CHEAP CONVENIENCE FOODS AND EXTREME BUDGET MEALS

[@ArdentMichelle]

✨ Use my code【grab800】for an extra 30% off [New Users Only] 🛒 Or Click the link www.temu.com/k/f5e8f988 (⚡up to 90% off ⚡)

[@LaneyOfLimerick]

Love Temu! It's addicting, Michelle! 😁

[@triplethreatyes]

I have a suggestion, if you have no stove but have a rice cooker, you can make stir fry, eggs, soups, chilli, batches of oatmeal, mac n cheese, giant pancake, banada bread also if yours has a steammer basket it's great for steaming veggies or making hard boiled eggs etc. It works great! 😀

[@kalenamoon6]

Thank you for this added surprise. Gosh, I didn’t know my rice cooker could do so much.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hello 😁 I've made the "fried" rice in my rice cooker but you're taking this to a whole new level. Banana bread? 🤔 Wow....very creative. Thanks for sharing!

[@ruthrelyea7388]

I agree with you that there is so much that you can make in a rice cooker besides rice and I know cause I do it myself

[@kalenamoon6]

@@ruthrelyea7388 thank you Ruth for your comment. I am a senior citizen and would much appreciate any new recipes or cooking sites you can share with me. My name is Marlene, I live in Bend, Or.

[@twilightshealy4152]

That's great to know. I only have a induction cook top & recently upgraded to a larger toaster oven. But love the idea of making my rice cooker earn its place in my tiny kitchen. 😉😊

[@CathieG]

Everything looks great! 🤩 When I have the full sugar oatmeal packets, I get a big canister of quick cooking oats and add 1/4 cup of those to one packet. They are too sweet for me alone, so this is how I mix it. 🥰😋

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi CG 😁 That idea crossed my mind but I was thinking about adding the regular whole oats because I don't have the quick cooking. Might be fine though. Thanks for pointing this out.🥰

[@sherrylewis9327]

I do the same thing. I love the flavors and I'm a true sugar fiend but they just have too much. Adding regular/plain oats makes the whole thing perfect!

[@77andsunny]

Never would I have thought to do that! Brilliant!!

[@Jewelsquiss]

@ArdentMichelle you can cook old fashioned oats in the microwave. Just follow package instructions 😊

[@cheritrimble6353]

Everything but the bagel seasoning would be a great substitute for the black sesame seeds if you didn't have them. Great ideas, thanks.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Cheri 😁 You are so right. 👍 That would be very good!

[@balentay]

It's really cool that you're getting sponsors and growing your audience. Congrats!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Balentay 😁 Thank you. 🥰 It's definitely helping me to make this my full time job. 👩‍🍳 😁

[@osoniye4209]

@@ArdentMichelle You're really good at this, and make wonderful looking affordable meals. Go with your talent! I'm glad you are moving toward making this your full time job.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks so much 🥰

[@gergokerekes4550]

yeah, cutting back on salt and sugar is like, impossible. My blood pressure is a bit high and when we talked about where this might be from with my friend who is a doctor and I asked what I should cut back on, his answer? basically anything. anything you buy has a lot of salt and sugar most of the time. but with a bit of actually reading labels got me prety far. living with no headaches is such a good thing.

[@ArdentMichelle]

I agree....it's really hard to eat a low sodium diet if you are eating any kind of processed food. Even canned vegetables have a ton of sodium. 😒 I think a whole foods diet is best. I'm so glad you don't have the headaches anymore. That's terrible.

[@patriciah8377]

Hahaha seems like I read more at the store than at the library ❤😂 thank u

[@ArdentMichelle]

Feeling the same way 😂 You're welcome

[@Andrew_h975]

Hi pat

[@susanjane4784]

For anyone who uses the microwave often or with very hot foods -- get a bowl cozy. I got mine handmade on Etsy in all cotton which can be safely microwaved and is washable. I burnt myself on a few bowls in my life and love no longer have that problem! I've seen them all over the web -- Great for you! Great as a gift!

[@ArdentMichelle]

This is a brilliant tip 👍 I love this idea! Thanks for sharing.

[@jerrieanderson2245]

I had never thought to use that salad kit for stir fry. Genius! I don’t always want two salads out of the package, but I will eat stir fry every day! I also love black beans and corn with salsa on rice , or salad, or macaroni. Thank you for sharing inexpensive good meals.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Jerrie 😁 You're welcome. I'm glad you liked this video. Thanks for letting me know!

[@Terri_MacKay]

I love cabbage in my stir fries, and I buy a bag of coleslaw mix instead of a cabbage. The bag is enough for 2-3 stir fries, depending on how many you're cooking for, and it's much easier to store than a cabbage. (My fridge is small, and a cabbage takes up a lot of shelf space.)

[@jerrieanderson2245]

Terri - I do the same with cabbage mix. I’ve also shredded packaged corned beef, canned diced potatoes with it and basically stir fry it together

[@bettyir4302]

I've done the Thanksgiving turkey in a microwave. It came out perfect and nice and juicy. A neighbor put her freezer in the kitchen space where the stove normally goes. She used an electric skillet and a microwave for all her cooking for years.

