Browse through some of our budget-friendly and quick-and-easy shopping tips to make your next grocery-and-prep day a breeze.
For more quick-and-easy tips, check out our Quick and Easy Classes! The Quick and Easy Part 1 and Quick and Easy Part 2 classes come with recipes, one-week meal plans, prep lists, and additional resources to help make prep day a breeze!
On-the-go? Grab a prepared salad (no dressing) with some berries and nuts/seeds. Then, choose a can of tuna, salmon, chicken, or sardines WITH oil and an optional bottle of lemon (or fresh lemon) to have a quick and tasty salad.
Want a way to speed up prep? Buy a bottle of garlic-in-oil (or ginger-in-oil) to use as a base for soups, stir-frys, and sauces. Better yet? Spread on Grain-Free Waffles or Rosemary Biscuits (Always Delicious pg. 203) and top with cheese for a quick cheesy garlic “bread”. (Double check that there is no sugar added).
Munch on Brazil nuts for an energy-dense and high-fat snack. Enjoy a few of these giant-sized nuts with some berries or a piece of fruit for a quick-and-easy snack.
Try looking for herbed goat cheese to add to your meals. Having the herbs already there means less work for you to create a flavorful meal!
A package of thinly cut chicken breast can be the perfect protein for a quick-and-easy stir fry. Fry in oil with vegetables and beans, then top with Greek yogurt, salsa, herbs, avocado, and/or any other toppings of your choice.
NOTE: Chicken breasts are a low-fat protein and will need a fatty sauce, side dish, or dessert to balance the meal.
Look for on-sale canned beans and stock up! They won’t go bad – and they can be used in many different ways (dips, soups, sauces, crustless quiches, etc.)
Buy frozen fruit on-sale! Frozen fruits are frozen at peak ripeness – meaning you get delicious flavor and plenty of nutrients, often for a cheaper price.
Chicken drumsticks are a delicious budget-friendly protein option that can easily be prepared for a wide variety of flavor preferences/needs. Put a few drumsticks in zipper-locked bags with different marinades for a quick-and-easy protein to serve throughout the week.
See our On-a-Budget Marinate Chicken recipe in Always Delicious page 116, or or Easy Dijon Chicken recipe in Always Delicious page 128.
Bone-in, skin-on chicken leg quarters are a budget-friendly protein option. More WHOLE proteins (ie: bone is still in and skin is still on) tend to be cheaper because you do not need to pay for the labor of removing the skin and bone.
Whole chickens are one of the quickest, easiest ways to prepare protein for the week. Simply coat in a tbsp of acid (ie: lemon juice), a bit of oil or butter, and a generous amount of salt. Rub the acid, oil, and salt all around the outside of the chicken. Cook at 425°F for 10 minutes, then cook at 350°F until fully cooked through. For an extra crispy outside, cook it at 425°F for the last 5-10 minutes of cooking.
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