Writing is my hobby. Cooking is my hobby. Let’s say first and foremost I stopped writing/blogging because for some odd reason society became so critical. Regardless, I decided to continue what I like to do. I wanted to do an extreme budget challenge. Is it keto? No. Is it WW approved? Nope. It’s for an audience of people who are extremely limited on budget and food resources. This week I’m taking this challenge myself and giving honest feedback. I’ll be posting daily of my cooking and recipes. Here’s a budget-friendly plan that includes affordable meats like ground beef, chicken thighs, and canned tuna, while still keeping the overall cost reasonable.

Grocery List (Approx. $30)

1. Rice (5 lbs) – $3
2. Dried beans (1 lb) – $1.50
3. Pasta (1 lb) – $1
4. Eggs (1 dozen) – $2
5. Canned tomatoes (2 cans) – $2
6. Frozen mixed vegetables (2 bags) – $3
7. Onions (3 medium) – $1.50
8. Garlic (1 bulb) – $0.50
9. Potatoes (5 lbs) – $2.50
10. Oatmeal (18 oz) – $2
11. Bananas (4-5) – $1
12. Ground beef (1 lb) – $4
13. Chicken thighs (2 lbs) – $5
14. Canned tuna (2 cans) – $2.50
15. Spices: Salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder – $1 (if needed)

---

Meal Plan (7 Days, 2 Adults)

Breakfast (Daily)

• Oatmeal with Banana
• Cook the oatmeal and top with sliced bananas.

---

Lunch & Dinner

Day 1:

• Lunch: Rice & Beans with Ground Beef
• Cook a batch of rice. In a pan, sauté onions, garlic, and spices. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Add cooked beans and tomatoes. Serve over rice.
• Dinner: Chicken & Vegetable Stir-Fry
• Dice chicken thighs and stir-fry with onions, garlic, and frozen mixed vegetables. Serve over rice or potatoes.

---

Day 2:

• Lunch: Tuna Pasta Salad
• Cook pasta and mix with canned tuna, a bit of oil (or mayo if available), chopped onions, and frozen veggies.
• Dinner: Beef & Potato Skillet
• Cook ground beef with diced potatoes, onions, garlic, and spices. Serve with mixed veggies on the side.

---

Day 3:

• Lunch: Chicken Rice Bowl
• Use leftover chicken from Day 1. Serve over rice with sautéed onions, garlic, and frozen veggies.
• Dinner: Pasta with Meat Sauce
• Cook pasta. Sauté ground beef with onions and garlic. Add canned tomatoes and simmer. Serve the sauce over pasta.

---

Day 4:

• Lunch: Tuna & Veggie Stir-Fry
• Sauté onions, garlic, and frozen vegetables. Add canned tuna and serve with rice or potatoes.
• Dinner: Chicken Soup
• Simmer chicken thighs with onions, garlic, canned tomatoes, and spices. Add beans and frozen veggies to make a hearty soup. Serve with rice or potatoes.

---

Day 5:

• Lunch: Beef & Bean Burrito Bowl
• Use leftover beef, beans, and rice. Top with onions, garlic, and frozen veggies. Optionally wrap in tortillas or serve as a bowl.
• Dinner: Baked Chicken & Potatoes
• Roast chicken thighs with diced potatoes, onions, garlic, and spices in the oven until golden and cooked through.

---

Day 6:

• Lunch: Pasta with Tuna & Tomato Sauce
• Make a quick pasta sauce with canned tomatoes, onions, garlic, and canned tuna. Serve over pasta.
• Dinner: Chicken & Rice
• Use leftover chicken and serve with rice, seasoned with garlic, onions, and mixed vegetables.

---

Day 7:

• Lunch: Potato & Egg Scramble
• Scramble eggs with diced, cooked potatoes. Add garlic and onions for extra flavor.
• Dinner: Leftover Stir-Fry
• Use any leftover rice, meat, beans, and vegetables to create a stir-fry for the final meal.

---

Basic Recipes with Meat

1. Rice & Beans with Ground Beef:

• Cook rice as usual. Brown ground beef with onions, garlic, and spices. Mix in cooked beans and canned tomatoes, then serve over rice.

1. Chicken & Vegetable Stir-Fry:

• Dice chicken thighs, cook until golden, and add frozen veggies, onions, and garlic. Serve over rice or potatoes.

1. Tuna Pasta Salad:

• Cook pasta and mix with drained canned tuna, frozen veggies, and seasoning. Add oil or mayo if available.

1. Beef & Potato Skillet:

• Sauté diced potatoes in oil until golden. Add browned ground beef, onions, garlic, and spices for a hearty dish.

1. Chicken Soup:

• Simmer chicken thighs with onions, garlic, canned tomatoes, and frozen veggies. Add beans or rice for a heartier soup.

---

Tips:

• Cook large batches of rice, beans, and potatoes to save time for lunches and dinners throughout the week.
• Use chicken thighs as they’re more affordable than chicken breasts and offer great flavor.
• Ground beef can stretch across multiple meals, especially when mixed with beans or potatoes.

This plan adds protein and variety while still sticking to a tight budget. I get that it isn’t “all organic” or all “low carb”. The truth is, so many people live in a food desert of sorts. I wanted to do something to recognize that and make due myself. I’ll follow up daily with the specifics on the recipes.

This plan feeds 2 adults for 7 days. (Maybe not gloriously, but it gets the job done on 30 usd.)

Thank you for following!