With inflation forcing people to tighten the budget, many households are looking for ways to reign in their spending. Getting thrifty with mealtimes can be a good start, so we’ve crunched the numbers to look at ways to make healthy eating accessible and affordable for all families. We’ve featured seven healthy family meal time recipes for those watching the budget.

Budget-Friendly Brekkies

1. Bacon and Egg Cups

Eggs wrapped in bacon? Yes, please! These easy Bacon Brekkie Muffins are perfect for making ahead of time, zap in the microwave when you need them, and eat them on the run.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Cost per serve: $4.85 

Get the recipe.

2. Yoghurt, Nuts and Raspberries

Easy to prep and perfect for packing for a commute, this recipe works well as a kick start to your day, a tasty snack or an energy-powering sweet treat.

Prep time:  2 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes
Cost per serve: $2.90

Get the recipe.

Low-Cost Healthy Lunches

3. BBQ Chicken Salad

There’s nothing wrong with taking a shortcut to a good meal, and a hot BBQ chicken from a supermarket is a great way to get dinner done in a rush. You’ll lower the cost even further if you use leftovers from the night before (just avoid the stuffing!).

P.S. Don’t toss the chicken skin in the bin! It’s a great source of collagen and vitamin K2.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes
Cost per serve: $5.25

Get the recipe here. 

4. Easy Cheesy Frittata

Your whole family will love this easheesy frittata recipe! It’s super-duper cheap to make and can be enjoyed as for a healthy lunch, dinner or brekkie that everyone will enjoy. It’s perfect for those looking hearty meal that will fill you up–without making you fall into a food coma! 

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Cost per serve: $2.65

Get the recipe here. 

Cheap Healthy Dinners

5. Pot Roast Chicken and Vegetables

There isn’t much better than a classic roast chicken, apparently even a go-to dinner of the royal family. Our version one is a throw-it-all-in type dish, making it simple, tasty, and affordable. A meal fit for a royal feast!

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Cost per serve: $4.25

Get the recipe here.

6. Tasty Chicken Stir Fry

Looking for a way to spruce up your chicken stir fry? Check out this budget-friendly recipe for maximum greens and a flavour-packed punch!

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Cost per serve: $5.55

Get the recipe here.  

Healthy Sweet Treats

7. Chocolate Strawberries

This crowd-pleasing after-dinner treat is surprisingly easy to make. If you have younger kids, they’ll enjoy getting involved in the making, dipping and eating process!

Pssst… Try this handy review of the best dark chocolate you can find in the supermarket (this 85% Lindt is our fave)!

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Cost per serve: $1.30

Get the recipe here.

Summary

It might sound impossible to feed the family nutritious meals on the cheap. Still, knowing your family’s importance, we’re here to tell you that it can be surprisingly inexpensive to cook healthy meals on the cheap.

The even better news is that prioritising your family’s health by introducing nutrient-dense, low carbohydrate, sugar-free foods can go a long way toward preventing chronic diseases and even reducing snacking between meals (an extra cost-saving–hurrah!).

So give these recipes a go, and let us know what the family think of ’em!