Breakfast, lunch and dinner meals can be prepared for less than $5.00. Stores like Ralph’s, Albertsons and Vons have the lowest prices. Using coupons when available will also save a little money.
Breakfast is always an important meal. Cooking oatmeal and serving it with orange juice or grapefruit juice is a very nutritional, economical and tasty meal. This is especially the case if berries or maple syrup are used to enhance the flavor of oatmeal. Bacon and eggs can be bought in bulk and served with orange juice or grapefruit juice. Ham and eggs can also be economical if bought in large amounts and stored in the refrigerator. Toast with butter is an important addition. The best choice is real butter, although margarine is cheaper. Popup waffles and syrup can be served inexpensively with orange juice or grapefruit juice. Popup waffles are cooked on a toaster or microwave.
Lunch does not have to be expensive. Ham, bologna, or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches can be served with milk for a very inexpensive and healthy meal. Ham and bologna sandwiches with lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise taste very good, and are a healthy choice. Potato chips are an optional side for sandwiches; large size store brand potato chips are cheap enough. Apples, oranges, and bananas are an important part of the food pyramid and can be purchased cheaply.
For hungry appetites, add soup to the mix. Some of the soups that are good choices are tomato, chicken noodle, beef noodle, vegetable, celery, broccoli, cream of chicken, etc. Campbell’s soup or the store brand soup can be good choices. And Maruchan noodle soup is often available at retailers for less than one dollar. It also tastes good and is healthy. Some of the flavors include beef and chicken.
For dinner, canned goods and fresh produce can be used to make a meal for under $5.00. For the main dish, Chef Boyardee has spaghetti, Beefaroni and ravioli. The side dishes should include vegetables. Some good choices are green beans, corn, peas, carrots, etc. Using the store name brands can save some money. A small amount of fresh produce like carrots, tomatoes, celery, or lettuce can be inexpensive. Buying large size canned goods saves money for several meals. Bread and butter is important for a well balanced meal. Milk to drink is a must. Tacos as the main dish can also be economical and taste very good. For dessert, canned fruit like peaches, pears, fruit cocktail, etc. can also be inexpensive. Store brand ice cream can be purchased at cheap prices. Sometimes popcorn can be cooked in the microwave.
T.V. dinners are sometimes economical as well. However, fresh fruit and vegetables and canned goods are usually healthier. Banquet pot pies can be purchased for about one dollar or less each. Beef, chicken, and turkey pot pies taste very good. Banquet dinners like Swedish meatballs, turkey, spaghetti, etc. also taste good and are very inexpensive.
Eating out is also cost effective in some instances. Choosing the budget menus at fast food restaurants can be cheap. For example, Jack in The Box has two tacos and chicken sandwiches for about one dollar. Burger King has BK bacon burger, double cheeseburger, and rodeo burger for about $1.50 each. McDonald’s has double cheeseburger and McChicken for about $1.50. Wendy’s has cheesy Cheddarburger and chicken sandwich for one dollar.