Cooked 3 Budget-Friendly Meals in 1 Hour!
Don’t you agree that cooking or meal prepping doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive? Well, at least for me, it just needs to be practical and satisfying. I spent about an hour in the kitchen today and got 3 meals sorted - all affordable and relatively healthy too!
✨ Breakfast - Egg Mayo Sandwich (For the next 3 days)
- 6 hardboiled eggs (for 2 people)
- 3 tbsp Mayonnaise (I don’t usually like mayo, i would use greek yoghurt instead but it spoils faster. If you’re watching calories, go for light mayo!)
- Dash of pepper & parsley
- A loaf of wholemeal bread
🧊 Stored in the fridge for quick sandwich assembly each morning
💵 Estimated cost per meal: $1
✨ Work Lunch - Cold Salad Box
- 1/2 pack of Konjac Penne (low-carb!)
- Steamed Broccoli
- Steamed Chicken Breast
🧊 Kept it simple and clean - satisfying but won’t cause food coma. I soaked the remaining half pack of konjac penne in water in a ziplock bag, and kept it in the fridge for later use.
💵 Estimated cost per meal: $2.60
✨ Brunch - One Pot Mee Suah Soup
- 1 small bundle of Mee Suah
- Mixed Vegetables (Chye Sim, Broccoli, Cherry Tomatoes)
- Luncheon Ham (Went for this brand because i personally think its not bad, and there’s no added MSG - healthier and less salty)
- Soup Broth (HDL clear base, comes with red dates and goji berries)
- 1 Egg
🍲 Super fuss-free, just throw everything into the pot. Stirring the egg in and mee suah last.
💵 Estimated cost per meal: $4
💡Mini hack: I used my Cornell Mini Multi-Cooker to multitask - boiled the eggs and steamed the chicken breast and broccoli at the same time. While the brunch soup was cooking, I mashed up the eggs and made the egg mayo. Definitely not regretting this purchase.
Total prep time: ~ 1 hour
Meals prepped: 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 brunch
📷 Swipe to see the ingredients and what i used!
#mealprep #budgetmeal #CorporateGirlie #savemoneytips #worklunchideas
If you're looking to stretch your food budget even further while keeping meals tasty and nutritious, here are some tips that worked for me. When prepping on a budget, I always choose ingredients that are versatile—Konjac penne, for instance, is not only low-carb but also keeps well and can be added to soups or salads for variety. I also love using my multi-cooker as a kitchen helper because it saves time by cooking multiple items simultaneously, like boiling eggs and steaming broccoli and chicken breasts together. This not only reduces cooking time but also keeps cleanup minimal. Another trick is to pick items that store well, like wholemeal bread and eggs, so you can prepare bulk meals ahead without worrying about spoilage. Using light mayonnaise or substituting it with Greek yogurt is a great way to cut calories while still enjoying creamy sandwiches throughout the week. Also, opting for luncheon ham brands without MSG and less salt makes the meals healthier without sacrificing flavor. For the soup, adding mixed vegetables and using a broth with natural ingredients such as goji berries and red dates boosts nutrition and provides comforting flavors with almost no extra effort. Stirring in the egg and mee suah last prevents overcooking and keeps texture enjoyable. Lastly, keeping costs around $1 to $4 per meal shows that eating well on a budget is totally possible, and with some planning and multitasking, you can get a variety of meals done in about an hour. Hope these meal ideas and tips inspire you to enjoy practical and affordable home cooking!
