[Lynn]

I live in Canada and it has gotten extremely expensive here and it’s supposed to keep getting more expensive. I am looking for the most frugal meals to feed a large family. Bonus points if the meals are gluten-free… but not necessary as I can typically convert to gluten-free flour as our family has several celiac members. Breakfast, lunches & school lunches as well as dinner. Please and thank you

[Del]

I’ve always recommended people add TVP to hamburger to stretch it. You can get it at Bulk Barn. Use it anywhere you use ground beef.

[Amber]

Adding shredded turnips to ground beef (1:1) to halve the meat you need and help increase veg intake — do this in any recipe you use ground beef in. My super picky kids don’t notice.

[Carol]

Make your own hummus with garbonzo beans add in sesame seeds (instead of buying tahini) *& process. Meatless meals or half amt meat. I add eggplant to my chili. It has a nice texture consistency of a firm tomato. It takes on spice flavor well. More brands n pasta.

My Mom used to make sauce outa tomato soup. If that’s too much “ugh” then add 1 can to reg sauce to extend it.

Breakfast foods for supper.

Casseroles in stead of slab of meat.

Also, check out: Easy meals to cook on a hot plate in a hotel room?

[Sandy]

Instead of pancakes I make a pancake batter and bake it.

You can put fruit in it and the eggs give you some protein. I use almond flour mixed with rice flour. Or sometimes oat flour. And you can always make it with savory ingredients like sausage or cheese.

[Sharon]

One dinner I have found to be very inexpensive is ham and beans. I take a couple cans of great northern beans, some ham chunks, and a few shakes of minced onion and heat it in the microwave, or probably could do slow cooker.

It just needs to get warm. Then I make up 2 packages of jiffy cornbread muffins and we will have lots of leftovers after we have eaten.

[Judith]

Beans and cornbread. Add a little pea powder to the cornbread for additional protein. Sheet pan meals with veggies of your choice. Leftovers in wraps and salads. We are gluten free too. I use Jovial pasta and toss in a large bag of frozen broccoli and spinach; add my homemade cashew cheese. It is delicous, nutritious, gluten and dairy free.

I am constantly baking gluten free biscuits and freezing them ahead for a grab and go sandwich. With a large family I hope you have a freezer.

Plant a lot of fruit trees and berries, they make a lot food every year with very little work.

[Samantha]

Breakfast burritos
Breakfast pizza
Breakfast sandwiches

Loaded nachos
Tacos
Quesadillas
Grilled cheese and tomato soup

Beef roast with potatoes and carrots.

Pork roast
Pulled pork (BBQ sauce)
Pulled pork sandwiches

[Donna]

Lean hard on potatoes: hash browns, roasted, pancakes, oven fries, baked, soups, in stews and curries, mashed—and as a topping for cottage or pot pies!

Also Asian and Indian leaning recipes, using rice flour, noodles, wraps/sheets (make dumplings or egg rolls), mung bean or yam /konjac noodles, tofu, TVP, soy curls, seitan (there’s a lot of Buddhist and Indian vegetarians so many options), tons of beans/lentils, Besan (chickpea flour), recipes for

Lentil or mung bean crepes/flatbreads, soy products, soy milks, etc.

Fried rice, stir fries, curries, one-pot rice casseroles, Mapo tofu recipes…

[Nancy]

soup for supper with everything you have on hand, use beans if you don’t have meat. Chicken can be stretched to feed a large family in a hundred different ways.

[Melissa]

Eggs can be inexpensive when you think about how many servings you get. 2 eggs is a good source of protein. Quiches, omelets, scrambled with toast and a sausage link.

Use block Extra Sharp Cheddar cheese. It is often cheaper to shred and slice yourself. It also doesn’t have any non clumping additives. Using extra sharp, you need less cheese because it is so flavorful.

Cut portions of meat. When 1 pound ground beef is suggested use only 3/4 pound save the 1/4 pound ayntil you get an extra pound. Bake a whole chicken, shred the meat and boil the carcus for broth.

Leftovers go into a container to freeze. 1 container for poultry, gravy and veggies and another container for pork & beef, gravy and veggies. Add to broth and make a pot of soup. You probably can do this everyother week and get a free meal.

[Serena]

Egg omelette for breakfast, chicken rice soup for lunch, meatloaf with mashed potatoes and veggies for supper. Use a gluten free bread crumb in the meatloaf, or lentils.

[Author]

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