Love how you're emphasizing protein/fiber/carb/etc content in the food you choose! I'm learning that with an extreme budget comes an extreme need to make sure every meal is nutrient dense. I've gone from eating 7-8 times a day (processed, easy stuff because I was lazy lol) to just 3-4, but I'm spending less and getting healthier because those 3-4 meals are actually filling and give my body nutrients. Who would've thought?! Thank you for all you do for us!

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@miranda3593 thank you! Yes! I agree! It’s so important, especially when shopping on an extreme budget ☺️

It’s so great how many cups a bag of cooked dry beans will yield! So much cheaper, healthier and better tasting than canned. I’m excited to use the printouts!! I like these recipes because they’ll be easy to adjust the servings for me.

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@christine1373 yay! I’m so excited to see what you think of the guide and printouts! And yes, I agree about the beans!

Great work! Appreciate all the meatless meals. Tip- save some of the pasta water to add to the sauce!

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@kristinj7173 that’s an excellent tip! Thank you so much for mentioning that!

@yvonnepalmquist8676

3 күн бұрын

I was going to comment on this as well.

I love that you include what I call foods that do double duty . Peas being one of those 1 cup =8 grams of protein and counts toward you daily 5 veg and fruits. I include 2 veg/ dinner and in most but not all lunches. Often, I will add fruit which then bumps up the # of fruit and veg/ day. The reason is that I am cutting back on carbs. I include them but they are smaller portions.

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@jillgott6567 yes!! I love that!! I’ve been working on including more fruit and veggies in my meals too. I love adding a little fruit on the side to try to round out a meal 😄

My Aldi had large eggs for $1.09. I look at protein content also on certain products. These recipes are very cheap and versatile. Lots of veggies. Great job. 😊

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@dmmrad54 thank you so much! Oh wow! $1.09 for eggs is amazing!!

@dmmrad54

4 күн бұрын

@@LauraLegge I couldn't believe it either.

The Knorr bouillon is my favorite. I always have the chicken, beef, and the tomato chicken on hand. They are very useful in everything I make

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@nancywilliams4216 yes!! I agree! It’s so useful! I love it for so many things too!

Thank you so much for all you do. This is amazing! Keep up the great work!

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@andreaschmidt3336 thank you so much for saying that ☺️ I really appreciate you!

When making a tuna and noodle casserole, I just use spaghetti noodles broken down in size. Yum.

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

Oooh! Great tip!

I love all the meals you’ve prepared. I will certainly try the oatmeal and the soup recipes. Thank you

@LauraLegge

3 күн бұрын

Yay! I can’t wait to hear what you think! ☺️

GREAT JOB 👏 ( oatmeal cookies & overnight oats on my list ✅) CONGRATULATIONS ON THE MEAL GUIDE ❤

@LauraLegge

3 күн бұрын

Thank you so much!! ☺️ I hope you love the recipes!

loving that bowl.. i love star wars

@LauraLegge

2 күн бұрын

@@MsCharliesNails yes!! It’s my favorite! I found it at Costco a couple years ago ☺️

Awesome! Thanks for the hard work!!

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@ireneroy8820 thank you so much! I really appreciate you saying that! ☺️

Your ideas have inspired me. I bought cabbage last week to make cabbage steaks but I didn't use it so I made a tofu cabbage stir fry 😋

@LauraLegge

3 күн бұрын

Oooh yum! That sounds so good!! Cabbage is my favorite in stir fry! And I’m so glad to hear that! Thank you so much ☺️

I've heard prices will be (or have in some areas) going up, but at my Dollar Tree, for those that have them available to them, I can still get 2lbs of rice for $1.25, which is the best price in my area.

@LauraLegge

3 күн бұрын

Fantastic!! My dollar tree only has 1 lb for $1.25 for some reason 😰 I also noticed that their beans are 12oz for $1.25 except for pinto beans, which are 16oz. I was surprised!

@yvonnepalmquist8676

3 күн бұрын

@@LauraLegge Yes, with DT you definitely have to caveat with area and selection. You can usually find similar products but not always similar sizes or prices.

@LauraLegge

3 күн бұрын

@@yvonnepalmquist8676 yes, so true! You’re absolutely right

You can freeze tomatoes whole??!! Neat! So many good ideas

@LauraLegge

2 күн бұрын

@@beccascraps8141 yes! Thank you so much!! ☺️ it’s my favorite thing to do when I grow my own. I always end up with more than I can use and I haven’t jumped into canning yet 😅

This is a great video! You got the right idea- keep it simple!

