EATING FOR $20 a WEEK | BUDGET MEAL PLAN

[@patpeters6331]

Potatoes and onions with an egg is also one of my favorite breakfasts. Avocado toast, I am in heaven. Lol. 🥑🍳

[@ArdentMichelle]

and it's so rare that I get to have the potatoes, onions and egg. Makes me appreciate it more.

[@kimmegee4736]

You make budget eating look on purpose for healthy eating. I love it.

[@TheSusanhunter]

There's something very satisfying about watching spinach wilt up in a pot.

[@ccjdis]

Appreciate that you do the work of going back to previous videos to insert. Thanks.

[@ArdentMichelle]

My pleasure! 😁 Thank YOU for watching!

[@beckymccomas2644]

I've said it before, I love your videos. We share a similar taste in food, but I do use more meat than you, due to my husband. I'm also protein deficient. When making your home fries, try a little curry powder with it. Gives it another depth of flavor. Thanks again for taking your precious time to make and share your videos with us. 😊

[@abunchahooey]

Michelle, I know you don’t label your budget meal plans, but you definitely prove people can eat healthy on a budget! Everything looks so fresh and colorful and flavorful! I’m a carb queen, so that hash brown and egg burrito looked right up my alley! 😂 It all looked great, and you must feel good eating so healthily. I wish I could remember where I saw this tip, but to keep potatoes fresh longer, get a sturdy cardboard box and line the bottom with newspaper. Lay potatoes in a single layer, top with newspaper and repeat ending with a layer of newspaper on top, to shield potatoes from light. Store in a cool, dry, dark place. Potatoes are supposed to last weeks and weeks with this storage technique, and i share this because Sam’s 10lbs of potatoes to me are always the freshest, but it’s sometimes difficult to use up so much. I plan on trying this soon, but I’m sure it will work just like back in the day a family member’s root cellar kept potatoes fresh all winter long. It was actually a door in the kitchen floor and was always cool and dark. Have a great week, and hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

[@momof2momof2]

I got a 2 dozen pack of organic eggs from Costco for under $5. It was the best price anywhere near me. Everything looks so delicious ! Especially the burritos! 🥰🎄❄☃🎅💖✝

[@melraelee]

I'm just blown away by your continued variety of recipes, while still being fairly healthy. You're just great at what you do, Michelle. Blessings!

[@patpeters6331]

Hmmmm I haven't heard about peanut butter in ramen before. I have both so I am definitely going to try it since I have not been disappointed in recipes you have suggested.🍜

[@ArdentMichelle]

The second time I tried it, I used a little less of the seasoning packet to try to cut some sodium, but I think it tastes best with 3/4 of the packet. I'm sure it tastes differently with each flavor of ramen. I forgot to mention that Kara normally adds cayenne pepper to hers, but since I had the spicy ramen I didn't. Hope you enjoy. I'll post Kara's original recipe now.

[@shaunaleessnackidies]

LOVE these kinds of videos!❤ I wish they were around 20 years ago!

[@CFord-wu3in]

Brilliant video! I love the idea of a standard weekly list that is so versatile!

[@justafryguy]

The lentil soup I have done with chicken broth mix and it tastes so good, I will try adding ginger.

[@tinashort9098]

I had this playing while I was making a pan of 💩on a shingle or SOS…just so the city folk know it’s just hamburger crumbled and browned with gravy. I’ve been eating it my whole life and I love it!! Anyway… I sat down to watch and started the video over so I could actually watch it!! Happy Sunday Michelle!! I always look so forward to your videos!!!!❤ ps…I just don’t care for cooking in the air fryer. I’ve had 2 and didn’t like either !

[@ArdentMichelle]

The one I have now is significantly better than the last one. I love it...some things are better in it, but not these fried taters and onions 😂 Had to laugh at what your eating 😂

[@LindaC616]

My dad often requested SOS from my mom for breakfast. He had been in the Army in Korea😅

[@CynthiaAva]

Your meals look amazingly delicious. I'm taking notes. Thank you for doing these 20,00 grocery meal plans. Truly appreciate it.

[@ArdentMichelle]

You're welcome 😁 Thanks for letting me know that you enjoy these types of videos!

[@jacki6301]

Good buys this week allows for more colorful meals.

[@ArdentMichelle]

It sure does!

[@pek5117]

Omg that's a good deal on potatoes. Also yay!

[@ArdentMichelle]

It really is!

