GROCERY HAUL | +2 DELICIOUS LOW COST MEALS

Happy Mother's Day friends! 🌸🌼
Today I'm sharing my monthly big grocery haul. I have pantry staples like beans and rice that I buy once every 9-12 months so this is just to purchase the perishables and things to go with those pantry staples. I'll also be sharing a couple meals that I made with these foods.
#groceryhaul
#ardentmichelle
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[@Patricia-nq8lo]

I have been watching You Tube channels on TV for several months now but just opened a You Tube account today and just wanted you ot know that I LOVE your channel. It is the first channel to which I subscribed so far. I can really relate because you make relatively small portions and I just cook for myself. Thank You and Happy Mothers Day!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Welcome to my channel and thanks for subbing! 😁 I'm so glad you're enjoying my content.

[@Busybeeee]

I just absolutely love your channel. Not only do you eat cheap but you eat healthy! Your diet, your budget and your food haul is so similar to mind! This proves that you don’t need to be rich to eat well, you just need to be clever and organized ☺️

[@ArdentMichelle]

This is true 👍 It's all in the planning.

[@patpeters6331]

Your veggie salad looked good to me. Refreshing and healthy without being heavy. Perfect for work so you don't get that afternoon slump.

[@ArdentMichelle]

definitely trying to avoid that afternoon slump 😂

[@anncurran4704]

I am impressed with the portion control you use. You really use your budget for nutritious foods. It must help with weight control as well.

[@ArdentMichelle]

I do my best. When you are on a set strict budget it really helps to keep the focus on whole foods.

[@kristinj7173]

So happy to see you focusing on both budget and (mostly) plant-based meal planning. Right up my alley! Thanks!

[@ArdentMichelle]

glad you're liking my content 😁

[@CMarie404]

You never fail to have something that makes me want to recreate. The smashed chickpea, sun dried tomato & olives on hearty bread then grilled. mmmmm!! I like the idea of adding a little green inside or on the side. I just need to get some bread. Kudos to cutting that bread perfectly in half. 😃

[@ArdentMichelle]

Yay! 🥳 I'm so glad you found inspiration in this video! 😁 I know...I was shocked that I cut it in half so accurately 😂😂

[@patpeters6331]

I don't know if you know but you can easily freeze fresh blueberries. I do that when I find them at a good price. In fact I used them this morning in my oatmeal pancakes.

[@ArdentMichelle]

That's a great idea!

[@LaurenWhisper]

Happy Mother’s Day, Michelle! Thank you for your videos and menu ideas. Your budget meal videos have helped me feed my family.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks so much 😁 and Happy Mother's Day to you too!

[@tinashort9098]

I eat soup all year!! I just love it!!! Happy Mother’s Day Michelle!!!❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks so much 😁

[@ArdentMichelle]

Happy Mothers Day! 🌸

[@pek5117]

Wow that's a lot of tofu! I have had the same thai curry its good. I've been eating lots of cauliflower cheese bakes but they seem to be out of stock last week at my local supermarket. That sandwich looked great and I knew you had to slip some of your favourite sun dried tomatoes in there! Thanks for the video Michelle. I'm sure all your work colleagues are jealous of your lunches.

[@ArdentMichelle]

It really is a lot of tofu, but I've been loving that I can buy only once a month. My life is so much easier. Glad you like my video! 😁

[@wendoxia]

Happy Mother’s Day, Michelle!!!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks and same to you 😁

[@patpeters6331]

With summer coming up, might I suggest strawberries in balsamic vinaigrette as an afternoon snack? It's delicious and low cal. Just be aware that it's a pungent smell that will drive your co-workers to want some. 😄

[@ArdentMichelle]

Oh yes, that does sound food. I forget about that one. I'm planning on using a few of those strawberries in a salad with the champagne dressing.

[@patpeters6331]

Wishing you a very Happy Mother's Day. 💐💐 Hope you have a lovely day. 🤩

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks Pat 💜 Happy Mothers Day to you too (if it applies 😂)

[@patpeters6331]

​​@@ArdentMichelleThank you. 😂 Yes it does apply....