@LauraLegge

3 күн бұрын

@@pattiupton1499 thank you so much!! ☺️ I appreciate that!

I’m always so excited to see what recipes you come up with and that it’s always budget friendly! ❤

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@LizBelay thank you so much! I’m so glad to hear that! ☺️

Great ideas and clear explanations, thank you

@LauraLegge

3 күн бұрын

Thank you so much!! ☺️ I appreciate you saying that!

Amazing dishes, thank you

@LauraLegge

3 күн бұрын

Thank you so much!! ☺️

I made Lentil Bolognese by adding some cooked lentils to the sauce. It's somewhat like hamburger but cheaper and healthier. Also try tempeh if you want something more like meat. Hot sauce makes beans and rice 10 times better, or add some chili powder if you have it.

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

Thank you so much for the tips! I’ll try lentil bolognese again soon. Did you use green or red lentils?

@princessdumbarton9877

4 күн бұрын

@@LauraLegge Just the regular cheap brown ones.

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@princessdumbarton9877 ok great! Thank you! I’ll try it ☺️

@kristinj7173

4 күн бұрын

I recently realized I can buy canned lentils which is a time saver, although not as inexpensive. I never noticed them before! Red lentils might be creamier in the sauce but I suppose any lentils would work.

@princessdumbarton9877

4 күн бұрын

@@kristinj7173 Red lentils break down better but they tend to be expensive.

More great ideas. Since I absolutely love black beans I will definitely be trying these recipes... I may even break down and check out tofu again after 30 years...

@LauraLegge

59 минут бұрын

Yay! I can’t wait to hear what you think ☺️

You’re such a GREAT shopper! Learning so much! Thanks!

@LauraLegge

3 күн бұрын

Thank you so much! And I’m so glad to hear that!

Looks yummy!

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

Thank you so much!

My goodness! Everything looked delicious! I will be trying some❤

@LauraLegge

3 күн бұрын

Thank you so much! I’m excited to hear what you think!

I just ordered your meal planner

@LauraLegge

13 сағат бұрын

@@lindadobranetski6302 yay!! I can’t wait to hear what you think!! Thank you so much! ☺️

Excellent video !!!🎉🎉🎉

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@itsjustbella5633 thank you so much!! I really appreciate that ☺️

Looks great! I made your chocolate banana muffins yesterday and they were so good! Love your channel and thank you for all the ideas!

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@BudgetingBeezy yay!! I’m so glad to hear that! Thank you so much for coming back to let me know how it turned out for you ☺️

@BudgetingBeezy

4 күн бұрын

@@LauraLegge and I made your overnight oats and ate that this morning with some raspberries and blueberries on top! Yum! I’m going to do the cottage cheese bagels today 😉

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@BudgetingBeezy yay! I’m so glad you tried it! I can’t wait to hear what you think of the cottage cheese bagels!

I know so much depends on what stores you have in your area, which is why I love watching your videos. Oh, and the recipes!! For those who are looking for the bouillon, a smaller Knorr bouillon container is at Dollar General for $2.50. My go to is Better Than Bouillon, which is also available at Walmart for less (makes same amount, but must be refrigerated after opening).

@LauraLegge

3 күн бұрын

Thank you so much! And thank you for sharing those tips! I noticed that Walmart also has a small container of bouillon cubes for around $1, which is awesome for super small budgets!

A lot of great ideas

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@lorisiedl8733 thank you so much! ☺️

@lorisiedl8733

4 күн бұрын

@@LauraLegge 😊

Wow! What an excellent video❤

@LauraLegge

59 минут бұрын

Thank you so much!! I truly appreciate that ☺️

$2.17 is high for eggs.. i guess it depends on where you live.. it is $1.69 where i am.. i make my own refried beans as well.. i do add minced onion and a little minced fresh garlic first in oil and then add the beans to warm and mash then add a bit of chicken both to thin them out and flavor when i use canned beans and even when i make them from dried beans.. try mixing pinto and black beans for refried and they are amazing together..

@LauraLegge

2 күн бұрын

@@MsCharliesNails yum!! That sounds amazing! I love adding onions and garlic too. 😋 so good!!

I will be trying the savory oats and tomato sauce.

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

I can’t wait to hear what you think! ☺️

So it Aldi I like to buy the vegetarian meatballs and make them like either in a spaghetti or like a sweet and sour sauce you could put it with vegetables like a stir fry and put it on jasmine rice, it tastes amazing these meatballs and you can't tell the difference they're in the freezer section.

@LauraLegge

Күн бұрын

@@BobbieNatividad ooog! Thank you for the tip! I can’t wait to try them!