[@gccheryl4038]

Especially love the bag salad ideas!! I enjoy the bag salads since it is just two of us, and save everything in them for using later if not used initially. A suggestion for those who travel - if you didn't know already ChickFilA sells their cooked chicken fillets alacarte! You can slice them into wraps, pasta, rice, salad mix etc, regular, grilled or spicy.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Wow. Great tip 👍

[@michellehiggins8980]

OMG I have been making that pasta for years. I called it 'Salad pasta'. Salad veg with pasta and melted cheese, salt and pepper. Yum.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Michelle 😁 It's so simple, yet so delicious! I've made it a few times since this video and it's always good, but it's very easy to overcook the noodles when making it on top of the stove. It's so much better when its cooked perfectly to al dente. I added in broccoli one night instead of the spinach. So good! 😋

[@kalenamoon6]

I just love watching your shows. I like your recipes and really enjoy the different things you bring into your videos. Thank you😃

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Marlene 😁 I'm so glad you are enjoying my videos. Thanks for letting me know. 🥰

[@srad-oq7cb]

I love the lower sugar "maple brown sugar" flavor. I add 1 Tbs of unflavored quick oats. Makes the perfect serving size and further lowers the grams of sugar per oz.

[@christinatareski8882]

Love the salad kid as stir fry idea! For small amounts, or not able to buy all the different veggies, or you can't get the veggies you need because out of stock. So versatile.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Christina 😁 Glad you liked that meal 😁 Thanks for letting me know.

[@ruthrelyea7388]

I use different salad kits for all sorts of meals to add vegetables to plus eat as a salad

[@vinnydabarber]

Nice video Michelle! I can't wait to try some of these meals! Especially the last one, the stir fry looks so yummy! I am on a journey with one of your older videos right now, the eat for $1.23 a meal. I've had 3 different meals out of it so far, one of them twice! The black beans over the corn tortilla with tomatoes, cheese etc. YUM!!! The stir fry was excellent! Today I tried the beans on toast. I used too much garlic but other than that it was good. I'll tell you what is really nice about it was you had the grocery list and the meals already planned out and it saved me so much time racking my brain what to cook during the week and making out my own grocery list. I always forget to get something from the grocery store for a recipe so I end up not making it and not using the other foods i purchased for it so it goes to waste. Thank you!!!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Vinny 😁Yay! I'm so glad you liked my meals. I loved reading this because this is how I was hoping my viewers would use the ingredients list. The hardest part of budgeting is the planning, or the time it takes to plan. Thanks for letting me know you liked these meals.

[@gccheryl4038]

Great comment, I need to go back through a few of the older vids too.

[@vinnydabarber]

@@gccheryl4038 ❤

[@luvslyfe1]

@@gccheryl4038me also ❤😊

[@luvslyfe1]

As always, I love your content, Michelle❤. Thank you for the easy meals. I need to prep meals for my mom (she’s late 80’s and has very low vision) for her to just heat up in the microwave, because she can’t see well enough to cook anymore. I want to keep the meals as healthy as possible. You’ve given me some good ideas. Thank you so much and God Bless you! Forgot to add: for the gluten free pasta, we use Tinkyada rice pasta because it’s organic and stays firm. Some rice pastas have a notoriously mushy texture. The only drawback is that it isn’t cheap, but I buy in bulk to keep the price down a bit.

[@claudiamello7684]

Your Mom is lucky! God bless you both.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hello 😁 I'm glad you've been enjoying my channel 🥰 Thanks for sharing this info about the rice pasta. I'll look for that brand. Mush is not ok. 😂

[@RachRolls]

Absolutely agree on the Tinkyada GF pasta. I've tried most of the major brands, and that's the only rice-based brand that holds up. Corn based GF pasta is also pretty durable, but if you even slightly overcook it then it tastes like a bowl of corn chips. 😂

[@allyrooh3628]

I love my iced coffee. I mix a a protein shake into my coffee instead of creamer. It's a great way to get 30g of protein in when I'm waking up. Also, when I make the oats, I use one serving, the fruit, and a bit of Greek yogurt to beef up the protein content. I'm all about the protein! Those shelf stable rice bowls are great to just keep in the cabinet in case of power outages too. Another good video!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Michelle 😁 Thank you. That's a great way to make a healthy breakfast coffee 👍 I like yogurt in my overnight oats too! I should have mentioned that because it really is a great way to increase the nutrition content. 👩‍🍳

[@Andrew_h975]

Hello

[@angelika_munkastrap4634]

We’ve been cooking from scratch nearly every meal we make in the microwave for over ten years now I’ve baked cakes - we’ve made nearly our whole Christmas dinner in there some years The microwave is capable of alot - and in record time

[@kathyahaines4749]

Thank you Michelle for these great meals. I never thought to use a packaged salad mix for a stir fry !! Genius !!! I love your content. Keep them coming !! 💜💜💜

[@ArdentMichelle]

Glad you liked my video 😁 Thanks for letting me know 🥰

[@nsanenthembrane]

That last meal looks bomb

[@Rebelartist83]

I was homeless for a while and lived in and out of motels with my dad before we were blessed to get an apartment but we used electric skilits and a double burner and a slow cooker and toaster oven i think i even had an electric kettle for soup and we used a small cooler for cold food to cook that day it wasn't easy but can be done you don't need a big kitchen for a good meal..oh Temu looks good

[@patriciatzai]

Can you please do a video about purchasing spices? Maybe include what kinds of things you have on hand and strategies people can use to purchase them (ex. How to build the spice cabinet on $10/mo or something like that). Great videos

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Sarah 😁 Thanks so much. 🥰 Yes I will incorporate a segment into an upcoming video.