[@rachael6927]

I always think of you when i grocery shop! I got out of Aldis this Saturday at $54 for me, my toddler and my husband. These are great base ingredients for pretty much any time of year. Ty for the video hope your holiday week was restful ❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

Wow. Great deal for groceries for the 3 of you! This week has been very restful! 😁 Hope yours was the same! Thanks for watching my video! 💜

[@betterlivingonabudget]

Wow, 10# of spuds for $1.89 is amazing. That never happens here in south FL, but we do get cheap avocados, LOL. The PB ramen dish sounds fantastic.

[@jmknudsen5357]

The ramen noodles with peanut butter sounds great. I'll have to try it. I have leftover mashed potatoes from Thanksgiving, so will be making Lentil Shepherd's Pie tonight.

[@estherhurst4741]

Eggs, potatoes, onions, avocado. What’s not to love!! 🥰 Thank you Michelle, my CA friend. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! ❣️

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you so much! 💜 I had a very relaxing Thanksgiving. I had 4 days off from my job, which was how I managed to get this video done. 😂 Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?

[@estherhurst4741]

@@ArdentMichelleI did! Had dinner with my sister and friends Wednesday night, then dinner again with my favorite cousin in Warner Robins GA on Thanksgiving, then drove down to Savannah Ga for a short 4th anniversary trip Fri-Sat. So maybe not so relaxing as yours, but fun! 😀

[@ArdentMichelle]

@ you know that sounds fun to me ( a food themed few days 😂) Plus you got a mini trip in there. Definitely my idea of a great time.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Great ideas. All budget friendly, yet so delicious I would not feel deprived at all. Thank you for the video!

[@nanny8675309]

The burritos looked amazing. When you suggested seasoning, your rice I immediately thought of the new flavors from better than bouillon and I think it would make a delicious. I have tried smoky chipotle, but they also have the flavor, sofrito and adobo that I think would work and be delicious. Thank you for another great video.

[@beckyw9000]

Love all your content! So helpful, always new ideas, new ingredients, new ways to think about eating and buying and preparing food. Have a great end of 2024.

[@chrisharmon5453]

A tip for soy sauce if you don’t own some. Most grocery stores have a deli section. A lot of them have premade sushi. And they will have condiments- just snag a couple packets of soy sauce.

[@ArdentMichelle]

THAT is a GREAT tip! Thanks for sharing it with us all!

[@malikacc6287]

Those potatoes were $3.49 here in Upstate NY, on sale. Crazy how different prices are coast to coast.

[@ArdentMichelle]

yeah and also at the different stores. They are currently $4.88 at my Walmart.

[@cookingforme4711]

I agree, Cally seems to have way better grocery prices than we do but our offset is the price of gas 😊

[@malikacc6287]

@@cookingforme4711 I use to live in California and I miss the fresh produce prices. They can keep the gas prices 😆

[@VictoriaFerland-gu7rb]

One tomato would be 79 cents in RI 😆. I think I paid as much for two potatoes as Michelle paid for a bag.

[@bawlingchicken1]

You wouldn't like living in Canada.

[@impish22]

very creative youtube channel for healthy and budget friendly eating !! Thanks Michelle !!

[@sharonhart3735]

Great deals and budget friendly.

[@connieblack5276]

Going to try the ramin soup, thanks again.

[@lenoraw1098]

Thank you ! I love watching your videos! ♥️🇺🇸♥️

[@ArdentMichelle]

I'm so glad you enjoy them! 😁

[@vinnydabarber]

Everything looks sp good! I'm finally home now after being gone for nearly 2 months so I get to eat what I want and not cook for Mr picky pants lol. Im going to make your vinnys black bean soup again! Yay! And I haven't had those black beans over eggs and spinach in a long time either. Breakfast tomorrow! Thanks for another great video Michelle!❤

[@Maggie8108]

Awesome video Michelle! Lots of good inspiration 🙌

[@kellyjohnson3617]

With an airfryer, I love thin slicing and seasoning a potato, spritz with oil and I hit French fry setting and I have nice crisp potatoes for breakfast burritos or as a nice snack or when I get the frozen breaded tilapia from TJs as a quick and dirty fish and chips cuz the frozen fish patty and the fish take the same time to cook so cook them together. Your soup looks so good. I’m thinking of making soup this afternoon. The peanut butter ramen looks so good. When I get pho I can never eat a whole bowl of it so when I reheat the pho I bring home, I always put a heaping tablespoon of peanut butter in it. I can’t even tell you how wonderful it tastes. But I only use old fashioned peanut butter. Can’t speak to the cheap jif or skippy style peanut butter. Chunky peanut butter is the best to my taste. I love sesame seeds and sesame oil for seasoning. I never thought of peanut butter ramen. Good way to use cilantro with it. And lime and green onions sound really good.

