at the right grocery budget for your family. We may just have to increase our budget if prices keep going up the way they are. I’d love to see a photo of your Spring box. We have so much rhubarb here and don’t know what to do with it. We’ve made cake and crisps and a sauce but that’s about it. What do you make with Rhubarb? Great shopping. You get ballot #4. MR.CBB
I cut up and freeze rhubarb, then, in autumn, when apples are plentiful and cheaper, i make “Yankee chutney” which my family love. Glad to share the recipe if you are interested.
That would be lovely!! We have a freezer full that needs using up and more on the way. I’ll probably just offer it up for free this summer.
I’d love to have your chutney recipe Mary!
Week 1 – May 1 – 7
• Grocery budget to work with in April: $250
• Total coupons used this week: $0
• Total coupons used to date: $0
• Total RCSS gas coupons used this week: $0
• Total RCSS gas coupons used to date: $8.12
• Total Giant Tiger Enviro bag credit this week: $0
• Total Giant Tiger Enviro bag credit to date: $0.09
• Total value PC Plus points redeemed this week: $0
• Total value PC Plus points redeemed to date: $40
• Total gift cards/certificates/gifts used this week: $0
• Total gift cards/certificates/gifts used to date: $35
• Total Neilsen Homescan Visa rebate cards used this week: $30
• Total Neilsen Homescan Visa rebate cards used to date: $45
• Total Checkout 51 rebate cheque used this week: $0
• Total Checkout 51 rebate cheques used to date: $20.25
• Total student discounts this week: $5.21
• Total student discounts to date: $35.45
• Total tax savings RCSS this week: $0
• Total tax savings RCSS to date: $0
• Total spent this week: $52.50
• Total spent so far this month: $52.50
• Total left to spend for the month: $197.50
• Carry over: $0
• Total in carry over jar: $1.00
• Total overspent: $0
• Total Spent To Date 2015: $856.50
Walmart: Milk 4.27: Total Paid 4.25
RCSS: Limes 4/$1, canned green chiles 2.00, allens apple juice .99 (PM), burrito mix .99 (PM), NN refried beans 2.29, NN tomato sauce 1.29, NN canned corn .88, NN bacon bits 2.88, SOS cleaning pads 1.00 (PM), cheese 4.98, Eggs 18 pk 2.87 (PM), Gay Lea sour cream 1.49 (PM), Lettuce 2 x 1.00 (PM), cauliflower 1.79 (PM), mushrooms 2 x .99 (PM), potatoes 10lb 2.00, roma tomato club pack 4.00, bananas 1.69, green onions .99, bosc pears 2.03 (PM), English cucumber .77 (PM), red pepper 1.01, cilantro .78, strawberries 2.00 (PM), tortillas 2 x 3.00 combo buy, colgate toothpaste 1.98, less student discount 5.21, plus tax .35: Total Paid 46.80 rounded down 2 cents
Walmart: Yoplait tubes 2 x 1.97, crispers 2 x 1.00, gelato 2.47, chips 4 x .97, garbage bags 6.27, windex 2 x 3.00 combo buy, grreenworks dish soap 2 x 2.00, less Neilsen Homescan visa cards 2 x 15.00: Total Paid 1.45 rounded up 1 cent
This was a big week for us, but we managed to spend as little as possible. Thanks to the Neilsen Homescan visa $15 cards, we were able to get a few “fun” things at Walmart (aka junk food) along with yogurt, garbage bags, dish soap, windex. I tried the great value version of windex the last time I bought window cleaner and it was awful. I will buy the better stuff whenever I can. I may try the greenworks version at some point because I do like that brand, but not now, I really want to use up what I have left of the great value stuff and then get to some really clean mirrors and windows.
We needed a lot of fruit and veggies this time. Our fridge was practically empty, it was sad. The volume of PM items helped bring our out of pocket amount way down compared to what it could have been. It’s a good start for the month, a little over the $50 target weekly, but with 5 weeks and at some point we will be able to cut it down again, this is completely reasonable. Next week we will need protein, so that could get costly. I will work on being creative getting the most for as little money as possible. We shall see!
Hi Angela,
I’ve made refried beans before with black beans which turned out lovely. Have you ever made your own? That’s great that you are using the rewards from your Neilsen Homescan. Every little bit helps. I guess you can’t complain at $1.45 wow.. score. You get ballot #5 Mr.CBB
We are planning to start making refried beans at home. Our son is a bit difficult about black bean for some reason rather than pinto bean, so I am thinking we need to get some to rehydrate. We have been slowly moving to the dried beans to rehydrate.
