Recipe Round-Up: Budget Friendly

Rapid inflation and a historic pandemic have been hard on everyone’s bank account, but if there’s one thing that stays constant no matter what your financial situation, it’s that we all need to eat well! Luckily, lentils are a great option for those of us in search of budget-friendly meals that will still fill our bellies and fuel our minds.

What makes lentils so budget-friendly, you may ask?

• Lentils are a great source of protein, but cost just a fraction compared to traditional protein sources such as meat and eggs.
• Lentils are also shelf-stable and, when properly stored, will last for up to a year in your pantry, meaning you reduce costly food waste from spoilage.
• They are versatile! Whether you opt for canned lentils or buy them dry to pre-cook and freeze for later, lentils are an inexpensive protein source that you can quickly incorporate into nearly any meal.

In addition to featuring lentils, these recipes rely less on expensive items like fresh meat and more on common ingredients you likely already have on hand. Here are our favourite low-cost tips and meals that are both good for your health and easy on your wallet.

Root vegetables have a long shelf life, which means you can keep them handy for future use and reduce the need to run out for groceries every time you want to cook.

These soups and stews can be made in big batches and frozen for later, which makes a hot meal at a moment’s notice easier than ever. (Read more on our Freezer-Friendly roundup!)

And finally, we all need some great one-pot wonders in our back pocket that provide a well-balanced meal without complicating the dinner table spread.