[@ArdentMichelle]

sounds like we have similar tastes!

[@LindaC616]

Try a brand of peanut butter called Justin's. It's a different type of grain than Jif or Skippy, and it doesn't have the palm oil in it. Since I started eating it, I can't go back to Jif and Skippy because of the palm oil. I get the one that has honey in it. It can cost $6 or 7 dollars at some stores because it's organic, but I recently noticed it at a market half an hour from me that's cheaper. I had asked them a few months ago if they sold it and they said no, they had never heard of it. So I pulled it up on my phone and showed it to the girl who was working in the aisle. Now they have it, and it's only $4 a jar! Their store brand, although a bigger jar, is $2. But I don't like it. If Justin were single I would marry him

[@kellyjohnson3617]

@ yes I’ve had Justin’s. I’ve found it at aldis. Also winco makes their own fresh peanut butter. You can’t beat it

[@Dontboxmein7]

I love your videos. Your meals are so creative and look delicious

[@VictoriaFerland-gu7rb]

💟 G’day 👩‍🍳 Michelle. You are a treasure. Wow. Great challenge. Once again you nailed it and my head is swimming with all the ideas you submitted. Onions for me are an ingredient I love. Today is the end of some of my must haves. Red lentils and onion. I made my old standby of red lentil curry soup. Peanut butter sauce is so good and I liked how you improvised with it in the noodle dish. I also appreciated the song you played today but didn’t see you it was by. TY again my friend for making my day brighter. God bless 🩵

[@elenacala]

Such good ideas!! I like cooking more simply these days. I think some fresh cilantro works have been good in that breakfast burrito just to add some freshness. I LOVE sweet baby rays aged hot sauce.

[@moonstoneway2694]

Yum! Great ideas.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks for watching!

[@lauriesheppard3394]

You are so clever! Great job! I going to try your soup😍

[@ritaplatz5013]

Great video! Exactly what I needed with the budget and the detailed meal plan. Thank you!!

[@ArdentMichelle]

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful. 😊

[@charlottekearn5185]

Good morning Michelle. ....Yes, you can't go wrong with tortillas,beans, rice, you can do much with those depending on the filling. I had cubed sweet potatoes I had to use yesterday, I made a less sauce chili layered with sweet potatoes and cheese on top. Today using what is left and making burritos out of it. The ramen you made looks delicious, I have everything but the cilantro, I'm going to the store tomorrow and will pick some up😋. My husband wouldn't really care for it but it will make a fantastic lunch for me. I hope your Thanksgiving was a good one. Have a good week ahead and see ya next Sunday. Charlotte

[@ArdentMichelle]

yum your chili sounds delicious! 😋 I think you always have something good cooking in your kitchen though! In a perfect world, we would be neighbors! 😂 Hope you like the ramen. I added the recipe, along with Kara's original recipe so be sure to read that.

[@charlottekearn5185]

@ArdentMichelle YES, in a perfect world you would be my neighbor 💯

[@Suebearish]

Finely chopped spinach is good in scrambled eggs

[@LindaC616]

Michelle, try searching "Chili's black bean copycat". If I remember correctly it's just cooking down some black beans with some spices. They work great in burritos, eggs, and rice, and on top of a baked potato

[@muttersmenu2422]

A well balanced meal plan on a limited budget 😊 In Australia 🇦🇺 the ingredients would cost 💲 60 to 70. Good video 👍🇦🇺

[@donnadkshad6213]

I like ethnic stores for great bargains.

[@gaildawson5464]

Love these meals and am going to try the spicy peanut noodles with cilantro!

[@ArdentMichelle]

oh my gosh! It's so good! The second time I made it, I tried to use a little less of the Chile ramen seasoning packet and it wasn't quite as good. You'll have to play around with it, but my preference is with 3/4 of the packet in 1 cup water. Different ramens will taste differently. I posted Kara's original recipe in the comments area of my video. She adds cayenne pepper, but since I was using a spicy ramen, I didn't add it. Hope you enjoy!

[@gaildawson5464]

@@ArdentMichelle Thanks much! I think I'll skip the cayenne too as I'm sure it will be perfect as you have made it!

[@igneousidol]

I might try rice (instead of Ramen) with the peanut butter added...the peanut butter and spicy chili flavor sounds very appetizing

[@ArdentMichelle]

are you gluten free? You could also try rice noodles!

[@LindaC616]

There are also noodles using hearts of palm although they definitely have a flavor to them

[@igneousidol]

@@ArdentMichelle I am not gluten free, I just don't keep noodles in my pantry because I stock up on pasta when that is on sale, pricing out noodles when I shop they are always at least twice the price per pound....Ramen packets are too much sodium for me, I need limited sodium since my stroke and whenever I taste pre-salted food, it tastes like poison to me

[@justafryguy]

The ramen with the peanut sauce reminds me of pad Thai.