[@marenwilliams2787]

LOVE ❤❤❤ your meal ideas!!!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Maren 😁 I'm so glad. Thank you for letting me know. 🥰

[@tracesee681]

I use the coleslaw and broccoli slaw mixes for stir fry and soups…Thanks for the great ideas!

[@ArdentMichelle]

My pleasure 😁

[@Terri_MacKay]

I know that bagged salads are something that a lot of people on a budget don't buy because of the cost. But cost is really relative to your particular situation. My daughter isn't a salad person, but I like having a side salad with my dinner, so 2 bagged salads are enough for me to have a side salad with every dinner for a week. And those 2 salads certainly cost less than buying the lettuce, toppings, and dressing separately. However, if you are a family of 4 who all like salads with your dinner, then it's certainly cheaper to buy everything separately, than buying 10-12 bagged salads for a week.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Terri 😁 I agree. This is so well said. 👍 Sometimes it just makes more sense to buy the bagged salad.

[@helenshack2838]

Michelle. Greetings my friend Most hotels can offer you a mini bar fridge and a microwave, unless you are in a suites hotel which give you a whole kitchen. Occasionally we can get a mini kitchenette with a few essentials. Frying anything in a pan is not always an option because there is no stove top or frying pans. But all your microwave ideas were very helpful for those staying in a hotel short term. Meals in restaurants are crazy expensive to do on daily basis. Also your salad ideas are very good too. I will definitely be copying your suggestions in our next trip which will be very soon. Great job again on your vlog Michelle. ✨ 🌟 ⭐️

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hello my friend from the north 🥰 I'm glad you liked this video! I have lots of budget travelers in my group. Now I have a request for meals for the rice cooker. My wheels are turning. 🤔 😂 It will be all I think about for the next few days. Hope you have a great rest of your week.

[@danasandlin2435]

Before the pandemic, I traveled a 3 state area and cooked in my hotel room: suggested meals; any Progresso Soup (easy); chili, cheese and corn chips; take along a bullet mixer and make protein shakes; protein bars (Atkins has many good flavors); Walmart salad mixes (many flavors and it comes with the mix ins and the dressing in the mix); individual pizzas ($1 each); asian pot stickers with chili sauce...dts/usa

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks for these great ideas Dana 😁

[@michellelaclair]

i just learned this: get a bread machine at a thrift store and make dough on the dough setting for bread or rolls now or pizza crust . can also freese for later. no need to use flour when rolling out , can use oil. makes great dough in about 1 hour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[@ArdentMichelle]

hmm....🤔 Now you're making me want to get a bread maker. I've never made bread before. Although I'm not sure my tiny kitchen can handle one more appliance 😂😂

[@kathleenarapoglou7724]

Necessity, the mother of invention. Well done. Another great video

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Kathleen 😁I'm so glad you liked this video. Thanks for letting me know. 🥰

[@jeffenwaldomyspanishadopti9283]

I always cook fresh with lots of veggies,most of it i cook in bulk. I have a diversity of portions ready in my fridge or frozen..and i make sure i finish all left over items. I just think what do i want to eat tomorow and take it out of the freezer the evening before and warm it. Iallways make soupe in the end of the week to finsh my leftover veggies. Today i made little veggie pancakes to combine with soupe. I used 1 big zucchini wich i grated put some salt in and drained all the liquid out..then combined it with a clove of garlic chopped and a bellpepper chopped ,60 gram of wholewheat flower(any kind of flower will do the job..even almond) a small teaspoon of bakingpowder, halve a table spoon of italian herbs,black spepper and one egg and 100 grams of feta cheese salt to tast....you can use a different cheese or veggie instead of bellpepper (even pre cooked leftovers or frozen veggies aswell...and also different herbs or spices up to your taste. Just mix with fork take a loaded tablespoon of batter and put it in a medium hot pan with a little oil..press a little flat... once golden brown turn and flatten them extra without sticking..this is enouch for 12 mini pancakes and super nice with a salad or bowl of soupe or lunch or snack..you can keep them in the fridge or freeze them...and reheat in microwave or in fryingpan without fat..variations are endless

[@ArdentMichelle]

Love this 👍 Thanks for sharing your recipe with us. I'm definitely going to try this!