[@glorytogodhomestead3495]

I love those food boxes with the lids that you have. I’m going to get me some of those that will keep me more organized and save food better.

[@ArdentMichelle]

We use them daily!

[@DollyJohanne]

Hi! Thanks for sharing! Just a tips: I eat the whole strawberry, with the green part and all. I heard, but can not verify, that it has some iron. It was a raw food youtuber for many years ago that used the whole berry, and said it so take it with a pinch of salt (it’s a green so it may be true), but I don’t waste any of the berry. I use a backpack for shopping and normally have with me Tupperware for getting the berries safe home, but if any is mused I make an easy just stirred up jam with mashed berries and chia seeds. I use some stevia drops with maple syrup flavor, but anything will do. I will also think that adding the sun dried tomatoes in the chick peas would be great 😋 I got some inspiration from you here, as always ❤ Thanks again for sharing! Love and blessings from Johanne, Norway 🇳🇴

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks for this input! 😁 Glad you like this video!

[@margeebechyne8642]

Happy Mother's Day!!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks so much

[@Makeitbymandy]

Good Morning & Happy Mama’s Day!!❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

Good morning! 😁 thanks so much Happy Mothers Day 🌸

[@pennynickels5216]

If you cook pasta, potatoes and rice, then let them cool before eating, they become insulin resistance for all. Rice can also be frozen after cooking a batch. Just read your bread is a sourdough recipe, the oval shape is batard. I love good, grainy and seeded bread! My neighbor shops at TJs every Sunday.

[@ArdentMichelle]

I've been trying to limit my bread, but I do love it so much!

[@pennynickels5216]

@ArdentMichelle Me too. I think the ticket is really great texture and taste, organic flours and crunchy stuff lol. My fave is a $6 loaf from a local bakery called Grains Galore. I get 1 loaf a month and use selectively.

[@momof2momof2]

Good shopping

[@VictoriaFerland-gu7rb]

Thank you 🧑‍🍳 Michelle . Thanks for taking us on a big shopping trip. I do similar. The broccoli. 🥦 you could blanch and freeze. I freeze so many things. Especially soup. Soup is for all seasons and really helps me stretch the budget as an omnivore. This month I hope to stay with in my SNAP allowance. So far so good because I am eating from the freezer. My favorite foods lately are roasted asparagus and strawberries. I hope you had a great Mother’s Day . 💟

[@ArdentMichelle]

I love roasted asparagus. Yum! 😋 I had a great Mothers Day, thanks for asking. Hope you had a nice one also!

[@user-rf1zf5jb9c]

I hope that you had a fantastic Mother's Day. My husband and I eat chickpeas sort of like you are on your sandwich. We make it into a sort of tuna salad adding vegan mayo and some relish. I usually will add a couple slices of avocado to the sandwich too. Just another idea if you want another variation.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks so much 💜 I love this idea! In fact, I just made a hummus open face sandwich today that was out of this world. It had hummus, avocado and radishes.

[@glorytogodhomestead3495]

I like the chickpea sandwich idea, you could do so many different variations with the chickpeas❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

I agree. So many different ways to eat that!

[@thegigiollieshow8768]

Another absolutely amazing video I finally got to go to Trader Joe's 2 weeks ago the nearest one is 2 hours away and I absolutely loved it I cannot wait to go back great big hugs thank you for sharing I really enjoyed this 🖤

[@charlottekearn5185]

Omgosh, I feel bad for you 😢 your Trader Joe's is 2 hours away. Mine is a 10 minute drive away. I spend far too much time at mine ( also a little too much money). It's a great store for sure.

[@ArdentMichelle]

thanks so much 💜 I would definitely make that drive. 😂

[@chellesoup]

Thanks for the cost saving tips. You have such amazing content!

[@ArdentMichelle]

thanks so much 💜

[@rebekahhansen1112]

I didn't know that champagne dressing was still around ....you are right, it is so good. Now I am going to search the aisles and try it again. The sandwich looked amazing.

