Easy Freezer Lunch Ideas – Prepare Make Ahead Meals

Leftovers for lunch!! Now I can’t think of any other lunch idea cheaper than leftovers. If we have leftovers from dinner the night before, they magically turn into a lunch menu the next day. 

I will even prepare make ahead freezer meals in a larger than needed quantity and store in those plastic Ziploc containers for quick, easy and of course cheap meals.

Here are some ideas for make ahead meals that would make a great lunch.

 

Family Meals From The Freezer:

(yep kids, leftovers)

  • Spaghetti
  • Chicken pasta
  • Tuna fish casserole
  • Homemade mac-n-cheese
  • Pasta salad

Those are just a few example of what you can make. These are easy meals and still taste great when reheated. I serve with some carrot/celery sticks with ranch and a can of fruit from the pantry and lunch is done.

And of course my menu still has a place for PBJ sandwiches, top ramen and mac-n-cheese as these are the foods my children prefer to eat but buying food items for convenience is just becoming to expensive. My suggestion: try to balance the two, get a few of the quick and easy meals the kids love to eat but give more effort and attention to basic homemade meals. (I’m starting to think like my mom!!)

How about breakfast, check this out: Cheap Family Meal Ideas For Breakfast

And Let’s not forget dinner, here ya go: Creating “Big Family” Meals On A Budget

If you have any cheap and easy lunch ideas I would love to hear from you. Leave me a comment or shoot me an e-mail.

September 26th, 2008 | Tags: , , , , , | Category: Cooking Tricks & Tips, freezer meals recipes | One comment

Creating “Big Family” Meals On A Budget

Dinner time is the menu I focus on most. I have to think cheap meals for a big family. My budget allows for me to spend about $5 per meal.

Ya, not a lot for my big family but with time and effort I have been able to create basic healthy meals that my kids will actually eat.  Most of the menu’s under the $5 family meals tab will feed a family of 4 people.

I have found simple ways to add more ingredients to make sure there is enough to feed everyone and make ahead freezer meals.

 

How To Make That Recipe Feed A “BIG FAMILY”

  • Spaghetti – I add an 1/2 extra package of noodle, 1 can tomato sauce and extra seasonings.
  • Pasta with white sauce – 1 add 1/2 extra package of noodles, 1 cup sour cream and extra seasoning.
  • Casseroles – again I add extra noodles or rice, double the can ingredients and extra seasoning.

I buy canned fruits and vegetable the case each month. The main reason being they are great fillers, the kids can have 2nd’s or even 3rd’s (yes I’m dreaming I know that such a request would never be made in my house). I only buy fresh fruits and vegetable that are in season and on sale otherwise I could not afford them.

Whenever possible I always make extra. This serves 2 purposes. First you never know who is going to stop by for a visit so there is always enough for an extra plate or two and second (a term that makes my kids cringe) LEFTOVER’S! I make ahead freezer meals for the rest of the week. I package left overs in those Ziploc plastic containers and my husband will take them for lunch the next day or I freeze them then the kids and I will eat leftovers throughout the week for breakfast or lunch depending on what the left over is.

With these suggestions dinner doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. It just takes a little planning and some effort and you will have simple cheap recipes for big families and a little extra money in your wallet.

If you have any cheap and easy dinner ideas I would love to hear from you. Leave me a comment or shoot me an e-mail.

Take a look at this article for more Family Meal Tips and Tricks : Kitchen Tips and Recipe Rescues

September 26th, 2008 | Tags: , , , , , , | Category: Dinner Recipes, Best Crockpot Recipes, Casserole Cooking, Cooking Tricks & Tips, Dream Dinners Made Cheap, freezer meals recipes, Kids Recipes Made easy, Simply Delicious Desserts | 23 comments

Easy Last Minute Dinner Recipe


Here is one of those easy dinner recipes from the $5 dinner meals. My kids love pasta and my kids love chicken, so what better than a Quick Chicken Recipe with pasta for dinner.

This one is a favorite in our house and it only takes about 15 minutes, making this easy dinner recipes for tonight a breeze.

Oh ya, use the leftovers for a make ahead lunch freezer meal later in the week, it beats a trip to McDonald’s and cost so much less.

Easy Dinner Recipes- Chicken Pasta

Easy Dinner Recipes

Easy Dinner Recipes

1 package fettuccine noodles ( $0.60 at wal-mart)

1 jar Alfredo sauce ($1.50)

1 lb chicken cooked and cut up ($2.00)

1 can of green beans ($0.50)

Cook the noodles as directed on package, Cook the chicken then dice up into small pieces. Drain the noodles,  put back in the pan and mix the Alfredo sauce in. Add you favorite seasoning ( I like garlic) . Dish up, add cooked chicken to the top and then sprinkle with some Parmesan cheese. Serve with green beans and presto dinner is done. Feeds 4-5.

TIP: Double the batch for a perfect budget freezer meals recipe next week!

Looking for something different? Try this: Easy Dinner Recipes With Ground Beef

September 26th, 2008 | Tags: , , , , , , | Category: Dinner Recipes, freezer meals recipes, Kids Recipes Made easy | 13 comments
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