I know you've heard this a lot but your Aldi is really well stocked. I'm gluten-free now and do a lot of stir fry because gluten-free noodles work well. But my Aldi doesn't have those noodles! No pho! So unfair. I'll try the savory oats but I'm very skeptical. They don't look all that appealing to me. But overnight oats are so great. I use whole oats, chickpea, any milk and vanilla. Sometimes I add walnut pieces. I prefer adding the plain Greek yogurt on top when I eat it along with a spoonful of nut butter and maybe some fruit. Next week we'll be having highs from 108-112 F all week. I'm preparing food now.

@LauraLegge

3 күн бұрын

Oh my! It sounds like it’s going to be super hot there! It’s starting to heat up here too 😬 Definitely let me know what you think if you try the savory oats! I was really surprised the first time I tried it! And you’re right, my ALDI is great. I usually go right after they stock the shelves so I have the best variety to choose from. The pho noodles only show up once a year and I have to buy a few bags before they sell out within a few days. I hope they had them to the shelves permanently!

I have used habanero to punch up flavors when cooking because I don't want to much salt nor sugar

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@user-po3lj2ug4w oooh yum! That sounds amazing! I’ll have to try that soon. Thank you for the tip! ☺️

❤

Ty❤grateful

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@micheledelnigro9259 you’re welcome and thank you so much ☺️

thnx for all you do - I watch for meal ideas definitely not the prices - do you or anyone watching know if anyone might be doing something similar in 🇨🇦 it would be nice to have prices and products that are available here - the exchange rate was around 25 cents on the dollar) eggs haven’t even been $2.17 for half dozen little own a dozen in at least ten / twelve yrs - they had been 3.69 then jumped to $3.99 in 2020 - that’s when I started shopping for two wks rather than one cause I switched to a dozen eggs for $4.69 as basis of meal planning - am a shopper for one (which already makes it more expensive) who doesn’t drive (add $3.50 for bus ticket - so shop at the store I can walk to or am near when I’m already out) and who has food intolerances (that complicates things more) and am on fixed income (LTD - after essential bills paid - have $200 a month / $50 a week FOR EVERYTHING that needs buying not just groceries 😳) am beyond grateful that you gals are out there doing this - it does help 🇨🇦🙏

@LauraLegge

3 күн бұрын

@@ej3016 oh my goodness, that sounds like quite a challenge 😰 I’ve seen a few gals in Canada that do this too. Let me see if I can find their channels for you!

@ej3016

3 күн бұрын

@@LauraLegge many thnx 🇨🇦🙏

I like what you've shared. Protein for our bodies. Just make sure they're complete proteins.😃 TFS

@LauraLegge

3 күн бұрын

Thank you! That’s so true!

To purchase everything that you purchased at my Walmart in Norcal would cost $26.56.

@LauraLegge

Күн бұрын

@@bonniegaither3994 oh wow!

As soon as you got tofu I thought - won’t make that recipe. I do like chickpeas but skeptical about pasta made from them. I’d like to spend more and have meat, poultry or fish in my dinners. I know everyone doesn’t have the budget for that but I can stretch chicken pretty far. I do use eggs for protein in dinner salads or breakfast for dinner.

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@wolchfam you can definitely substitute your favorite meat instead of tofu! It would work out great. ☺️

@jillgott6567

4 күн бұрын

😊 I think it is important for people to do what works best for them and their families. I, personally eat a combination of meat as well as meatless meals because that is what I like and it does not limit me. Most often I purchase meat on clearance, sale or manager specials and in small packages. But I do look for alternatives for getting protein such as Cottage Cheese, Eggs, Peas and so on

@kristinj7173

4 күн бұрын

Baking tofu helps, then add any marinade you like. I like making veggie stir fries with tofu and any veggies from the garden. It is good for tofu scramble for breakfast too (frozen hash browns, bell pepper, tofu, whatever). Also, the chickpea and red lentil pastas are fabulous options for high protein, high fiber and lower carb meals. They are more filling so you don’t need to eat as much.

@Larissa-iw5wy

4 күн бұрын

Lol…I’m not a fan of it either but most recipes can be personalized so it’s all good. I do appreciate the thoughtfulness of the shopping and cooking

@LauraLegge

4 күн бұрын

@@kristinj7173 yes!! Great tips!! Thank you so much for sharing!

You kill the rice 😢😢😢

@LauraLegge

59 минут бұрын

I know it! 😭 I forgot that I was chilling the rice and it ended up frozen. Not good 😰