[@elenacala]

If you want to make a round egg for your egg mc muffin in the microwave, all you need is a mug. Crack your egg into it, break the yolk with your fork. Microwave starting at 30 seconds at a time. Be sure and cover it witha paper towel and keep an eye on it, it will make exploding sounds. It should be done in about a minute.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Great tip 👍

[@teresacarnes2271]

As always great video!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Teresa 😁 Thanks for letting me know you like this video!

[@sallyyoungsma2432]

My husband & I are not vegetarian but we actually prefer those Morningstar ‘chicken’ patties over real chicken patties. The texture is good & they’re so quick to warm up

[@ArdentMichelle]

my sons love them too and they are big meat eaters 😂

[@kathyahaines4749]

Just got a new rice cooker for Christmas. It has a steamer basket and wow I’ll have to try some of these things in it. I’ve made Mac and cheese and fried rice in it so far !!! Thanks for the ideas 💡

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Kathy 😁 Yay! I'm so glad you liked my ideas. My rice cooker is the most used appliance in my kitchen!

[@garlicbreathandfarts]

We are what we eat. Your body rewards you when you eat real food.

[@CreepingThyme]

My favorite dish was the rice with black beans & corn. Bonus: I already have all of those things in my fridge.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hope you enjoy that meal a much as I do 😁

[@susans9491]

Your dishes were beautiful and tempting as always! I’m making a stir fry and fried rice for dinner tonight so this makes me feel much more excited to cook! I’m grateful for all you do and share with our little community.❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

I'm glad you liked my meals this week 😁 Happy to provide some inspiration for your cooking. I bet it will be delicious! I'm grateful for our community too 🥰

[@christinatareski8882]

Love the oatmeal packets. So warm and nourishing on a cold morning with some nutella or peanutbutter and fruit.

[@ArdentMichelle]

I agree, it's fun to add to them 👍

[@aikanae1]

I make that pasta dish quite often. One variation is to use feta with precooked shrimp. Add I always add a little margerine/butter to the pasta. It seems to prevent the pasta from clumping so much. I also cook it as a one pot meal. A can of petite diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning is enough liquid to cook pasta in a single pot. Lots of variations. PS adding seeds like flax seeds bumps the protein up in oatmeal to a complete protein.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hello 😁 That's interesting that you are able to cook the macaroni in just the liquid from the tomatoes. I'll have to try that. Great ideas 👍 I use flaxseeds frequently but haven't featured them too often on my channel because of the expense. Thanks for mentioning this because I agree...they are a great nutritional addition and I should mention it in my videos!

[@aikanae1]

@@ArdentMichelle I usually use spaghetti in one pot meals. There should be videos on one pot pastas. I think the ratio is one cup liquid to one cup pasta. Ive been doing it so long that I don't measure anymore. A pat of butter or olive oil does help to prevent gummyness. It's a fast meal in my itakai (like a rice cooker/steamer).

[@tinablair2206]

You have a flair for making all your meals look fabulous!!! Thank you for another great video

[@ArdentMichelle]

Glad you like them! 😁 Thanks for letting me know 🥰

[@danasandlin2435]

TEMU: they are the reason that we had Christmas this year--if we didn't have them, there wouldn't have been any Christmas--thank you, Temu...dts/usa

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks for sharing this. 👍 TEMU really does have great prices!

[@maryegerton6848]

I love all the thought that you put into your videos. I am on an extreme budget and although I don’t make it exactly like you, I certainly cook similarly (because we all have different tastes) and this is the way to go for me. Thanks for all you do. You are kind ❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

awe...thanks Mary 🥰 I'm so glad you appreciate my videos. Thanks for letting me know.

[@melissmawilliams214]

Thank u so..much 4 your work & content my husband recently had full mouth extraction your content has helped our family tremendously, many blessings to u & your family

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi MelissMa 😁 You're welcome. I'm so glad my content has been helpful. Thanks so much for letting me know. 🥰

[@AmandaLovesOldFords]

Hi Michelle, Aldi sells a store-brand version of the creamer you like.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Amanda 😁 Yay! Thanks so much for letting me know! 🥰

[@twinnish]

I am preparing to move a family from one country to another, and we will be bringing with us only our suitcases. This means we will be starting from scratch. I have done this before with only feeding two people, but I will have two children with me also that will change the game considerably, especially as one of them lives on chicken nuggets. Saudi, I have decided that I need a toaster oven because so much of my cooking heats up the house too much and uses way too much energy if I was paying for electricity. Gas Here is super cheap but when we moved to the bay area, I do not want to be paying California electricity to heat up a house that I’m also air-conditioning. Just counterintuitive. Anyway, your channel and a couple of others are really helping me to think outside of my very middle-aged old-fashioned ideas of what is required and necessary. I appreciate that as I’m filling out immigration papers for my family and contemplating all of the logistics. My husband’s just worried about the immigration and I am worried about setting up a Home on a budget.

[@ArdentMichelle]

sounds like you have a lot going on. 😳 I agree with you about trying to save on electricity. Lots of ways to make life easier in the summer!

