Fast Healthy Meals on a Budget

Being a stay-at-home mom, and therefore having only one income in our household, I am always looking for ways to make healthy meals, but still stay within our budget each month. I also like to feed my family healthy food, which can sometimes be more expensive. These are just some of my family's favorite meals, and they are all very quick to make, pretty cheap, as well as pretty healthy! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Black Beans & Brown Rice (makes 1 serving)

This is one of the least expensive meals you can make. A can of black beans is usually around 50 cents, and black beans are one of the healthiest things a person can eat. My family tries to eat black beans as often as we can because they are so good, and good for you!

½ cup black beans

½ cup brown rice, cooked (follow package directions)

2-3 tablespoons salsa

Cook all ingredients together until heated through (you can add the beans and salsa to the rice as it is cooking on the stove as well).

Veggie Packed Tuna Salad (makes 3 servings)

This is my all-time favorite way to make tuna salad. I love tuna, and have had it about a hundred different ways. But I love the texture that the veggies in this tuna salad give it, and my favorite way to eat it is on lightly toasted whole wheat bread.

1 can (6 oz.) tuna in water, drained well

1 cup broccoli slaw (no dressing, just the veggies)

1/6 cup light mayonnaise

1/8 cup chopped red onions (optional)

Mix all ingredients well. Serve with light wheat bread (or toast) or serve over a bed of lettuce.

Taco Tater (makes 1 serving)

My husband and my son love potatoes in just about any form they come in, and this is a really fun and unique way to make a baked potato. It is much lower in fat and calories because we don't put any butter on it, and the salsa adds enough moisture that you will not even miss it!

1 medium potato, already baked

1 teaspoon taco seasoning

¼ cup black beans, drained

1/8 cup salsa

¼ cup fat free shredded cheddar cheese

Scallions (just a handful)

Scoop out inside of potato into a small mixing bowl. Mix together all ingredients (except the scallions). Return to potato skin. Top with scallions.

California Shrimp Stir Fry (makes 2 servings)

I LOVE shrimp and try to incorporate a little bit into my meals each week, and this is one of my favorite ways of fixing it. Shrimp are VERY low in fat and calories, and I love the texture it gives to this stir-fry.

1 16-oz. package frozen California Blend vegetables (usually broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower)

2 oz. frozen (but already cooked) shrimp, deveined and detailed

1 cup brown rice

Spray pan lightly with olive oil cooking spray and turn on medium-high heat. Put vegetables and shrimp in pan until heating through, stirring frequently.

Follow package directions on brown rice.

Serve stir-fry over brown rice.