Title: Mastering Frugal Eats: Week 2 of The Greatist Challenge
Week 1 Victory! I managed to surpass the first hurdle, and I'm feeling confident I can maintain this throughout the month. The fundamental takeaway from the past week is the significance of investing — not in a retirement plan, but in my kitchen! I spent less than anticipated because I invested in creating a cherished cooking space equipped with my preferred tools and ingredients.
For those new to cooking or unsure how to stock their kitchen, I suggest the following resource. It covers essential kitchen tools and provides a step-by-step guide on various cooking techniques, from "braising" to cutting an avocado. Enrich your spice rack and gather the right appliances: it's an investment worth making if healthy eating is a long-term goal of yours.
As for my grocery expenses and indulgences, I began with a visit to Union Square Greenmarket for farm-fresh items that cost $34. Supporting New York's local farmers and enjoying fresh, quality products is an experience worthy of the extra cost. That week, I also visited Stop & Shop and spent another $33 on groceries. However, weekend guests led to an unforeseen trip to Trader Joe's for $17.42, with a $3.69 splurge on sushi for lunch. All in all, my budget-friendly grocery bills totaled $81, which equates to $44 per person.
Eating out is an excellent motivator to stick to a resolution, and since I remained under budget, I rewarded myself with additional kitchen essentials. With a remaining $16, I'm set to splurge on kitchen tools later this month.
Now, let me share my weekly highs and lows with you, and I'd love to hear about yours in the comments section. Do not forget to join our team blog and follow us on Twitter, using the hashtag #greatistchallenge when posting.
Dinner Menu and Grocery List:You'll notice I've added pasta back in this week, as I'm a self-proclaimed carb addict. I found myself unintentionally cutting back on meat. If you're a meat lover, you might want to add extra protein to these dishes.
Grocery Items:
Produce:
- Large head of cauliflower
- Flat-leaf parsley
- 2 plum tomatoes
- Celeriac (celery root)
- Large parsnip
- Small butternut squash
Dairy:
- 1% milk
Grocery:
- 1 lb. whole wheat penne
- 1 can tomatoes
- 1 can cannellini beans
- 3 sun-dried tomatoes
I Have/You May Need:
- Garlic
- Olive oil
- Basil
- 1/2 cup black olives
- Salt and pepper
- 1 1/2 cups dried lentils
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 onions
- 3 carrots
- Dried tarragon
- Tomato paste
- 2/3 cup dry red wine
- Dijon mustard
- Butter
- Crushed red pepper
- Dried or fresh sage
- Ground nutmeg
- Ground allspice
- Parmesan
- Cooking spray
- FlourWith this grocery list, you can expect to enjoy five weeknight meals with leftovers for lunch the following day. You can pick and choose from the listed dishes to create your perfect meal plan.
Photo by Kelly Fitzpatrick
- Maintaining my health is not just about eating nutritious food, but also understanding the facts about other forms of nutrition, such as the right use of kitchen tools and cooking techniques.
- My personal challenge in Week 1 was managing my grocery expenses, and I was able to achieve this by investing in fresh, high-quality ingredients and kitchen essentials.
- To continue my journey towards better health and nutrition, I plan to explore more food facts, experiment with various cooking techniques, and make informed decisions about my finance and grocery spending.