[@margaretsmith8999]

When I have been on vacation and my room had a small fridge, I would go to the local Aldi and get a couple of Caesar Salad bowls. At the time , they were less than $4.00 Australian dollars. If I had gone down to a bistro and had a Caesar salad I would have been paying at least $12.00. I learned that trick when I went to Amsterdam on vacation and I had some great salad bowls from Albert Heijn supermarket. They were everywhere. My favorite was something like a chicken and pear or maybe chicken and pear.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Such a great idea to save money while traveling 👍

[@pek5117]

I microwave hotdogs, you just prick them a bit and do in like 10-sec intervals. takes less than a minute. I like chilli dogs so all you need is a can of chilli and some shredded cheese, that will feed a family also, might need 2 cans of chilli. They now sell a device that makes grilled cheese in the microwave, grilled cheese and tomato soup is a classic American comfort food and now fully doable in a microwave.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Great ideas 👍

[@allisonblum3670]

I can't wait to try the pasta recipe and the stir fry one. They both look delicious

[@ArdentMichelle]

Glad you liked my meals 😁 Thanks for letting me know. 🥰

[@mylifeasmel01]

I love you and your channel! I'm coming on here for a last minute dinner idea and I'm using the pasta dish with the spinach and cheese because that's what I have on hand! I'm also taking your idea on the mushrooms because I have some I need to use asap! Thank you so much for such a great budget friendly meal. I'm going through it this week and time is limited so I appreciate your content more then you know🙏✨️💗

[@ArdentMichelle]

Yay! 😁 I'm so glad you are enjoying my content and that it is inspiring your meals. Thank you so much for letting me know. I'm hoping you have a smooth and peaceful rest of your week 🥰

[@jenniferlisow2901]

Those were some yummy meals you came up with, Michelle. The last meal with the stir fry from the bag looked so delicious & easy to prepare. I love that you came up with affordable, nutritious meals that are easy to make with minimal appliances. That is not always easy to do without sacrificing balanced nutrition and/or cost. You nailed this challenge again! Always enjoy your videos. I learn new ideas & your voice is very relaxing, which is a bonus. Thanks again for sharing your ideas with us.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Jennifer 😁 I'm so glad you liked the meals in this video! Thanks so much for letting me know. 🥰 I appreciate the positive feedback.

[@jenniferlisow2901]

@@ArdentMichelle You are welcome, Michelle. You are so creative & think outside the box, so to speak, with your meals. Keep up the great work. Love your channel! Jen from Michigan

[@francinelee4129]

Loved the video. I check KZbin daily to see if you have a new one. So today I ordered a few groceries from Walmart because I was simply to tired today to go to the store. Tomorrow I am going to make the Jiffy cornbread casserole you made in a previous episode and I have some real bacon bits I thought I may add to it. Can't wait to try it. I also got some stuff for the black bean salad you made today because I already had almost everything except the avocado and black beans. I got those today. Also, I love Iced coffee, so your video inspired me to make some coffee and I put it in the fridge. I have some zero calorie hazelnut creamer. Also, I am ordering one of those glasses. I see you are using your spoons from Temu. I got a set and used them for the first time tonight and just love them. Just wanted to let you know I love your content and you inspire me to try things I wouldn't think of. Thank you!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Francine 😁 Yay! I loved reading this. I usually release videos on Sunday. I had thought maybe I would be able to produce more than one per week, but it's not looking like it. 😂 I'm so glad you look forward to my content. 🥰 I LOVE both the glasses I got from TEMU. I also got the double barreled glass for hot coffee. I've been using that one daily. Thanks so much for letting me know that my content has inspired you. Have a great rest of your week. 😁👩‍🍳

[@tomr3422]

rice freezes very well in a ziplock bag and you can freeze it pretty flat. Very cheap to make a couple of extra servings and freeze it.

[@ArdentMichelle]

I like to freeze mine in parchment paper and then throw in the microwave to reheat.

[@cherylsklar6640]

I have found the vegan chicken patties at Aldi. They taste great.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Cheryl 😁 I haven't seen them there. I'll look for them. Thanks for sharing this info

[@AmandaLovesOldFords]

I would add some plain instant oats to the oatmeal packet to bulk it up, save money, and cut the sweetness.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Great idea 👍

[@Rebelartist83]

There's also a Lovely invention called a breakfast station if you can get it cheap and cook a small dinner in it and make you some coffee..too but we just stick to making mason jar coffee but yup your doing a nice video here i wish I had when my adress was motel 6 lol.. depending on which Dollar tree you go to they carry frozen strawberries 😊..btw if you find ronzoni 3 min pasta cheap its microwavable same with barella 90 sec pasta .. not stealing thunder or whatever its your deal just wanted to mention a pretty cheap minute pasta you might like Michelle if you can find it but yeah kinda hard to eat well when your kinda a nomad for a while

[@tmdavidson1478]

I love your shows.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you so much 😁

[@justtee1259]

love all your budget videos , even for me here in New Zealand , you inspire me to try new things and i love all them meals you make aswell

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hello 😁 Yay! I'm so glad you find my videos inspirational. Thanks so much for letting me know 🥰

[@wendoxia]

Michelle I bought three T-shirts from Temu and they were awesome and so inexpensive!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Wendie 😁 I haven't ordered anything from their other departments yet. Thanks for letting me know that you liked the price and quality. I have a new box of kitchen products coming. I'm so excited. 😁

[@cathynevius2164]

I will definitely make the macaroni dish. I like using garbanzo bean pasta in mine.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Cathy 😁 Thanks for this comment, because I've been wanting to try the garbanzo bean pasta. I'm trying to make my pasta healthier since I love it so much 😂

[@sallyapplegate4591]

Overnite oats are the best!!!!! 😊

[@ArdentMichelle]

Agreed 👍 texture is better.

