This week is insane tough for us.  I’m waiting on a few payments and the unexpected expenses of life keep cropping up.  Truth is, we haven’t recovered from Christmas yet, and we didn’t even spend that much!

I don’t usually have anxiety problems, but this week I haven’t been able to sleep, there has been a tightening in my chest and throat, and my breathing becomes rapid when I think about moolah.

We have to eat, so I’ve been trying to think about the cheapest ways to form meals this week.  Know what?  This might be the best thing that has happened to our diet in months.  No money means no treats which means the healthiest food in its most natural form.

I’m calling upon a few new Paleo friends this week to form an affordable, delicious meal plan that we can dress up or down according to our financial needs.

Breakfast:

I’m getting sick of just eggs for breakfast, so I’m making Morning Glory Muffins (ingredients for this recipe that cannot be used in any other recipes are italicized on shopping list) from Paleo Comfort Foods this week, as well as the Mini Egg Pizzas from The Paleo Parents and Eat Like a Dinosaur.

Lunch:

I’ve doubled a couple of the recipes for dinner this week in an effort to make the most meals out of the fewest ingredients.  You WILL have plenty of leftovers for lunch this week.  The Workaholic still hates leftovers, but for the next couple of weeks, he’s not going to have any choice but to eat them, because I’m not buying any excess.  If you have a family member who also hates leftovers, find a way to serve them that differs from the original meal.  You can also visit my new friend, Kathryn from Primal Bliss Nutrition for a MONTH’S worth of Paleo lunch ideas.  I haven’t included them in this week’s meal plan, but if you guys want to, I can work with Kathryn to provide comprehensive lunch and dinner ideas for you.

Dinner:

Tuna Cake s & Salad

This Paleo Tuna Cakes recipe is simple and DELICIOUS.  I add a couple T of coconut aminos for an Asian flair.  You WILL have to double this recipe for a family.  Doubled, it feeds us for dinner, and a couple of lunches!  Tuna is inexpensive, and it’s easy to add your own special taste to this recipe.  I’ve included the simple (recipe-included) things on our shopping list this week but feel free to add your own ingredients. We eat ours with Salad, so grab a head of lettuce, a few tomatoes, and some nuts and seeds to make a delicious, crunchy salad.  Top with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  I included Iceberg & Romaine on the shopping list to make your own fresh, mixed salad.

Bacon, Basil, & Sundried Tomato Pizza

This is from my new friend, Kristen at Live Nourished.  We really miss Pizza so we do indulge from time to time.  It’s a great American classic!  Shoot me!  We try to go to Mellow Mushroom when we can, and get their gluten-free crust, but sometimes we’re feeling really sassy, and we’ll go to a local restaurant called Buffalo Brothers and get Macaroni & Cheese Pizza.  I need to find a way to recreate that in a Primal way.  This week, instead of spending the extra money at a restaurant, we’re having our pizza at home, made at home, with real food ingredients.  Thank you SO much for this Primal Pizza recipe, Kristen!

Nourishing Egg Drop Soup

My family and I have been sick for over a month straight.  I keep hearing, “Bone broth heals!” and I know that it does, but finding new and exciting ways to feed it to my picky children can be difficult.  That’s why I’m including this Egg Drop Soup recipe from Live Nourished as well.  I’m SO excited to try it, and because it’s still a little chilly out, soup is going to be a perfect way to warm our souls while healing our guts.  It sounds like a simple recipe, and can be easily doubled so that you have leftovers for lunches.  I’ve doubled the recipe on the shopping list, so please keep that in mind when you are shopping.

Cornish Game Hens and Braised Cabbage

Another new friend from Whole Food Whole Family had one of the most simple Paleo dishes on her blog this week.  It was one that we used to eat often when I was growing up, and one that I haven’t had in a really long time.  There isn’t really a “recipe”, it’s just a simple throw-together meal that you then cook for about an hour and a half.  Serve with braised cabbage for an indulgent, gourmet meal that won’t break the bank.  (I’ll be using red cabbage because I think it’s pretty).

Spaghetti Squash Goulash

My personal friend, Jackie from The Paleo Mama (who also wrote this guest post for Fruity Kombucha Jello Bites) has an inexpensive recipe for Spaghetti Squash Goulash.  My hubby doesn’t love Spaghetti Squash, so he will often eat the sauce or meat that I make with the squash over salad.  If you have a picky family member, help them find a way to make it work!

Creamy Chicken Skillet

Want to save even MORE money this week?  Visit The Paleo Parents blog where Jackie from The Paleo Mama wrote a guest post recently about stretching a whole chicken into several meals.  She makes homemade broth then uses half of the leftover chicken for a creamy chicken skillet.  If you follow her crock pot recipe for making broth at the very beginning of the week, you will have enough broth for our recipes this week without having to buy much (if any) more.  PLUS, the chicken results in this Creamy Paleo Chicken Skillet recipe, along with extra chicken for you to eat over a salad for lunch one day or to put in your kids’ lunches.  Genius, right?  And OH so frugal.  Thanks, Jackie!

Don’t forget to shop your pantry and refrigerator before you go to the store.  This is another way to save you tons of money.  I used to be the master of spending money on food we already had.  I’m getting better, and you should too.  Here’s your shopping list!

Printable Shopping List