$20 for 7 Days | $3 Dinners | Extreme Budget Meals

[@miranda3593]

Love how you're emphasizing protein/fiber/carb/etc content in the food you choose! I'm learning that with an extreme budget comes an extreme need to make sure every meal is nutrient dense. I've gone from eating 7-8 times a day (processed, easy stuff because I was lazy lol) to just 3-4, but I'm spending less and getting healthier because those 3-4 meals are actually filling and give my body nutrients. Who would've thought?! Thank you for all you do for us!

[@LauraLegge]

@@miranda3593 thank you! Yes! I agree! It’s so important, especially when shopping on an extreme budget ☺️

[@ברכהה]

Wonderful. Nutritional and frugal . You should be praised for this. Thank you so much. Well done!

[@LauraLegge]

@@ברכהה thank you so much! ☺️ I appreciate you saying that! I hope you love the recipes!

[@andreaschmidt3336]

Thank you so much for all you do. This is amazing! Keep up the great work!

[@LauraLegge]

@@andreaschmidt3336 thank you so much for saying that ☺️ I really appreciate you!

[@laurabattise1057]

Thank you for the ideas. Hack- On the tofu pasta dish, before adding the tofu, add about a half cup of pasta water to the sauce. The starch from the pasta water will make your tomato sauce creamier and will make it spread too.

[@LauraLegge]

@@laurabattise1057 oooh thank you! I’ll do that next time!

[@kristinj7173]

Great work! Appreciate all the meatless meals. Tip- save some of the pasta water to add to the sauce!

[@LauraLegge]

@@kristinj7173 that’s an excellent tip! Thank you so much for mentioning that!

[@yvonnepalmquist8676]

I was going to comment on this as well.

[@dmmrad54]

My Aldi had large eggs for $1.09. I look at protein content also on certain products. These recipes are very cheap and versatile. Lots of veggies. Great job. 😊

[@LauraLegge]

@@dmmrad54 thank you so much! Oh wow! $1.09 for eggs is amazing!!

[@dmmrad54]

@@LauraLegge I couldn't believe it either.

[@christine1373]

It’s so great how many cups a bag of cooked dry beans will yield! So much cheaper, healthier and better tasting than canned. I’m excited to use the printouts!! I like these recipes because they’ll be easy to adjust the servings for me.

[@LauraLegge]

@@christine1373 yay! I’m so excited to see what you think of the guide and printouts! And yes, I agree about the beans!

[@LizBelay]

I’m always so excited to see what recipes you come up with and that it’s always budget friendly! ❤

[@LauraLegge]

@@LizBelay thank you so much! I’m so glad to hear that! ☺️

[@kathyscrazylife]

I love your stove! And your cookware!

[@LauraLegge]

Thank you! ☺️

[@yvonnepalmquist8676]

I've heard prices will be (or have in some areas) going up, but at my Dollar Tree, for those that have them available to them, I can still get 2lbs of rice for $1.25, which is the best price in my area.

[@LauraLegge]

Fantastic!! My dollar tree only has 1 lb for $1.25 for some reason 😰 I also noticed that their beans are 12oz for $1.25 except for pinto beans, which are 16oz. I was surprised!

[@yvonnepalmquist8676]

@@LauraLegge Yes, with DT you definitely have to caveat with area and selection. You can usually find similar products but not always similar sizes or prices.

[@LauraLegge]

@@yvonnepalmquist8676 yes, so true! You’re absolutely right

[@atlanticalilly]

Your channel is really helping people 😊

[@LauraLegge]

@@atlanticalilly thank you so much ☺️

[@pattiupton1499]

This is a great video! You got the right idea- keep it simple!

[@LauraLegge]

@@pattiupton1499 thank you so much!! ☺️ I appreciate that!

[@ireneroy8820]

Awesome! Thanks for the hard work!!

[@LauraLegge]

@@ireneroy8820 thank you so much! I really appreciate you saying that! ☺️

[@SamBroadway]

More great ideas. Since I absolutely love black beans I will definitely be trying these recipes... I may even break down and check out tofu again after 30 years...

[@LauraLegge]

Yay! I can’t wait to hear what you think ☺️

[@alykatbuttercup836]

Your ideas have inspired me. I bought cabbage last week to make cabbage steaks but I didn't use it so I made a tofu cabbage stir fry 😋

[@LauraLegge]

Oooh yum! That sounds so good!! Cabbage is my favorite in stir fry! And I’m so glad to hear that! Thank you so much ☺️

[@ceciliaguevara6977]

❤ Thanks for sharing you inspired me to make meals for my daughter who needs to go gluten-free and high protein meals . Love your channel and the way you explain everything so clearly . ❤ Have great rest of your week !