[@susans9491]

Thanks!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Susan 😁 Thank you so much for supporting me 🥰 I appreciate you!

[@beckyw9000]

I had to stay in hotels for extended times for work when I was younger. I ate a lot of microwave noodles from the ethnic food sections. Those who spend a lot of time in hotels probably already know that many hotels are using “beverage coolers” rather than refrigerators in the rooms now (you sometimes have to press a button on them once a day to keep them on). These will not keep foods safe. Also microwaves are often not high enough wattage to actually cook food to a safe temperature. I got really sick from that issue once. Be safe out there, road warriors!

[@ArdentMichelle]

good things to look out for

[@htas6888]

I didn't know you could cook pasta in microwave, that did look delicious and satisfying. Great ideas to try for low cost and nutritious, satisfying, meals in this video, once again :) Warning about instant oatmeal: I have pre diabetes and for a while at work, I was eating couple packs for lunch. We had that offered for 25 cents a bag at our snack table, and I found it very filling and satisfying, plus I thought oats are healthy. Then when I had my yearly check up my A!C levels for blood sugar had jumped. My Dr asked me if had changed my diet, I said no, since I always eat oats, I didn't think about the instant making such difference. One day couple years later it clicked that during that period I had been eating the instant packs daily. Later, my blood sugar came down, especially after I changed to a vegan diet and lost 15 pounds. I do love overnight oats, I put corse oats, nuts, seeds, fruit into a jar and cover w oat milk ( one w no added sugar), I love finding it delicious in the morning, especially summer mornings when it is hot outside :) I love your videos, they are very inspirational :)

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi H TAS 😁 Glad you liked this video. Regular instant oatmeal has so much sugar, that's why I was excited to find the reduced sugar version. I try to avoid eating the instant on a regular basis (even the low sugar variety) . It's good that you figured out how where the sugar was coming from. I feel like it's hidden in so many products 😞 I sometimes put chia seeds in my overnight oats, but I haven't tried any other type of seed yet. I would love to explore with more types of toppings. Have a great week. 👩‍🍳

[@osoniye4209]

Thanks for sharing. I love old fashioned oats in the microwave or overnight oats. I'm glad you were able to lose 15# on a vegan diet. What kind of meal do you enjoy besides the oatmeal?

[@htas6888]

@@osoniye4209 I eat some kind of legume everyday, with bulgur, brown rice or whole wheat pasta on the side, and salad... I eat nuts daily too but raw nuts, not roasted. I eat raw sunflowers seeds w the oats or sprinkled on my salad. I use olive oil and I don't use any prepared vegan foods that are imitation animal food products, they are highly processed and don't have much food value. I really enjoy lentil soups... I like a variety of foods. It is amazing how much variety there is when you really look around :) I think going vegan, gave me a new set point for my body. Even w the raw nuts, avocado and olive oil... Dr Bernard who recommends vegan for diabetes, said eating raw nuts and seeds don't make you gain weight when you are on a vegan diet. But you can't eat raw peanuts :) I didn't quite believe it but it is true. I don't need to eat a lot, I eat just until I am full. Stabilizing blood sugar, stops cravings too. You can find Dr Bernard lectures and Dr Greger talking about vegan diets on KZbin.

[@htas6888]

@@osoniye4209 I should say that if you want to go vegan, make sure you always have some prepared food in the fridge so that if you get hungry you don't go back to your old routine and make sure you eat balanced meals until you feel full. Garbanzo beans and lentils have the highest protein and balanced w rice or bulgur feel very satisfying.

[@heatherrich7236]

Yum sauce would be amazing on the meal you made

[@ArdentMichelle]

I bet it would 👍

[@Randilynn66]

Temu has a pack of scrub daddies dupes for $1.19.They work pretty well

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks for sharing. 👍 I ordered these stiff almost sandpaper looking sponges for the dishpans and my son said they work better than the steel wool pads I usually buy, plus they were easier on his hands. I love the prices on these common household items.

[@hello-vs4me]

Love your videos thanks ❤️ 😊

[@ArdentMichelle]

Glad you like them! 😁

[@helenkathrynhoover7298]

Such great ideas!!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you!! 😊

[@2Beldam]

I think the “ancient harvest” brand quinoa pasta is the best gf pasta ❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Mimi 😁 Thanks for sharing this info. I'm writing this down so that I can try it.

