30 Meals for $30 for My 30th Birthday
I turn 30 on December 3rd, and I thought it would be a fun challenge to try and make 30 meals for $30. I polled you all on my story, and we decided on this recipe! I had so much fun planning, shopping, and executing this challenge. I hope I was able to show you all that eating decent food can be flavorful and affordable. I donated the meals to a local women’s shelter that I used to volunteer at growing up. Back when I had a meal prep business before med school, I’d donate my extra meals here too.
From the start of shopping to the end of delivering the meals, it took me no more than 3 hours total. I hope to keep doing this again, and I look forward to the new lessons, challenges, and experiences this new decade of my life brings me.
Shoutout to @lidlus for being my favorite grocery store (I’m not partnered or sponsored….yet 👀😂).
Ginger Sesame Pasta Salad 🫚🫑🥗
Servings: 6
Ingredients:
-250g (10oz.) of rotini pasta
-1 red onion, thinly sliced
-2 bell peppers, thinly sliced
-1/2 cup shredded carrot
-olive oil for cooking
-sesame seed for garnish
Sauce:
-1/3 cup soy sauce
-2 tbs sesame oil
-2 tbs honey or agave
-1 tbs brown sugar
-1 tbs minced ginger
-1 tbs minced garlic
-1 tsp red chili flakes
-cornstarch slurry (1 tbs cornstarch mixed with 1 tbs water)
Instructions:
-cook pasta to al dente according to package instructions, strain out water, lightly oil to prevent sticking, and set aside
-add sauce ingredients into small bowl and mix together
-set a small saucepan on low heat, add 1 tbs oil, and toast garlic and ginger
-and the rest of the sauce ingredients
-add in cornstarch slurry and mix well; simmer for 2-3 minutes and remove from heat when sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon
-in a large bowl add pasta, veggies, and sauce; mix well
-garnish with sesame seeds and divide equally into meal containers
-store in fridge for up to 5 days
-enjoy cold or reheated
Wow, making 30 meals for under $30 sounds like a serious challenge, but it's totally doable with the right strategy! I've found that the secret to successfully pulling off a large-batch, budget-friendly meal prep lies in smart shopping and versatile ingredients. Let me share some of my go-to tips to help you achieve your own "30 meals for $30" goal, ensuring they're not just cheap but also positively delightful! First, focus on your grocery store. Just like how I swear by Lidl for finding amazing deals, scout out stores in your area that offer competitive prices, especially on produce and pantry staples. Look for sales on items like Rotini pasta, Peppers Green, Red Onions, Shredded Carrots, Garlic, and Ginger (which you can often buy in bulk or find discounted at ethnic markets). Buying store-brand versions of things like Soy sauce, Sesame oil, and even Honey can significantly cut down costs without sacrificing flavor. Don't forget to check unit prices – sometimes a slightly larger bag of carrots or a bigger jar of Sesame Seeds is a better deal in the long run. Next, embrace simple, hearty, and flavorful recipes that scale well. The Ginger Sesame Pasta Salad is a brilliant example because it's HEALTHY, FLAVORFUL, AND EASY TO MAKE, and it doesn't even NOT REQUIRE REHEATING, which is a huge plus for meal prep. Think about other similar concepts: lentil soups, bean chilis, or rice bowls with roasted vegetables. These types of dishes rely on inexpensive base ingredients that can be seasoned in countless ways. For instance, just by varying your spices, you can transform a basic mix of roasted veggies and grains into a Mediterranean, Asian, or Mexican-inspired meal. Utilize ingredients like Garlic and Ginger to build a strong flavor foundation, then add a touch of sweetness with Honey or richness with Sesame oil to really make those humble ingredients sing. Finally, think about ingredient versatility. Can you use your Red Onions both raw in a salad and caramelized for another dish? Can the Peppers Green be stir-fried one day and added to a pasta salad the next? This minimizes waste and maximizes your budget. Also, don't be afraid to make small substitutions based on what's on sale. If bell peppers are too expensive, maybe zucchini or cabbage could work as a crunchier alternative. The goal is to build a repertoire of meals that are not only affordable but also genuinely enjoyable, making your budget meal prep journey a truly rewarding one, whether you're donating meals or just feeding yourself for the week!
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