[@LauraLegge]

@@ceciliaguevara6977 thank you so much!! I’m so glad to hear that ☺️ I have a high protein meal plan I’m working on too! It should be ready in a few weeks!

[@ceciliaguevara6977]

@@LauraLegge great can't wait 🥰

[@barbhopell1649]

You’re such a GREAT shopper! Learning so much! Thanks!

[@LauraLegge]

Thank you so much! And I’m so glad to hear that!

[@nancywilliams4216]

The Knorr bouillon is my favorite. I always have the chicken, beef, and the tomato chicken on hand. They are very useful in everything I make

[@LauraLegge]

@@nancywilliams4216 yes!! I agree! It’s so useful! I love it for so many things too!

[@Jojodancer20100]

I love all the meals you’ve prepared. I will certainly try the oatmeal and the soup recipes. Thank you

[@LauraLegge]

Yay! I can’t wait to hear what you think! ☺️

[@jillgott6567]

I love that you include what I call foods that do double duty . Peas being one of those 1 cup =8 grams of protein and counts toward you daily 5 veg and fruits. I include 2 veg/ dinner and in most but not all lunches. Often, I will add fruit which then bumps up the # of fruit and veg/ day. The reason is that I am cutting back on carbs. I include them but they are smaller portions.

[@LauraLegge]

@@jillgott6567 yes!! I love that!! I’ve been working on including more fruit and veggies in my meals too. I love adding a little fruit on the side to try to round out a meal 😄

[@heathervanek8762]

Another thing to watch for when reading labels on back of product is looking to see if it has bioengineer ingredients. I was shocked at how many products that never before used to contain bioengineering ingredients that now are. Takes a little more time to read labels, but itso worth it knowing what is in what you're eating.

[@pigletsbank437]

Amazing dishes, thank you

[@LauraLegge]

Thank you so much!! ☺️

[@barbaramorris1677]

My goodness! Everything looked delicious! I will be trying some❤

[@LauraLegge]

Thank you so much! I’m excited to hear what you think!

[@beccascraps8141]

You can freeze tomatoes whole??!! Neat! So many good ideas

[@LauraLegge]

@@beccascraps8141 yes! Thank you so much!! ☺️ it’s my favorite thing to do when I grow my own. I always end up with more than I can use and I haven’t jumped into canning yet 😅

[@catherine40376]

Great ideas and clear explanations, thank you

[@LauraLegge]

Thank you so much!! ☺️ I appreciate you saying that!

[@CFord-wu3in]

Excellent! Great inexpensive recipes for today's economy!

[@LauraLegge]

@@CFord-wu3in thank you! ☺️

[@couponingwithisa]

GREAT JOB 👏 ( oatmeal cookies & overnight oats on my list ✅) CONGRATULATIONS ON THE MEAL GUIDE ❤

[@LauraLegge]

Thank you so much!! ☺️ I hope you love the recipes!

[@brg2743]

When making a tuna and noodle casserole, I just use spaghetti noodles broken down in size. Yum.

[@LauraLegge]

Oooh! Great tip!

[@BudgetingBeezy]

Looks great! I made your chocolate banana muffins yesterday and they were so good! Love your channel and thank you for all the ideas!

[@LauraLegge]

@@BudgetingBeezy yay!! I’m so glad to hear that! Thank you so much for coming back to let me know how it turned out for you ☺️

[@BudgetingBeezy]

@@LauraLegge and I made your overnight oats and ate that this morning with some raspberries and blueberries on top! Yum! I’m going to do the cottage cheese bagels today 😉

[@LauraLegge]

@@BudgetingBeezy yay! I’m so glad you tried it! I can’t wait to hear what you think of the cottage cheese bagels!

[@tngrrl]

I know so much depends on what stores you have in your area, which is why I love watching your videos. Oh, and the recipes!! For those who are looking for the bouillon, a smaller Knorr bouillon container is at Dollar General for $2.50. My go to is Better Than Bouillon, which is also available at Walmart for less (makes same amount, but must be refrigerated after opening).