[@2Beldam]

@@ArdentMichelle my pleasure ❤️ I’d say Barilla is a close second (but it’s a corn & rice mix and I know a lot of people prefer to avoid corn 🤷‍♀️)

[@htas6888]

I put in a large order at Temu, they have price cuts on many items and on top of that getting 30 percent off using your code and free shipping with being a first order customer really helped cut the cost. They have many useful and fun items to make life easier. I am sure I will order there again :) Thank you for providing the code :)

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi H TAS 😁 Yay! I'm so glad you like TEMU as much as I do. They have been really great to work with and they have asked to sponsor my next video as well, so they must love my viewers. 💜 I LOVE their prices and product selection. Have a great rest of your week.

[@vinnydabarber]

Hey girl, In one of your videos you had gotten a new recipe binder from Amazon with cards. I loved it! I placed my Amazon order today and ordered that too! I cannot wait to get my goodies! Thank you so much for sharing.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Vinny 😁 You're welcome. I'm glad you liked it. I'm making what I call " Vinny's black bean soup" in my next video to be released on Sunday. Hope you will like it 👩‍🍳

[@Angel-rq3pi]

The Bibigo sticky rice is soooooooo tasty

[@ArdentMichelle]

Alright.....I'll try it 😂

[@sheilaenglish9738]

Using the salad kits for stir fry is a genius idea. I’m glad you mentioned using sesame oil instead of soy sauce as I’m just not fond of soy sauce. If using sesame oil would you add all of it at the end?

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Sheila 😁 Yes I add sesame oil at the end. I don't use it to fry with because it is very expensive and I just use it to impart flavor. Lately I've been using the sesame oil and chili garlic sauce as flavoring components to try to reduce sodium.

[@jeannereddig5080]

I love all of the meal ideas. I always enjoy your videos. Thank you for more great ideas.❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Jeanne 😁 You're welcome. 🥰 Glad you liked this video!

[@jeannereddig5080]

@@ArdentMichelle ❤️

[@LaLayla99]

Sodium is a sneaky ingredient. I need to watch how much I have due to kidney disease. I try for less than 2000mg/day. My family has been eating a lot of convenience meals because our kitchen is being renovated, so no stove or sink at this time. We got the salad/minestrone soup combo from that ubiquitous Italian-Ametican chain restaurant and one bowl of soup has almost half my daily limit! So much for trying to eat healthy... 🙄 Great video, as usual.

[@luvslyfe1]

Do you have an instant pot? I’m so addicted to mine, that I have two sizes 😂 They get used a LOT and cooking is fast & easy.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks for letting me know you like this video 🥰 I'm so sorry you have kidney disease. That makes cooking and eating especially challenging. I'm trying to keep it at around 2000 mg as well. I'm learning that I can be satisfied with less, but it is taking some effort. 😂

[@bernadinewhitworth4262]

Yay TEMU !

[@ArdentMichelle]

Glad you like them as much as I do 😁

[@shaunaleessnackidies]

A homemade lime vinaigrette or salsa is great too 😊

[@ArdentMichelle]

Lime vinaigrette sounds good. 👍 I make a homemade salsa that uses canned tomatoes and unfortunately there is a lot of sodium in canned tomatoes as well, but it's very good.

[@pennynickels5216]

@@ArdentMichelle there are no salt boxed and canned tomatoes

[@shaunaleessnackidies]

@@ArdentMichelle they don’t have the no salt added ones at your store?

[@ArdentMichelle]

@@pennynickels5216 You are right. I had blocked that fact out of my mind. I'm in denial 😂😂

[@ArdentMichelle]

@@shaunaleessnackidies they do. I forgot. I'm taking baby steps to letting go of sodium. 😂

[@hello-vs4me]

Make alot of your meals now thanks 😊 ☺️

[@ArdentMichelle]

Yay! 😁

[@grannyframmy]

Hi- I also went over to TEMU after your last video- been on heir website for hours searching and picking items- just to find out at the checkout that they dont deliver out of the USA....dangit- I was mad! Great vido though!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Granny Frammy 😁 Oh darn! ☹️ I'm so sorry about that. I will talk to them and mention it in my next video if they sponsor me again. Ugh! That's disappointing. Maybe they will add other countries soon.

[@tabithastone7183]

I use the gluten free pasta all the time because I have a gluten allergy…it holds up really well and even stores well for left overs unlike other gluten free pasta

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Tabitha 😁 Which brand are you using?

[@tabithastone7183]

@@ArdentMichelle I’m using the great value one like you did in this video

[@impish22]

can't wait to watch.. but first, getting the coffee going

[@ArdentMichelle]

Yay!

[@shelzp7272]

Great video…

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you Shelz 😁

[@maryannsscrapdesk9655]

Great ideas for hotel stays while working!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Yes I have some viewers that travel a lot. I was thinking of them when I did this video. Glad you liked it. 😁 Thanks for letting me know. 🥰

[@maryannsscrapdesk9655]

@@ArdentMichelle Definitely!