I love the Neilsen Homescan and the random visa cards that have been showing up in the mail. Hubby wasn’t keen on it at first, he has changed his tune now!
Yearly grocery budget for 4 adults and 2 cats -$7800.00
(The above total does not include the stockpile budget of $300/year or $25/month.
Points Overview (add any other sections you need to show us your savings)
Total Grocery Budget for the Month:$650.00
Total Grocery Budget with any carry-overs $650.00
Total Gift Cards used to date: $30
Total Rewards Points redeemed this week: $0
Total Rewards Points used to date: $0
PC Points Plus Earned to date: 32100
Scanning Code of Practice (SCOP)to date $0
Coupon Apps (add any other apps you use to save money)
Zweet to cash out : $6.50($25.75)
Checkout51 to cash out : $14.75($25.50)
Grocery Shop This Week
Foodland #1
1 jug water -5.49
1 Cheerios -4.99
3 12 pack Royale TP @4.77, 3X1.00 coupons
1 yogurt -2.99
1 pack pasta -1.99
1 a Temptations cat treats -1.79
1 can pineapple tidbits -1.19
1lb Gay Lea butter -6.49, 50% AM discount, 3.25
1 block cheese -5.99
2 4l milk @4.99
1 Danone puddings -2.79, 1.00 coupon
Bananas -1.43
1 pack Johnsonville sausage -3.99
1 bread crumbs -2.49, 50% AM discount, 1.25
1 Sunmaid raisin bread -4.99, 50% AM discount 2.50
1 bagels -4.19
Tax -2.09
Total OOP -$66.18, $4.00 coupons, $7.00 discounts
Foodland #2
1 jug water -5.49
1 Cheerios -4.99
2 12 pack Royale TP @4.77, 2X1.00 coupon
1 6pack Royale tissues -4.77, 1.00 coupon
1 yogurt -2.99
2 packs pasta @1.99
2 4l milk @4.99
Bananas -.73
1 container Parmesan cheese, grated -5.21
Tax -1.86
Total OOP -$46.54, $3.00 coupons
Jackson’s Pharmacy
3 Militta coffee @1.99
Total OOP -$5.97, Stock pile
Total to spend this month : $650.00
Stockpile budget 2016 : $25.00
Stockpile budget used this month: $5.97
Total coupons used this week: $7.00
Total coupons used to date: $62.46
Total in-store discounts this week:$7.00
Total in-store discounts to date: $84.04
Total spent this week: $112.72
Total spent so far this month: $112.72
Total over/Under spend this shop: under
Total over/Under spend for the month:under
Total left to spend for the month: $537.28
Total Spent To Date 2016: (does not include stockpile budget) Jan $579.69+ Feb $628.96+ March $605.28+ April $584.23+ May $
Weekly Overview (your final thoughts)
A good start to the month! The coffee was a nice find, $1.99 each regular $7.99. It’s close to it’s date but it won’t last all that long here. Once the can is open I keep it in the fridge. The Royale product was a good deal and having the coupons made it even better!! Given that hubby is prone to the runs due to meds and such having nice soft TP is a good thing!! Lol!! The Air Miles discounts were handy as well. Every little bit that will help my budget is good in my books!!! With this being a5 week month I need to be careful.
Hi Christine,
Great price on the toilet paper. Where did you find the coupons? TMI about your husbands runny poo!! lol… My wife is on meds and they affect her as well. WOW you found butter 50% off, that’s new to me. I have to keep checking the Air Miles however we don’t often shop at Metro. Well done this week. You get ballot #6 Mr.CBB
I get mailings of coupons from our own Juanita!!! The butter was an Air Miles discount and only good for one pound, but I can handle that!! These are offers they send me to load much like we do with the Shoppers Optimum or PC plus offers. I have seen offers in the Sobeys flyer so you might get lucky yet.
Our family tried the honey garlic baked cauliflower that is part of this post. Excellent. My coloration was much darker, but I may have put in extra soya sauce as I eyeballed the ingredients. Excellent dish, we will make it again!
Awesome thanks for letting us know!! 🙂
Rhubarb apple crisp is my all time favorite!
How do I send you a pix? I took a picture of this weeks “box”.
You can email me canadianbudgetbinder @yahoo.ca without the space. I do that to keep spam away on the blog as they attack email addresses.