[@LauraLegge]

Thank you so much! And thank you for sharing those tips! I noticed that Walmart also has a small container of bouillon cubes for around $1, which is awesome for super small budgets!

[@rcsavedbygrace]

Some great ideas. The frozen veggies at Aldi are reasonable and would suggest adding in more veggies. Broccoli is very versatile. The spinach you used in a couple of recipes were great. I do like the chickpea penne; my husband will also eat it. Tofu in the air fryer is also very good. I love overnight oats also.

[@LauraLegge]

@@rcsavedbygrace thank you! I agree - more veggies would be preferred. Thank you for the suggestion for tofu in the air fryer! How do you like to season it and how long do you cook it for?

[@LibraryLizard]

Looks yummy!

[@LauraLegge]

Thank you so much!

[@RebeccaChekeleleeBrambila]

Sweet meals and deals! I love you highlighting beans and rice, it is so versatile and you can make it so delicious with extras or toppings or whatever is on hand. My favorite is with avocado and lime 😋 (Also, my husband and I had a long hot day of outdoor work - we watched this video as our "relaxing" cooking show after it all 🤣) Thanks for sharing!

[@LauraLegge]

@@RebeccaChekeleleeBrambila oh my goodness, wow! What a compliment! I’m so glad to hear that! ☺️ And yes! Beans and rice is one of my favorite things honestly. Just so many things you can do with them! I love to do chili over rice, rice and refried beans, bean and rice burritos. Oh my goodness, so many things! And I love avocado and lime too. Just the perfect pairing!

[@lopitalisa]

So convenient!

[@itsjustbella5633]

Excellent video !!!🎉🎉🎉

[@LauraLegge]

@@itsjustbella5633 thank you so much!! I really appreciate that ☺️

[@MsCharliesNails]

$2.17 is high for eggs.. i guess it depends on where you live.. it is $1.69 where i am.. i make my own refried beans as well.. i do add minced onion and a little minced fresh garlic first in oil and then add the beans to warm and mash then add a bit of chicken both to thin them out and flavor when i use canned beans and even when i make them from dried beans.. try mixing pinto and black beans for refried and they are amazing together..

[@LauraLegge]

@@MsCharliesNails yum!! That sounds amazing! I love adding onions and garlic too. 😋 so good!!

[@StephanieNics]

Eggs are $2.99 at my local Aldi. 😭

[@MsCharliesNails]

@@StephanieNics mine nave gone up to $2.09 and $2.49.. I got 18 from kroger last week for $2.99 with digital coupon for brown cage free eggs

[@Ryder-p3m]

This is a huge help. We are a family of 4/5 and we have guests coming for a week abd they are a familyof 5. I am starting my mela planning almost a month and a half ahead to be prepared and save as much as possible. I buy bulk meats when on sale and freeze them but i always need ideas or we would be eating the sane 5 neals till we die ha ha i am not super creative with food

[@LauraLegge]

@@Ryder-p3m haha I’m glad to hear that! I always need new ideas too!

[@MsCharliesNails]

loving that bowl.. i love star wars

[@LauraLegge]

@@MsCharliesNails yes!! It’s my favorite! I found it at Costco a couple years ago ☺️

[@lorisiedl8733]

A lot of great ideas

[@LauraLegge]

@@lorisiedl8733 thank you so much! ☺️

[@lorisiedl8733]

@@LauraLegge 😊

[@elizabeth.torres5206]

I love your healthy affordable meals on a budget. I sometimes have to be extreme the first week of the month and idk why I get clueless on what to make. Lol I'm overthinking or doing too much on busy days. That chick pea pasta is good though, I agree with you! My daughter loves it and she can be picky about certain food textures.

[@LauraLegge]

@@elizabeth.torres5206 Thank you! I completely understand! I often get overwhelmed just thing to decide what’s for dinner 😅 And yes! That chickpea pasta has a nice texture!

[@alexdeaton5107]

Thank you for your videos! I'd love to know any tips you have for getting your kids to eat all the meals you prepare. :)

[@LauraLegge]

@@alexdeaton5107 thank you so much!! I have one very picky kiddo and the other will eat almost anything. For my picky kiddo, I always put a little bit of what I’ve prepared on his plate and then I try to serve a deconstructed version on the plate too haha. For instance, if I’m making a rice casserole, I’ll leave a little rice plain and pull out a few individual ingredients from my casserole like peas, chicken, etc and put them in little piles. I often put a little bread, crackers, or something similar on the side. And our rule is they have to try at least a tiny bite of what I’ve made before they can be excused. This has worked really well for us. Once he tastes the dish, he usually discovers he likes it and then he eats it and sometimes asks for more. I hope that helps. Feel free to ask more questions!

