Using up what we have on hand is a great way to save money. I save money almost weekly by using the foods I have stored in the fridge, on the shelf, and in the freezer from previous meal prep days, rather than buying everything I need to make meals. With the cost of food these days, it’s important to keep track of what we have on hand, and to use everything up.
I used the celery from the previous week a couple of different ways. I had it with peanut butter for a couple of light meals at home, and I used it in the weekend’s meal prep for the coming week. Apparently, I found last week’s work meal packs extremely filling because I had vegetables left over each night. Those are now in this week’s meal packs. I also used the last of the cabbage during meal prep, and had a trail mix for a snack last week. This was the last pack of mix so I will need to make another soon.
I made a tasty kielbasa and corn skillet meal for my work meal packs. I had enough for five meals, so I enjoyed some Sunday evening. I also made baked eggs to have in the mornings before heading to the bus stop. I didn’t put any extras in it this time, but it is delicious.
I ate a meal of chili from the freezer, heating it with mozzarella cheese and then adding nutrional yeast, sea salt and pepper, onion and garlic powder, parsley, oregano, and chives. I had celery with this, to use up the last of it. It was delicious! One of my new favorite meals.
I decided to go ahead and make my own garlic in oil for recipes I make over the next few weeks. I couldn’t find any at the store, and I had both garlic and oil to use up. It’s a significant savings when made at home, even with an organic oil. I’m saving the papery skins because I want to try to make my own garlic powder as well. When I have enough saved I will try.
Other things I used up this past weekend for meal prep were the frozen corn, eggs, the last of the olive oil and a freezer smoothie. I’m so happy I had these on hand, so I did not have to spend more money on groceries for the week.
Because I didn’t realize the new bottle of olive oil is in a plastic bottle, I washed out the glass jar from the previous purchase and reused that by pouring the contents of the new bottle into it. I try not to keep things in plastic containers they are bought in as much as possible. I think they stay fresh longer in glass, and the plastic may leach more things into food over time.
I put what was left of the mozzarella cheese in the freezer, as well as the (diced) tomatoes. I’m sure I’ll use them up soon enough. I put the rest of the cabbage and the sliced cucumbers in canning jars in the fridge. I also made yogurt and fruit bowls for work meals, and put the rest of the raspberries and kiwi in the freezer for next week. The rest of the greens from the tossed salad are in a bag in the fridge, and I moved the plain yogurt from the plastic container to a quart size canning jar and put that in the fridge as well.
I am working hard at making sure not to waste the food I am spending money on. The way food costs keep rising, I don’t see any way around doing these things. How about you? How are you trying to spend less on food these days?
~ Shannon