[@ArdentMichelle]

I was thinking about adding that dressing to a grain salad too. I think that would be good.

[@rebekahhansen1112]

@@ArdentMichelle that sounds tasty. I'm also thinking a strawberry spinach salad with the Champagne dressing.

[@wyldlibrarian3549]

awesome idea - the chickpea sandwich - cant wait to try it

[@ArdentMichelle]

Hope you enjoy!

[@Suebearish]

The pasta in the bags are.99 a bag of you don't mind using a different shape

[@ArdentMichelle]

I have lots of those at home though. I actually did pick up some of the spaghetti there yesterday though. I think they were just out at the time I was shopping.

[@saraherber1887]

Great video! I love to see your methods at work. I have tried the lemon pasta. The texture was really good, but I ended up squeezing a lemon on the pasta because I wanted a fresh lemon zip that the product did not have. I love Trader Joe's though. I had my hands on those peppers too, but put them back for the same reason!❤❤ I have the same problem with broccoli pre cut and in a bag. It often just looks old and tastes old. My solution is to buy fresh, but have some frozen as a back up. The sandwich at the end looked wonderful. I have a jar of pickled onions in my fridge that I just might have to try with that. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas. And.... Happy Mother's Day! ❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks so much. 😁 I love the idea of adding in pickled onions. I've actually been wanting to try a mashed chickpea sandwich with mustard. 😂 sounds odd but I'm going to try it.

[@effiecross2008]

Happy Mother's Day Michelle! That chickpea sandwich looked really good. I think i would have added a few of those sweet peppers in there. I'm pretty sure I saw a KZbinr buy champagne vinegar at Aldi's recently. You might try looking there. I hope your new job is going well!

[@ArdentMichelle]

I love the idea of adding in the crispy peppers to that sandwich. Thanks for the heads up on the champagne dressing at Aldi's. I'll check there. 😁

[@elenacala]

The sandwich looks super good. Have you ever thought about growing your own microgreens like alfalfa sprouts? I love putting hummus, tomatoes, cucumber, sprouts on a sandwich. I used to make it on Ezekiel bread. Love just mashing it though super simple.

[@ArdentMichelle]

I would love that. Hope to do that one day in the future if I move somewhere that I have more light.

[@ArdentMichelle]

and yes, I agree about the hummus sandwich. I just had one this morning that was so good!

[@moonstoneway2694]

That’s impressive shopping on a budget. Thanks for sharing some of your methods. I did make your American Goulash recently and it was delicious. 😊

[@ArdentMichelle]

Yay! 🥳 Glad you liked it!

[@lisablack9634]

Looks delicious

[@rachelhero3413]

I need to find a recipe for a low carb thai red curry sauce. That dish looked amazing and would be wonderful for my diabetic life

[@ArdentMichelle]

I'll probably be making a yellow curry from scratch soon.

[@emmavik-fredriksson640]

Great video!

[@teresitap5778]

I love mashed chickpeas,just made a batch yesterday,wish I had sun dried tomatoes.💖

[@ArdentMichelle]

been craving a mashed chickpea sandwich with mustard for some reason.

[@slategrey2879]

I'm new to your channel and really enjoyed this video! It was interesting hearing how you budget your monthly shopping. I'd love to see an example of one of your smaller weekly shops. Both those recipes looked great too! I think I'll try that chickpea sandwich next time I have some nice bread 🍞

[@ArdentMichelle]

Welcome 😁 and thanks so much for supporting me on Patreon. I'm grateful for the support!💜 I usually try to make sure to load up on whatever veggies are on sale at my local market. I think I filmed some of that a couple weeks ago, but I'll make sure to include more. 😁

[@simplemealsbytvlog6491]

Nice video 😊 i enjoy your recipes

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you so much 😊

[@shelzp7272]

Excellent… ✔️

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you so much 😀

[@Stephanie-ew8lw]

Happy Mother’s Day!!! That’s my favorite curry sauce also! I use a bit of coconut milk to thin it out and add garbanzo beans with my cauliflower in the curry. The sauce lasts a long time in the fridge so I can use it several times!😀

[@ArdentMichelle]

I actually thought about adding chickpeas to this! That would be delicious.

