{"id":127438,"date":"2025-03-12T01:04:53","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T01:04:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/recipes\/category-a-b\/budget-food\/15-budget-friendly-clean-eating-meal-ideas-cheapskate-cook\/"},"modified":"2025-03-12T01:04:53","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T01:04:53","slug":"15-budget-friendly-clean-eating-meal-ideas-cheapskate-cook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=127438","title":{"rendered":"15 Budget-Friendly, Clean Eating Meal Ideas \u2022 Cheapskate Cook"},"content":{"rendered":"


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15 easy clean eating budget-friendly meal ideas that are heavy in the veggie department but light on the wallet. Real food and allergy-free recipes too!<\/em><\/p>\n

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This post may contain affiliate links. View our full\u00a0<\/em>disclosure policy here<\/em><\/a>.\ufeff<\/em><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re like me, and the holidays prompt a serious struggle with willpower. Every year, we spend the holidays with my grandmother and I tell myself that doesn\u2019t mean I have to eat like a 5-year-old. But every year, I do. Traditional family food is both nostalgic and soul-nourishing, even if it isn\u2019t nourishing to my body. <\/p>\n

So I have something for you.<\/p>\n

When you get home and promise yourself you will eat better in January and watch your budget more closely, use this list.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a collection of 15 easy clean eating meal ideas that are heavy in the veggie department but light on the wallet.<\/strong> You can find the ingredients almost anywhere \u2013 in the food desert where your grandparents live, or back home.<\/p>\n

What You Can Do Now:<\/b><\/h3>\n
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  1. Choose one of these recipes to make this week \u2013 write the ingredients down on your grocery list so you can make it.<\/b><\/li>\n
  2. Follow me on Instagram<\/a> or Facebook<\/a> for daily inspiration to help you save money and eat healthy. (Psst \u2013 I basically live on Stories, and I\u2019m always sharing tips and ideas).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Budget-Friendly, Clean<\/strong> Eating Meal Ideas<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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    1. Easy Lentils & Rice Filling<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Takes 5 minutes to toss in the slow cooker, and I included instructions for making tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, taco salad, nachos, and more. A lighter, vegetarian spin on one of our favorite meals.<\/p>\n

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    2. How to Make Cheap Smoothies<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Whether you prefer green or not-gross-colored smoothies, here\u2019s how we\u2019ve made smoothies fit in a tight budget.<\/a><\/p>\n

    I chug these a lot over the holiday, because you can find the basic ingredients anywhere, and they\u2019re easy to drink between meals.<\/p>\n

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    3. Githeri (Kenyan Corn & Beans)<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Loaded with veggies and quick to toss in the crockpot or pressure cooker, Githeri is a flavorful vegetarian dinner.<\/a><\/p>\n

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    4. <\/strong>3-Ingredient Frozen Berry Whip<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

    Frozen Berry Whip<\/a> is a refreshing, high-protein alternative to store-bought frozen desserts that is budget-friendly, made with real food, and only uses 3 ingredients.<\/p>\n

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    5. 10-Minute Tomato Soup<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

    A simple, homemade version of our canned favorite. Contains no sugar, and includes a dairy-free, vegan version. Get the recipe here!<\/a><\/p>\n

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    6. Easy Frittata<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Or what to do with all the veggies in the crisper drawer. Easy to customize, and you can make it dairy-free too. Learn how here!<\/a><\/p>\n

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    7.<\/strong> Simple Baked Oatmeal<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

    We\u2019ve tried a lot of different versions, and this is our favorite. Serve with vanilla yogurt or a light drizzle of maple syrup. Make it even better by adding chopped fruit to sweeten it instead. Get the recipe here!<\/a><\/p>\n

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    8. <\/strong>Budget-Friendly, Clean Eating Salad<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

    Our go-to salad is a combination of the vegetables we love best and the ones that cost the least amount of money. Get our formula here!<\/a><\/p>\n

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    9. <\/strong>Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

    Fall is the perfect time to make warm, comforting breakfasts. But on school mornings, hot\u00a0breakfasts are hard to swing<\/a>! Oatmeal in the\u00a0Instant Pot<\/a>\u00a0is one of the easiest fixes<\/strong>\u00a0(I have\u00a0this one<\/a>\u00a0and I love it). With the Delay Start option, you can set your oatmeal up the night before, and by the time you wake up, breakfast is ready. Clean eating breakfast for the win! Get the recipe (and watch the video) here!<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n

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    10. Oat & Berry Bars<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Vegan, gluten-free, no added sugar, and still delightfully sweet and refreshing after all that heavy holiday food. BONUS: You can mix it all in one bowl or directly in the pan. Learn how here!<\/a><\/p>\n

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    11. Broccoli & Parmesan Noodles<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Another easy, veggie-loaded dinner. Only takes 20 minutes to put together, and works great as a vegan dish or with zucchini noodles. Check it out!<\/a><\/p>\n

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    12. Overnight Oats for a Crowd<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Those individual\u00a0jars are cute, but what if you\u2019re feeding more than 2.5 people? This recipe<\/a> is just as good as the jars, but 100% easier. BONUS: Apply this concept<\/a> to any overnight oats recipe.<\/p>\n

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    13. Frugal Juicing<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Drinking fresh vegetable and fruit juices is EXPENSIVE. Here\u2019s how we\u2019ve made it fit in a small budget.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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    14. Make-Ahead Sandwiches<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Did you know you can freeze sandwiches ahead of time for packed lunches? Here\u2019s how we make homemade, real food sandwiches fit in a busy life and tight budget.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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    15. Big Salad with Clean, Simple Blended Greek Dressing<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Makeover your salads with real food by whipping up this dressing<\/a>. It\u2019s gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, plant-based, vegan, clean eating, Whole30, Ketogenic, budget-friendly, and one of the best dressings you\u2019ll ever taste. We double and triple the recipe and keep it on hand all the time!<\/a><\/p>\n

    Clean Eating on a Budget<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    So whether you\u2019re proud of yourself during this post-holiday season, or like me, you came too\u00a0close to your inner\u00a05-year-old, maybe these recipes can help. They\u2019re simple, full of clean food, and incredibly frugal.<\/p>\n

    What are your clean eating goals for the New Year?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    If you found this post helpful, let us know! Leave a comment, share it on Facebook<\/a> or Pinterest<\/a>, and follow us on Instagram<\/a> or YouTube<\/a> for more!<\/p>\n

    Slash your grocery budget and feed your family real food! Get simple, frugal, real food menu plans every month for FREE in the Cheapskate Cooks\u2019 1-Min Email.<\/strong> Get the next one here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n