– Do you want to eat healthier, but hate to cook? If you are also trying to stick to a budget, this can prove difficult as it removes a lot of the pre-packaged meal options. But don’t worry, even if you don’t intend to cook much, you can still put together affordable and nutritious meals.

– It’s all about the bowls! These are so handy and easy to put together when you hate to cook. Plus as a bonus, they rarely require much cooking at all, and can be extremely budget-friendly. To put a bowl together, start with a base using ingredients like rice, potatoes, or shredded lettuce. These are all cheap ingredients that go a long way. You can then top it with your favorite veggies, a low-cost protein source, and added toppings like sour cream, hummus, or salsa.

Pasta Your Own Way

– You can still have pasta when you are trying to eat healthier, as long as you put a healthy spin on it. For example, instead of your typical spaghetti with garlic bread, consider doing a pasta with vegetables.

– Use more veggies in your sauce, or just do olive oil instead of tomato sauce, and add cooked veggies to the dish. On the side, have a little side salad instead of the garlic bread, and it’s much healthier.

Eggs Go With Anything

– Eggs are one of the star players when you are on a budget, want to eat nutritious meals, and are not a big fan of cooking. Just about anyone can cook eggs, and they are done in only a few minutes. You can make any meal with eggs, from quiches to scrambled eggs with diced veggies. They are always good to have around for anyone who isn’t a big fan of cooking.

Use a Whole Rotisserie Chicken

– While cooking your own chicken from scratch is going to be cheaper, the whole cooked rotisserie chickens at the grocery store might be a better option if you’re willing to trade convenience for a slightly higher price.

– For about $6-$8, you get an entire cooked chicken that feeds a family or gives you leftovers if it is just for one or two people. Serve it with a salad or veggies and rice, and your meal is done.

Sandwiches, Salads and Wraps

– For a quick meal, don’t forget about something simple like a sandwich or wrap. The ingredients for these foods are minimal, easy to find, and typically inexpensive as long as you pay attention to normal portion sizes.

See you soon!

Anne-Vasthi