5 Frugal Alternatives to your Favourite Foods
Our favourite foods tend to be both expensive and unhealthy for us, which is why searching for alternative options can not only save us money but can also reduce the amount of waste we produce if we get a little smarter with how we use our food. If you want to switch up your weekly food intake and instead opt for a more frugal and healthier line up of meals for the week ahead, these five great alternatives are exactly what you have been looking for. For further meal inspiration, click here and visit the lifestyle blog.
- Steamed Cauliflower instead of Mashed Potatoes
Everyone loves a bit of mashed potato on the side of a Sunday roast dinner but more often than not there tends to be a great deal left over in the pot that nobody can seem to finish.
A great alternative to this classic favourite is steamed cauliflower. This is simple to make and very nutritious. The cauliflower can be steamed using either a frying pan, steamer basket or microwave. To add an extra bit of taste, sprinkle a small amount of salt or pepper on the cauliflower and serve it as a replacement for mashed potatoes.
- Reheated Rice instead of Cereal
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day so it is important to make it as healthy and nutritious as possible. Whilst many people choose their favourite cereal in the mornings, some opt for a more frugal and convenient option. Reheating rice, barley and other whole grains for a period of two minutes is the perfect alternative to cereal. You can use leftover rice for this and finish it off with a drop of maple syrup and fresh milk to sweeten the dish. Just be mindful of the potential dangers when reheating rice – read this NHS guide to staying safe.
- Homemade Soup with Leftovers
To reduce the amount of food waste you produce, make your own delicious homemade soup or stew using leftover meat and vegetables. This is one of the easiest frugal dishes to create because it is a simple case of chucking a range of ingredients together to make a soup that can feed the whole family. Many people have their own ‘special ingredients’ that they like to add to their homemade soups and stews, so don’t be afraid to use these together with the leftovers.
- Lettuce Wraps instead of Tortillas
Tortillas are delicious but instead of wrapping your favourite ingredients inside a taco, wrap them up in lettuce instead. According to www.tiphero.com, the tops of Romaine lettuce are ideal to make a flexible base for a sandwich, taco or other wrap. Lettuce wraps are a great deal healthier and cheaper than traditional tortillas.
- Sweet Potatoes instead of French Fries
If you love French fries and don’t believe there will ever be a good enough alternative then you will be pleasantly surprised when you try this tasty take on a classic favourite. Oven baked sweet potato fries are just as tasty as the original. Sweet potatoes are a lot healthier and have a greater nutritional value. You can cut them as thick or as thinly as you like and top them off with your favourite barbeque or tomato sauce. There’s also a great recipe for sweet potato soup on this website.