[@tereclemmer7923]

Very interesting and informative video. Thanks!

[@vinnydabarber]

Very nice grocery haul, I love them! Great way to find new ideas and ingredients. Thanks Michelle!❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

😁

[@suprememagnetic4850]

Happy Mother’s Day! Thank you for the video. Your voice is so soothing.

[@ArdentMichelle]

You're welcome 😁 Happy Mothers Day!

[@ShettikkaWoods-jl8iq]

Good morning 🌄 blessings thank you 👍🏾

[@ArdentMichelle]

Good morning! 🌸

[@kendrahurst541]

That chickpea sandwich looked amazing! Happy Mother’s Day Michelle! 😊

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks so much 😁 Not sure if you're a mom, but Happy Mothers Day to you too if it applies 🌸

[@patriciatzai]

First!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Congrats! 🥳

[@pennynickels5216]

A very nice selection of food! Glad to see the food prep you did when you arrived home. It helps eliminate food waste, imo. You can always eat fresh 🥦 🥦 🥦 for 2 weeks and freeze some now for later for stir fry/bowls. 😋 I eat LOTS of broccoli 😂😅 and use both. I love soup as well.

[@ArdentMichelle]

I agree...sometimes if you don't do the food prep right away, food can get stale.

[@theresaaltongregg4569]

When baking your tofu add a teaspoon of the curry sauce , it's delicious. I love pears as a snack, roasted like apples with cinnamon and sugar steveia . Pairs are good to dip in peanut butter also.

[@ArdentMichelle]

Oh true 👍 It would make a nice stand alone sauce for the baked tofu. Hadn't thought of that.

[@glorytogodhomestead3495]

That was quite a crunch!

[@ArdentMichelle]

I love the crunch!

[@LAactor]

HMD! Ghost broccoli. I never really liked cauliflower. One time at work the caterers on set must have bought a boatload of purple cauli and even though I tried it every time it was the same and not something I found easy to eat.. You know how you love sesame? When you rustic mashed the garbanzos it made me think you were trying to make a thick vegetarian hummus or eggless egg salad. If instead of water what if you used tahini in it's place? However I would not use sesame oil as you know that stuff easily overpowers. But any oil would make it incorporate better and act more like a nut butter sandwich.

[@ArdentMichelle]

making hummus soon! I love sesame...the stronger the better 😂

[@kristyreal489]

😋 I always enjoy your videos and there are some wonderful ideas in this one, as usual. My go-to veg is sweet onions and that's the only thing I would add to that delicious looking sandwich - thin slices of sweet onion. As much as I love tomatoes, I really need to try sundried tomatoes on a sandwich!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Sweet onions would give it some crunch too!

[@ErinoftheValley]

Yum!

[@colettebishop2173]

Looked delicious. Havd you tried Coronation chickpeas? Great for a salad or sandwich. Also, onion bhaji sandwiches with mango chutney are amazing, if you have any gram flour to hand.

[@ArdentMichelle]

I've made a curried chickpea sandwich that was fabulous but not with mango chutney. I would have to search to find that. Sounds good. I want to make this now. 👩‍🍳 Thanks for inspiration.

[@barbaramorris1677]

Everything looks so colorful and delicious! Thanks for sharing ❤and…Happy Mother’s Day!

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you so much 😁 and Happy Mothers Day to you too! 🌸🌼

[@charlottekearn5185]

Hi Michelle, First of all Happy Mother's Day 💐💐. Once again great video and had to laugh at your trader Joe's haul, I buy that same stuff. You know when you got those hash browns, I noticed the item to the left, the potato, green bean and mushroom blend, it's really good and easy to duplicate too. Also that lemon pasta is really good too. Have a great week. Charlotte

[@ArdentMichelle]

I think I've had that potato green bean and mushroom blend a long time ago. It was good. I'll have to pick up the lemon pasta soon. Thanks for the recommendation. Have a great week! 😁 and hope you had a nice Mothers Day! 🌸

[@ambreewilliams6585]

Happy Mommy Day Michelle!!! 💐💐💐

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you! 💜 Happy Mother's Day to you too, if it applies

[@lenoraw1098]

Great ideas! Happy Mother’s Day! ♥️🇺🇸♥️

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you! 🤗 Happy Mother's Day to you too! I hope you are staying safe. I've been thinking of you over there with all those tornadoes!