[@IrmaCavazos-fc3mb]

The dishes look amazing, but please finish cooking your tortillas. They make them this way so you can finish cooking them. You'll notice the difference. Thanks for sharing your videos. ❤

[@emmavik-fredriksson640]

Yum! Everything looked delicious. Cilantro here (in Sweden) is always expensive and very much a treat. But I love it, it really makes meals something extra.

[@paularose3847]

It is very easy to grow, even indoors. And then you can dry it to use later. My favorite herb.

[@gabrielawhitten3131]

When I make pico de Gallo I add tapatillo or hot sauce into it sometimes when my chiles go bad. 🤔

[@sonjamomberger556]

Bravo

[@alicehunsaker7876]

Great

[@cookingforme4711]

I love your $20 weekly budgets, they're my favorites you do. The crunchy PB was a brilliant choice. I can't wait to make that ramen. Another super cheap really delicious and simple dish is greens and beans. They've become a constant in our home. We use dry northern beans cooked in the instapot and add turnip greens. All I add is garlic and salt and pepper sometimes a bullion cube. So delicious and hardy. I find it so interesting so many people love lentil soup but don't like split pea soup, they're so similar to me. What do you think?

[@ArdentMichelle]

the greens and beans sound delicious! 😋 as for the split pea soup, peas are the only plant I don't like. To me, they don't taste like lentils, but that's just me.

[@trosa223]

That ramen dish looks delicious I don’t Think I have seen the chili flavored one however, I do have soy sauce flavor one in my cabinet. I wonder if that would work

[@ArdentMichelle]

I think any ramen will work. Some you might like better than others though. I put the recipe along with Kara's original recipe in the comments section of my video. You might want to read that over, because she added cayenne pepper to hers, but I didn't since I was already using a spicy ramen. I would just try it and then adjust the flavors to suit you.

[@trosa223]

@@ArdentMichelle I add hot sauce to everything. It drives my friends crazy 😂

[@ksacosta69]

I watched a yoh tubes (Jessica Wanders) make a banana curry. This might be something new and interesting for you to try! 🤷🏼‍♀️😬

[@widowswatch6610]

I have always eaten very bland with no seasonings but found it just fine but I have switched to oregano, thyme,paprika, fennel, and rosemary. Oh and a little salt. I can not eat garlic at all it makes me sick even the smell of it makes me nuts..LOL…… Your meals today were healthy. Beans are ok but I don’t eat beans much. Too much iron in them . I have too much iron in my system. Most women need it but I don’t. It is amazing how different people are and how they eat. But I like your videos anyways. I watch a lot of cooking videos and the girls sure do use tons of garlic and hot stuff. I think if You are going to use a lot of seasonings they should be organic and the foods too. But when you are hurting for money you are more focused on filling your belly which I get completely. I have been there. 👍

[@buzzingnoise]

Impressive.

[@Ericaaaaaaaaaa]

I reeeeally hope tariffs don't send prices through the roof next year. But I know if they do, you'll show us how to stretch a dollar anyway!

[@ArdentMichelle]

I hope not too! We'll get through it together somehow though! 😁

[@cookingforme4711]

I seriously doubt tariffs would impact food prices rather our energy production increases will actually lower fuel costs for shipping as well as fertilizer costs thereby lowering grocery prices. Also food tariffs are not on the menu. It's more luxury items like foreign vehicles made in other countries.

[@triwalee-chin8544]

@@cookingforme4711 We import a lot of our food

[@infiniteneedle9845]

@@cookingforme4711However, metals are on the menu. And we need them for canning. The lack of canned foods during Covid was due to not getting the needed tins from overseas. Also, a lot of packaging comes also comes from seas.

[@LindaC616]

Say hello to $8 avocados ​@@cookingforme4711

[@margaretwhiting3073]

I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for a decent thermos

[@ArdentMichelle]

I use mine so much. I think I got it at one of the discount stores. It's been a real game changer for my lunches.

[@chrisharmon5453]

I don’t know where you live. But I have found some astounding deals on the “random stuff” aisle at Grocery Outlet. I’ve even gotten a tent there. 😮👏

[@LindaC616]

Do you guys have a place called savers?

[@Shettikka-s9v]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

Good morning! 😁

[@annmich4593]

❤

[@danneyandroid0391]

Hey 👋

[@alicehunsaker7876]

GGGG

[@DebbieM1140]

❤