Simple Family-Friendly Meals On A Budget For Busy Moms | Easy Recipes

3. Prepare In Bulk

Bulk preparation is my secret weapon when it comes to saving money and having fresh, real foods on hand at all times.

I never cook just enough for one meal. Normally, when you buy something in bulk, it’s also cheaper too. So the next time you make dinner, double the recipe and have some for leftover lunches or put it in the freezer for another dinner when you are short on time.

4. Keep An Ongoing List Of Groceries You Need Vs Last Minute Before You Go

By having an ongoing list, you write things down as you realize you need them. Versus the latter of making a last-minute list. Last-minute lists usually result in missing items, adding too many items— or not making a list at all and going to the store. Not being organized often leads to a lot of overspending.

If you’re interested in learning more about time-saving tips for overwhelmed moms then be sure to check out my blog post here.

5. Shop Local

You most likely have a farmer’s market near where you live. Try taking advantage of supporting local farms and businesses. It means that you’ll know where your food is coming from, and often you’ll save money too.

6. Grow Your Own Food

Better yet, start a garden yourself! Take some time to research what fruit and vegetables are in season when, and pick up a new frugal, peaceful hobby! Even if you don’t have a huge garden, you can still save money by growing herbs in plant pots from inside your home.

7. Don’t Eat Out Often

Eating out, let it be a sit-down restaurant or drive-through, is an added expense on that budget sheet. It also isn’t the best option for your health most of the time. Try to limit eating out and be sure to budget it into your monthly expenses regardless.

8. Cook Your Meals

Homemade meals give you the advantage of knowing exactly what goes into a meal and the ability to swap ingredients for healthier options. This way your kids (and the adults in the house) don’t have to go without their favorite meals—like waffles or chicken nuggets. Believe me, my husband and kids wouldn’t survive without them! Heck, me too.

9. Use An Instant Pot, Air fryer, or Crock Pot

These appliances are a great way to make delicious simple family dinner recipes. The great thing about using a slow cooker is that you just pop all your ingredients in, and leave it cooking for a few hours—which helps to save time. But not only that, it helps to make simple ingredients go a long way. Because you’re slow cooking over a long period, all of the flavors release into the dish, making it super yummy, whilst on a budget! And using an air fryer saves time, savors flavor, and helps make some not-so-healthy options delicious and healthier by avoiding all the extra oil and fat.

How To Encourage Healthy Eating Habits For Your Children

It all starts with you, so try your best to be a good role model and set an example. Your kids, especially younger ones, will eat mostly what’s available at home. 

A clinical study notes that exposure to a variety of healthy foods whilst children are young can play a vital role in having a varied and healthy diet and food preferences.¹

That’s why it’s important to control what’s in the pantry and fridge. And to be honest, my kids have helped me so much with my nutrition too!

I seldom follow recipes because I feel it’s too complex. So what I focus on is simplicity, and aim to serve every food group every day. 

• Breakfast: Fruit, Protein, Vegetable, Carb
• Lunch: Fruit, Protein, Vegetable, Carb and/or Healthy Fat
• Dinner: Protein, Vegetable, Carb, and/or Healthy Fat

And you can make it easier for your kids to choose healthy snacks by having them prepped and ready to eat. Yes, this does take some commitment and time, but I love prepping fruits and vegetables when I get home from the store (before they even go into the fridge).

Some snack options ideas include:

• Fruits
• Yogurt
• Cheese
• Crackers
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Peanut butter and crackers or fruit (such as apples or bananas)
• Veggie sticks (celery, broccoli, or carrots)
• Veggie or yogurt Pouches
• Apple Sauce

Healthy Eating Tips For Moms And Kids

• Lead by example and be a role model by eating healthy yourself
• Try to eat breakfast every day. Skipping breakfast can leave your child hungry, tired, and looking for less healthy foods later in the day
• Buy and serve more fruits and vegetables wherever possible.
  A variety of clinical studies note that at least 5 or more servings of fruit and vegetables should be consumed by adults per day.²
• Don’t 100% restrict junk food. Just like anything, we want what we don’t have. So having some sweets in moderation will lessen the temptation to want what they don’t have
• Buy fewer soft drinks and high-fat/high-calorie snack foods like chips, cookies, and candy. These snacks are OK once in a while, but keep healthy snack foods on hand too and offer them to your child more often
• Choose water, milk, or 100% juice for drinks of choice. I mix a sippy of water and top it with an ounce of 100% apple juice often.
• Limit fast food
• Do not get discouraged if your child will not eat a new food the first time it is served. Some kids will need to have a new food served to them 10 or more times before they eat it
• Make healthy choices easy by filling your pantry and fridge with it
• Involve kids when you bake and cook

Try to eat together as a family as much as possible. If you want to encourage healthy eating habits in kids, then serve them the same thing everyone else at the table is getting. This urges you to lead by example. And try not to encourage custom-ordered meals for kids while the adults have something else. 