[@lindadobranetski6302]

I just ordered your meal planner

[@LauraLegge]

@@lindadobranetski6302 yay!! I can’t wait to hear what you think!! Thank you so much! ☺️

[@opaldawn]

Try adding oyster sauce with tofu. It gives extra flavor. 😋

[@LauraLegge]

@@opaldawn yum! I’ll definitely have to try that

[@atlanticalilly]

I grow black beans in my garden every year in a small patch. They produce so much I have gallon bags full. I use Goya brand black beans to plant. They turn into green beans, & if u let them go black beans 😊

[@LauraLegge]

@@atlanticalilly oh wow! I’m going to have to try that! I never thought to grow them straight from the bag 😅

[@renel7303]

I know you've heard this a lot but your Aldi is really well stocked. I'm gluten-free now and do a lot of stir fry because gluten-free noodles work well. But my Aldi doesn't have those noodles! No pho! So unfair. I'll try the savory oats but I'm very skeptical. They don't look all that appealing to me. But overnight oats are so great. I use whole oats, chickpea, any milk and vanilla. Sometimes I add walnut pieces. I prefer adding the plain Greek yogurt on top when I eat it along with a spoonful of nut butter and maybe some fruit. Next week we'll be having highs from 108-112 F all week. I'm preparing food now.

[@LauraLegge]

Oh my! It sounds like it’s going to be super hot there! It’s starting to heat up here too 😬 Definitely let me know what you think if you try the savory oats! I was really surprised the first time I tried it! And you’re right, my ALDI is great. I usually go right after they stock the shelves so I have the best variety to choose from. The pho noodles only show up once a year and I have to buy a few bags before they sell out within a few days. I hope they had them to the shelves permanently!

[@nancycarney]

I will be trying the savory oats and tomato sauce.

[@LauraLegge]

I can’t wait to hear what you think! ☺️

[@princessdumbarton9877]

I made Lentil Bolognese by adding some cooked lentils to the sauce. It's somewhat like hamburger but cheaper and healthier. Also try tempeh if you want something more like meat. Hot sauce makes beans and rice 10 times better, or add some chili powder if you have it.

[@LauraLegge]

Thank you so much for the tips! I’ll try lentil bolognese again soon. Did you use green or red lentils?

[@princessdumbarton9877]

@@LauraLegge Just the regular cheap brown ones.

[@LauraLegge]

@@princessdumbarton9877 ok great! Thank you! I’ll try it ☺️

[@kristinj7173]

I recently realized I can buy canned lentils which is a time saver, although not as inexpensive. I never noticed them before! Red lentils might be creamier in the sauce but I suppose any lentils would work.

[@princessdumbarton9877]

@@kristinj7173 Red lentils break down better but they tend to be expensive.

[@BobbieNatividad]

So it Aldi I like to buy the vegetarian meatballs and make them like either in a spaghetti or like a sweet and sour sauce you could put it with vegetables like a stir fry and put it on jasmine rice, it tastes amazing these meatballs and you can't tell the difference they're in the freezer section.

[@LauraLegge]

@@BobbieNatividad ooog! Thank you for the tip! I can’t wait to try them!

[@Savage11-b7e]

I have used habanero to punch up flavors when cooking because I don't want to much salt nor sugar

[@LauraLegge]

@@Savage11-b7e oooh yum! That sounds amazing! I’ll have to try that soon. Thank you for the tip! ☺️

[@abou8963]

Do you buy pasture-raised eggs?

[@LauraLegge]

I usually just buy the least expensive eggs right now since we’re on a tight budget

[@trucksr4gurls]

that tofu will absorb your sauce and crisp up better if you press is first.