[@catherinewheatley1493]

Love your content, always! You inspire a fresh approach to healthy, low-cost meal planning. We currently have to travel to a medical facility for treatments every other month. Our motel stays are usually 3-5 days in a city where restaurant food is so expensive. I’m exploring ways to use a rice cooker to make meals. Our current room (low cost lodging offered by the medical facility) has no microwave. Just made a very tasty rice chicken enchilada recipe in the rice cooker (used canned chicken, rice,water, tomato-chicken broth bouillon powder, canned green chilis and a packet of enchilada seasoning-served with shredded cheese on top and also fresh veggies as a side) . Will explore making oatmeal (not the packets, but with old fashioned oats) for breakfast in the rice cooker. I would love to see if you could have a segment offering ideas for travel. I’ve been working on how to pack a “travel” kitchen that isn’t too cumbersome. More rice cooker ideas will be my focus since it’s a small appliance and seems so versatile.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Catherine 😁 Thank you so much 🥰 I'm glad you like my videos. Yes I would love to incorporate more "travel" cooking ideas. I think it would be helpful for a lot of my viewers. I'll have to think about this for a bit. 🤔

[@HalleluYahuah]

I joined Temu after your last video. I just placed my second order.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Jessica 😁 Yay! I'm glad you like TEMU. I love my products and so inexpensive too.

[@showmenana6768]

I just looked online the white rice bowls are $16.99 & brown rice bowls are $19.99 😮

[@ArdentMichelle]

H MART shows $19.99 for me too if I was to order online, but the regular non sale price in the stores is $14.99 for brown rice and $12.99 for white rice. They are frequently on sale though. Not sure why it's more if you order online. 🤷‍♀️

[@ellendoss3088]

I ordered from Temu before christmas and no problem with what I ordered. The problem came when my bank card was used without my consent at a division of Temu. Needless to say that card was cancelled and I got a new card but it too was used by someone at another division of Temu. I have not ordered anything from them again and never will. Just saying that if you want to order something from them go get a prepaid card to use. Protect your other cards and do not use them on thier sitre.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Ellen. 😁 That's so strange. How would anyone be able to use your new card? How would they even have that info?

[@danasandlin2435]

your stir fry looks exceptional...thanks, dts/usa

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you 😁

[@FairyRosee_]

What kind of camera do you use? The colors are lovely and everything is very crisp. My phone and go pro make all my food look grey!

[@ArdentMichelle]

I use an iPhone 12.

[@thegigiollieshow8768]

Another amazing video from you 🖤

[@ArdentMichelle]

Glad you liked it. Thanks for letting me know. 🥰

[@angelguidesindisquise]

Barilla has 4 varieties of pasta in pouches that cook in 60 seconds in a microwave. It looks like the low-sugar oats are not organic like the higher sugar content packets. In the past, there has been a lot of toxic pesticide content found in oats: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXndm3R4h7yqesk

[@ArdentMichelle]

for some reason this message was held. I'll. look into that.

[@Angel-rq3pi]

Salt to preserve; sugar to off-set the taste of the salt. Smh

[@ArdentMichelle]

so true 👍

[@relax2dream164]

Do these meals seem small to you? I think I would still be hungry after eating them.

[@ArdentMichelle]

It was filling of me, but you may eat more than me.

[@ultramagapatriot5874]

Where is Temu located please?

[@ArdentMichelle]

They are an e-commerce site. I believe the US headquarters are in Boston.

[@alishaparr577]

I believe it's an app online only shopping store.

[@ultramagapatriot5874]

@@ArdentMichelle thank you

[@ultramagapatriot5874]

@@alishaparr577 thank you

[@wendoxia]

Obviously I’m not a doctor and no one should take this advice as gospel from their doctor but my best friend is a dietitian with a masters in nutrition and she says that the current studies seem to confirm that if you do not have high blood pressure eating salt will not give you high blood pressure watching your sodium is important and for people whose blood pressure is already on the higher side To keep it from spiking but if your blood pressure is normal it will have no serious effect …I’m just saying if you need a little soy sauce don’t be afraid of it, Unless you have already been put on a low sodium diet

[@ArdentMichelle]

Unfortunately high blood pressure is not the only thing impacted by sodium. 😞

[@gccheryl4038]

I almost made this same comment but I wouldn't have sounded as diplomatic, lol. I read that the medical powers that be lowered the HBP threshold about two years ago to the 140/145 mark which means they can prescribe more of the meds too. Crafty devils...

[@osoniye4209]

@@ArdentMichelle Agreed! I know it can lead to passive overeating and weight gain. What else do you know of?

[@ArdentMichelle]

@@osoniye4209 kidneys, liver, heart, blood vessels, brain, and sympathetic nervous system. 😞

[@osoniye4209]

@@ArdentMichelle Wow!

[@chrisharmon5453]

That particular gf pasta is actually not tasty. 😢😢

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hi Chris 😁 That's a bummer. Do you know of a good gf macaroni product?

[@rebekahhansen1112]

Barilla makes the best GF pasta that I've tried. Most important not to overcook GF pasta. It becomes gummy if you do.

[@bleedingbellybutton9403]

My favorite ranch too!! I never liked hidden valley 😂 also I think that variety pack of oatmeal isnt on shelves because those are autumn-themed flavors it's usually on the shelves during autumn 🍂

[@ArdentMichelle]

That could be it.👍