Healthy Food List For Families

Need some inspiration on healthy foods and ingredients that are easily accessible in your local supermarket? Here are some of my faves…

Vegetables

• Kale
• Collard greens
• Spinach
• Brussels sprouts
• Broccoli
• Asparagus
• Beets
• Tomatoes
• Squash
• String beans
• Snow peas
• Cucumbers
• Celery
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Peppers
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Artichokes
• Radishes
• Eggplant

Proteins

• Boneless, skinless chicken or turkey breast 
• Lean ground chicken or turkey (≥ 93% lean)
• Fish, fresh water (catfish, tilapia, trout)
• Fish, cold water, wild-caught (cod, salmon, halibut, tuna, mahi mahi)
• Game: venison
• Eggs
• Greek yogurt
• Shellfish (shrimp, crab, lobster)
• Red meat, extra-lean
• Lean ground red meat (≥ 95% lean)
• Pork tenderloin
• Tuna, canned light in water
• Fresh deli lunchmeat
• Cottage cheese
• Protein powder (whey, hemp, rice, pea)
• Veggie burger
• Bacon
• Tempeh and tofu
• Beans
• Ricotta cheese

Carbohydrates

• Sweet potato
• Yams
• Quinoa
• Beans (kidney, black, garbanzo, white, lima, fava, pink, pigeon [gandules], etc.)
• Lentils
• Pancakes
• English muffin
• Bagel
• Waffles
• Edamame
• Peas
• Refried beans
• Brown rice
• Wild rice
• Potato
• Corn on the cob
• Oatmeal
• Hominy
• Pasta
• Crackers
• Cereal
• Bread
• Pita bread
• Tortilla

Fruits

• Raspberries
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Strawberries
• Pomegranate
• Cantaloupe
• Honeydew melon
• Banana
• Orange
• Tangerine
• Apple
• Apricots
• Grapefruit
• Cherries
• Grapes
• Papaya
• Kiwifruit
• Mango
• Peach
• Nectarine
• Pear
• Pineapple
• Salsa, pico de gallo
• Tomato sauce, plain or marinara

Healthy Fats

The number in front of the nuts equals one serving:

• Avocado
• 12 almonds
• 8 cashews
• 14 peanuts
• 20 pistachios
• 10 pecan halves
• 8 walnut halves
• Hummus
• Feta cheese
• Goat cheese
• Mozzarella
• Cheddar
• Provolone
• Monterey jack
• Parmesan

Family Friendly Recipes

Here are some of my favorite simple meals to rotate through for my family. 

Breakfast

Fruit And Cheese

Fruit and cheese is such an easy delicious snack for the whole family!

Oatmeal

Oats are such an easy ingredient that you can use in multiple ways. You can make overnight oats, porridge, and oat cookies, or have them with fruits and yogurt.

Eggs And Sausage

This is a fan favorite in our household. I should just keep a frying pan on the stove at all times. I cook scrambled eggs daily and sneak spinach in there too. We harvest deer every fall and make venison sausage—so that is also a regular on the menu.

Snacks

Here are some more simple snacks that are nutritious and can be made in bulk to have throughout the week:

Smoothie

• Almond or whole milk
• Frozen fruit (blueberries, mangos, pineapple, strawberries, etc)
• Ripe banana
• Vegetables (mainly spinach for us)
• Choose an optional add-in to add more protein, fiber, or healthy fats (such as avocado or peanut butter)

Blend the smoothie really well to ensure that it has a very creamy texture, and serve it in a reusable pouch, a small open cup, or in a sippy cup depending on what your child likes best.

Snack Bars

Snack bars are a quick and easy treat when you’re on the go or in a rush. 

Lunch

Our days are always on the go, so quick lunches are always in my best interest. We typically have leftovers from dinner for lunch or a sandwich. I love making things like loaded grilled cheese with some hidden veggies and cheesy mac and broccoli.

Dinner

Here are some of my favorite dinner meals to make:

• Grilling burgers, brats, veggies
• Spaghetti with homemade ground venison red sauce
• Crockpot enchiladas
• Tacos
• Sloppy Joes with a veggie side such as green beans
• Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf
• Tacos
• Chicken nuggets with sweet potato fries
• Fried rice with shredded chicken
• Tomato soup with crusty bread and shredded cheese
• Baked chicken thighs with sweet potato mash and veggies
• Grilled chicken breast with white bean mash and veggies

Overall, remember to keep it simple and stick to healthy ingredients that you love. This helps you to make healthy cooking quick, fun, easy, and a part of daily life!

If you want to check out some more of my family-friendly recipes for busy moms then check out my blog article here.

What are your favorite go-to meals? Let me know in the comments.

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