QUARANTINE CUISINE – FRUGAL AND FILLING MEALS

FRUGAL QUARANTINE CUISINE YOU CAN COOK ON A DIME

These days most of us are staying at home as much as possible, in self-isolation or quarantine and venturing out only when absolutely necessary. Grocery trips, unfortunately, are rather necessary. I myself am currently only getting out of the house to take in the recycling at the self-service drop off and buy groceries.

You best believe I am making sure to use up every last bite and avoid food waste even more so than usual. I will probably start stretching grocery trips out to every week and a half to two weeks before this whole mess is over. This is probably something most of you are considering as well.

While the grocery stores struggle to keep the shelves stocked I am getting more flexible with my meal plan and adding some different options to the lunch and dinner rotation. I’m calling it my frugal quarantine cuisine and today I’m sharing some of these meal ideas with you.

These are all very frugal, most have longer shelf life than my usual meal choices, and seven come kid and husband approved (so far).

frugal quarantine cuisine ideas

TUNA

Tuna has a long shelf life, provides Omega-3 fatty acids, is a good source of protein and other nutrients. Canned tuna can be safely consumed once a week or so; this is not a daily food item due to the heavy metals that can be found in it, but it is still a good frugal option and very versatile.

TUNA SALAD – Drain two cans of tuna well, add a tablespoon or two of mayonnaise, season to taste, and you’ve got yourself a meal in minutes. This pairs well with a slice or two of homemade bread as a quick and satisfying lunch.

TUNA CASSEROLE – Pair with egg noodles and a cream sauce for an easy and frugal casserole. This is a great “use it up” dinner option when you’re down to some of your more random ingredients but not quite ready to make another trip to the store.

TUNA PATTIES – These make a great summer afternoon lunch or dinner. Even my picky kids have enjoyed tuna burger patties on occasion. And they’re so simple to make! I’ll link the recipe as soon as I get it posted.

CHICKEN

Chicken may not be the most frugal protein option (especially without any antibiotics or broth solution), but it can be more affordable and last longer if purchased frozen or canned. I’m not saying eat all your chicken from a can, but a couple of cans are handy to have around.

CHICKEN SALAD – The recipe here is much the same as with tuna salad. If you have some hard-boiled eggs to cube and throw-in that makes it even tastier. Slice up some grapes if you have them. There are lots of ways to switch it up while also using up what you have on hand.

SHRED LEFTOVER CHICKEN – If you cook some extra chicken or have some leftover you can shred it for later. It will work well in fajitas, enchiladas,  or just to toss on top of some lettuce for a more filling salad. Shredded chicken comes in very handy when throwing together simple meals. This is quarantine cuisine at its finest!

TORTILLA PIZZAS

My kids have really enjoyed this easy little treat at lunchtime. Simply toss some leftover taco meat or turkey pepperoni over a layer of shredded cheese (we use vegan mozzarella for our lactose intolerant kiddo) and microwave just long enough to melt the cheese. Roll it up for easy eating. The kids love it and it takes next to no time to get on the table.

5-7 CAN SLOW COOKER SOUP

This is a meal I haven’t made in a while but is so simple and cheap to make. I picked up this frugal recipe from a former coworker. This is one of those dishes the shredded chicken or leftover taco meat to toss in. You just need a can of corn, a can of carrots, a can of Rotel style tomatoes, your choice of canned beans, and broth. Drain the beans and tomatoes, but use the liquid from the corn and carrots if desired (I usually drain them all and omit the beans). Cover with the broth, season as desired, and slow cook for a couple of hours. This is a great one to throw together after lunch and then just stir every once in a while.

THE CLASSIC PB&J

Or other nut butter of your choice… Food allergies are an issue for some. This is a very frugal meal the kids will love to sink their teeth (and fingers) into for lunch. I for one plan to have more sandwiches around here provided we keep enough bread flour on hand.

IF POSSIBLE ORDER TAKEOUT AND SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY

We’ve been doing this once a week. We plan to continue as long as it works with our budget. This can make it easier to stretch what is in the pantry between meals and help keep some local businesses going during this time.

TURNS OUT OUR TYPICAL MEAL PLAN WORKS PRETTY WELL AS FRUGAL QUARANTINE CUISINE!

We stick to a pretty frugal, mostly healthy meal plan most of the time anyway. I have been lucky that most of what I typically buy has been available at the stores. There are a few items I like to keep on hand for lunches or backup options that aren’t currently available (like ramen, I love ramen with an egg in some broth for lunch once or twice a week), but for the most part, we haven’t had to make very many alterations.

If you need some help with dinner ideas be sure to sign up as a Frugal Friend of the blog and I’ll send you a newsletter with a weekly meal plan every Monday with seven frugal dinner ideas and a link to the recipe page adapted for frugal quarantine cuisine season of course!

Be sure to stay connected friends! I’m also active on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! We’ll get through this together! If you have any favorite quarantine cuisine foods you’d like to share please do so! I love hearing from you. Until next time stay frugal, healthy, and stay home if you can my friends!

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