[@kippytx]

Yummy. I loved the food haul. And the dishes

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you 😁

[@user-mu1nn5xh8k]

If you ever need extra tofu Ralph's (krogers) sells it for 1.70 a pack. For that extra firm tjs tofu, are the grams of protein per ounce? I check protein per calorie, to find better sources of protein and not weight management. I'll check again, but i thought the extra fien was better, but only slightly. Thank you for all you do!

[@ArdentMichelle]

It's 14 grams of protein per 3 ounces. Thanks for the heads up on Ralphs.

[@elizabeth4053]

Do you ever bake your own bread? I found an easy Artisan Bread with just flour, salt and yeast from Big Family Homestead. She makes enough for several loaves but stores the dough in the fridge for later. So yummy and easy. I have sourdough starter from a friend and use that for making English muffins on the stove and the occasional biscotti recipe 🥰

[@ArdentMichelle]

No not yet although there are lots of easy recipes out there for great bread!

[@elizabeth4053]

@@ArdentMichelle what’s nice about her recipe is that you can have fresh bread easily. It’s really tasty. I love your recipes- it’s encouraging me to be more creative in the kitchen 💕

[@pennynickels5216]

Bread is easy! I make mine, half ap or bread flour, with half whole wheat flour, oats, with walnuts and sun seeds when I have them. I put oats on top too. SO yummy 😋 freezes well too.

[@hmeerdink9606]

Thank you for sharing your grocery haul. Another great video! You mentioned that the romaine will last you for a month. How do you store it so it stays fresh?

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thanks so much! 😁 I keep it in the crisper area of the fridge (the drawers on the bottom). I don't do anything else. SamsClub usually has very fresh romaine lettuce. If I had to, I would put it in water to keep it fresh, but I've never had to.

[@Ericaaaaaaaaaa]

Happy mother's day! Thank you for these meal ideas! My friend recently told me about an Italian dish she makes on weeknights called pasta e ceci (pasta with chickpeas). Have you tried it?

[@ArdentMichelle]

yes, it's already on my bucket list..... and this is a great reminder! 😁

[@LAactor]

Is it true organic wilts and goes bad faster because it doesn't have the pesticides and the unnatural things that keep it from spoiling? Is broccoli on the list of things to make sure to have to buy as organic? Because if it isn't, maybe non organic makes it be fresh longer.. just guessing

[@ArdentMichelle]

SamsClub used to sell a non organic broccoli that I liked better, but they stopped selling it. 😞

[@Mistygray74]

Happy Mother’s Day❤

[@ArdentMichelle]

Thank you 💜 Happy Mother Day! (if it applies 😂)

[@Mistygray74]

@@ArdentMichelle thank you! It does. Two daughters + fur babies. I enjoy your videos immensely. I have been sharing them with my MIL. I look forward to your ideas each Sunday and appreciate your commitment to keeping to your schedule (as I need the inspiration)!

[@ArdentMichelle]

@@Mistygray74 I'm so glad. 😁I feel like we all inspire each other here!

[@colettemcwilliams1325]

At my Sam's they have a bag of coleslaw mix for 1.98. I use it on my tacos, i make egg fu young with it and now i will put it in soup like you suggested. How long can you keep tofu?

[@ArdentMichelle]

egg foo Yung....yum. I haven't made that in a long time! As for the tofu, it depends on the date on the package. The packages I bought are good until July 20th. Once opened I use them within a week.

[@rajimac]

Will you have a look on the strawberry packet and tell me where they are from. We get that brand in Ireland and we are told they are Irish as o Driscoll is an Irish name. I was curious to know what they say on them.