[@LauraLegge]

@@trucksr4gurls thank you for the suggestion ☺️

[@ej3016]

thnx for all you do - I watch for meal ideas definitely not the prices - do you or anyone watching know if anyone might be doing something similar in 🇨🇦 it would be nice to have prices and products that are available here - the exchange rate was around 25 cents on the dollar) eggs haven’t even been $2.17 for half dozen little own a dozen in at least ten / twelve yrs - they had been 3.69 then jumped to $3.99 in 2020 - that’s when I started shopping for two wks rather than one cause I switched to a dozen eggs for $4.69 as basis of meal planning - am a shopper for one (which already makes it more expensive) who doesn’t drive (add $3.50 for bus ticket - so shop at the store I can walk to or am near when I’m already out) and who has food intolerances (that complicates things more) and am on fixed income (LTD - after essential bills paid - have $200 a month / $50 a week FOR EVERYTHING that needs buying not just groceries 😳) am beyond grateful that you gals are out there doing this - it does help 🇨🇦🙏

[@LauraLegge]

@@ej3016 oh my goodness, that sounds like quite a challenge 😰 I’ve seen a few gals in Canada that do this too. Let me see if I can find their channels for you!

[@ej3016]

@@LauraLegge many thnx 🇨🇦🙏

[@DanielleGenereux]

I love for you that you can shop such cheap groceries omg! In canada this is just unrealistic. This would be like $100 or more 😭 just that oatmeal is $7. moving my kids and I to the states after watching this

[@micheledelnigro9259]

Ty❤grateful

[@LauraLegge]

@@micheledelnigro9259 you’re welcome and thank you so much ☺️

[@annmich4593]

❤

[@melissabarrett3088]

❤❤

[@psychologie1054]

My idea if a tomato sauce ist quite different. Mine's a lot more... saucy.

[@theroadlesstraveled3993]

There seems to be a lot.of recipe repeats in the videos I've watched. Alot of the same ingredients. Do you cook with other veggies and spices?

[@marthawalton8370]

Is that a biltmore 12 quart boiler?

[@joycain1119]

I love your channel but I can't do chic peas and tofu 😢 wish you could make something elseb

[@LauraLegge]

@@joycain1119 I completely understand. I’ve got lots of new recipes (with different ingredients) I’ll be sharing soon! ☺️

[@MyH2oh]

I like what you've shared. Protein for our bodies. Just make sure they're complete proteins.😃 TFS

[@LauraLegge]

Thank you! That’s so true!

[@hanibee22]

For fried rice you don’t have to absolutely used day old or cold rice, it’s okay to use just cooked rice too 😊 The frozen rice would absolutely better to used it for porridge, since it clump together. If your frozen rice still has its granules then microwave it to separate.

[@LauraLegge]

@@hanibee22 thank you for the tips! I appreciate that ☺️

[@abou8963]

Day old rice is better for diabetic patients.

[@hello-vs4me]

Dollar tree jas 2 pounds of rice is 1.25

[@bonniegaither3994]

To purchase everything that you purchased at my Walmart in Norcal would cost $26.56.

[@LauraLegge]

@@bonniegaither3994 oh wow!

[@espacate98]

You kill the rice 😢😢😢

[@LauraLegge]

I know it! 😭 I forgot that I was chilling the rice and it ended up frozen. Not good 😰

[@wolchfam]

As soon as you got tofu I thought - won’t make that recipe. I do like chickpeas but skeptical about pasta made from them. I’d like to spend more and have meat, poultry or fish in my dinners. I know everyone doesn’t have the budget for that but I can stretch chicken pretty far. I do use eggs for protein in dinner salads or breakfast for dinner.

[@LauraLegge]

@@wolchfam you can definitely substitute your favorite meat instead of tofu! It would work out great. ☺️

[@jillgott6567]

😊 I think it is important for people to do what works best for them and their families. I, personally eat a combination of meat as well as meatless meals because that is what I like and it does not limit me. Most often I purchase meat on clearance, sale or manager specials and in small packages. But I do look for alternatives for getting protein such as Cottage Cheese, Eggs, Peas and so on

[@kristinj7173]

Baking tofu helps, then add any marinade you like. I like making veggie stir fries with tofu and any veggies from the garden. It is good for tofu scramble for breakfast too (frozen hash browns, bell pepper, tofu, whatever). Also, the chickpea and red lentil pastas are fabulous options for high protein, high fiber and lower carb meals. They are more filling so you don’t need to eat as much.

[@Larissa-iw5wy]

Lol…I’m not a fan of it either but most recipes can be personalized so it’s all good. I do appreciate the thoughtfulness of the shopping and cooking

[@LauraLegge]

@@kristinj7173 yes!! Great tips!! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@TheBestIsYetToCome007]

Wow! What an excellent video❤

[@LauraLegge]

Thank you so much!! I truly appreciate that ☺️