[@pek5117]

They are also in Canada and Australia. I'm Aussie and on the box it says it's Australian. I think they basically own the Berry market across the world

[@ArdentMichelle]

they are Driscoll's.

[@rajimac]

Interesting how they seem to be marketed as local all over the world. In Ireland driscolls is marketed as Irish.

[@pek5117]

@rajimac same as here in Australia marketed as aussie

[@marcialane8235]

How do you store your Romaine lettuce to keep it fresh so long..??? I never get more than a week almost with it . I saw a taco filler recipe using riced cauliflower and canned lentils on Pinterest that has high reviews but still haven’t tried.

[@ArdentMichelle]

First, I make sure to buy fresh romaine (like at Samsclub), then I put the romaine in the crisper (not the freezer). I only cut up one head of romaine at a time. If I had too, I would put it in water to keep it fresh, but I've never had to.

[@im7mommy]

Do you find Sam’s to be worth it? I’ve been a member and it’s expiring next month. I just don’t seem to buy much and it’s honestly not very convenient. My husband is considering Costco which is less convenient. I’m just torn. I feel like I’m too cheap for a membership store. lol

[@ArdentMichelle]

Understood. I DO find that it's worth it. I'm a plus member and I get enough back in SamsCash to pay for the membership. I can't afford to shop at Costco. There items are much higher. I like that I can have items shipped to my home for free. That's come in handy a few times when I've needed to order things like toilet paper and dog food. 😂

[@chrisharmon5453]

Look at Trader Joe’s for champagne vinegar

[@ArdentMichelle]

They don't carry it. I've tried several TJ's in my area. I thought I saw it there before, but they don't have it now.

[@Magdalena287]

Happy Mother’s Day ❤ my kids and hubby made miso soup with tofu that’s higher in protein also (the one from Trader Joe’s) for lunch today, it’s delicious!

[@ArdentMichelle]

sounds yummy!

[@aikanae1]

How do you get romaine hearts to last a month? I can't get greens to last more than a week. The possibilities are endless with that last sandwich. I've thought about a chickpea and lentil "hummus".

[@patpeters6331]

Wrap your lettuce and celery in aluminum foil. Don't wash it until you are ready to use it. I learned this about a year ago. It really works.

[@ArdentMichelle]

It depends on where I buy it, but my romaine always lasts that long. I only cut one head at a time though, because after you cut it, it does wilt faster. You can also put them in water. I have some Italian kale that I've been keep for over 2 weeks now and it is super crisp in the water. Been slowly adding it to salads and soups and stir fry.

[@Bobawob]

I’d like to try the Thai red chili, but is it hot spicy ? Is there a milder curry instead I could use?

[@ArdentMichelle]

It doesn't have any heat to it. It's very mild.

[@Bobawob]

Red curry not red chili

[@ArdentMichelle]

@@Bobawob understood 👍

[@abbigailburkes4408]

How do you get your romaine to last that long?! Mine goes bad SO fast

[@ArdentMichelle]

Buy fresh (Samsclub is usually very fresh). Keep in crisper instead of other area of fridge. I would put it in water if I ever needed to, but it always stays fresh until we eat it. I only cut into one head at a time, until we use all of that, then I'll chop another one.

[@ireneroy8820]

Not Tofu! 😮

[@rachel_3730]

??? How do you keep your Romain lettuce fresh for a month?

[@ArdentMichelle]

I keep it in the crisper area of the fridge (the drawers on the bottom). I don't do anything else. SamsClub usually has very fresh romaine lettuce. If I had to, I would put it in water to keep it fresh, but I've never had to.

[@denisebd1000]

No meat?

[@ArdentMichelle]

nope. I rarely eat meat.

[@denisebd1000]

Oh ok

[@muddymississippientertainm7285]

Are you vegetarian or vegan

[@ArdentMichelle]

I primarily do eat a vegetarian diet, however I occasionally eat some meats.

[@amandaramsay5934]

Are you only feeding yourself on that low of a budget?

[@ArdentMichelle]

yes