Day 14

BREAKFAST - Eggs Benedict
English Muffin - $0.16
Eggs - $0.32
Ham - $0.08 (half portion)
Spinach - $0.12
Sauce - $0.50
Total: $1.18
Can eggs benedict be made in a healthy way and still taste amazing?  Drum roll please ... not a chance.  Come on, let's face it, eggs benedict is a white English muffin, Canadian bacon (ham, basically), and eggs with a creamy (fatty), delicious sauce poured all over it.  If you wanted to try and make it "healthy," well then it just wouldn't be "eggs benedict" anymore now would it?  It would be like trying to call Miller Lite a beer, when in reality watery beverage that resembles beer.  


So this is where "everything in moderation" comes into play because I wanted to try and do one of our family's favorites, eggs benny, for under a buck.  I came soooo close!!  Oh well, leftovers for lunch (FREE) and I'll make up the difference.  Oh yes, and Benny invited Flor to the party so it was more of an Eggs Benedict/Florentine mash-up happening.  A little healthier, I guess?  




LUNCH - Baked Chicken Leftovers with Spinach
Chicken and Potatoes - Scraps left over from dinner last night
Spinach - $0.12
Total: $0.12
This is not the most beautiful lunch I have eaten but it was tasty and $0.12!!  Need I say more?

DINNER -  Smoothie and Popcorn (yes, popcorn)
8 oz apple juice - $0.25
8 oz water - Free
10 almonds - $0.10
1 banana $0.14
Non-fat plain Greek Yogurt - $0.40
2 strawberries - $0.10
2 Tbs Flax - $0.03
2 oz Raw Spinach - $0.12
Total for smoothie - $1.14
Popcorn - $0.20 (I honestly have no idea but we buy the kernels in bulk and air pop them, so I cannot imagine it is more than that)
Total: $1.34
Hudson and I wanted to watch a movie together while Noe was at her friend Jack's house.  And it was also dinner time.  Hudson asked if we could have smoothies and as for the popcorn ... what would a movie be without popcorn? 
My smoothies are so jam packed full of goodies that it really is a complete meal.  And although we went a bit over on dinner and breakfast, with our $0.12 lunch, we are still under budget for the day. 

BREAKFAST - $1.18

LUNCH - $0.12

DINNER - $1.34
total: $2.64

Day 13

BREAKFAST - Heuvos Rancheros Florentinos

2 Eggs - $0.36

Organic Black Beans - $0.13

1 Tbs Salsa - $0.06

2oz Spinach - $0.12

TOTAL: $0.67

Heuvos Rancheros is one of my favorites, but with spinach instead of tortillas it really gourmet-ify-ed it!  If that's even a word.  Sometimes I'm over doing it on bread products and sometimes I skip 'em.  Spinach is an amazing bread substitute.  Tastes nothing like it... feels nothing like it, but it goes with almost anything savory.

LUNCH - Smoothie

Frozen Banana - $0.14

2Tbs Greek Yogurt - $0.25

4 Strawberries - $0.20

8oz Apple Juice - $0.25

8oz Water - $0.00

TOTAL: $0.84

Smoothies are great!  Tons of nutrition, great taste, and good at keeping you cool on a hot day.  It was hot today!

Hi, hi, Andrea here!  Okay, so when we started this blog, we really started thinking ... how often do we have the opportunity to eat for free?  That's right .. free.  I bet you don't even realize it yourself, but so many of us have this opportunity to get "free" calories more than we realize.  From the free samples (or "stamples" as Noe would say) at Trader Joe's to eating at a friend's house to eating leftovers, free food is simply that ... free!!  So take advantage when you can, well, without being a total free loader and annoying all of your friends!!  

With that said, today I had a quick bowl of cereal before heading off to work.  I nanny 2 sweet little girls in Westwood 3 times a week.  The family generously offered their food to me while on the clock (as do we with our sitters and guests alike).   So, gratefully I accept that offer and now get 3 free lunches a week!!  This is fantastic.  


Recap:  
BREAKFAST - Bowl of cereal with Milk - $0.40
LUNCH - Chicken Sandwich and Apple - FREE


DINNER - Baked Chicken with Green Beans & Smashed Potatoes
(Serves 10 adults)  
2 Whole Chickens (10 lbs @ $0.69/lb):  $6.90
3 lbs of Potatoes - $1.50
2 onions - $0.13
Fresh green beans - $1.00  
Stick of butter - $0.50
Total:  $10.03/$1.00 per person
For dinner we had our good friends over to share in the dollar experience.  We had baked chicken, blistered potatoes with crispy red onion and blanched green beans.  There's some good ol' Midwest food for ya, hey? (said like a true Wisconsinite that I am).   I prefaced the meal that "one" portion of food is under a dollar ... if you choose to eat more than one portion, I cannot be held accountable for that.  Ha, ha, but seriously, you know what I mean.  Obviously our friend that is 6'6" is going to eat more than me!   Btw, I'm so sorry we forgot to take a picture of this beautiful feast.  We were in entertaining mode. 

BREAKFAST - $0.67

LUNCH - $0.84

DINNER - $1.00

total: $2.51

Day 12

BREAKFAST - Spinach Omelet with Toast and OJ

2 eggs - $0.28

2oz Spinach - $0.18

1/2oz Shallot - $0.10

String Cheese - $0.18

4oz OJ - $0.20

Bread - $0.25

Butter - $0.03

TOTAL: $1.22

LUNCH - White Bean & Ham Soup
See Day #05
TOTAL: $0.66 (Double Serving)

DINNER - NOTHING!!!
TOTAL: $0.00
This is a horrible decision!  I had to work all day and ended up almost skipping lunch.  I ended up eating the white bean & ham soup at 2pm, which tided me over.  I wasn't hungry when I had to leave to meet up with students at 5:30pm.  Didn't get home until 10pm.  No Dinner.  No Good.  I don't suggest it.

BREAKFAST - $1.22

LUNCH - $0.66

DINNER - $0.00

Total: $1.88 

Day 11

BREAKFAST - Over Easy Egg Bowl w/OJ

1/2 Red Onion - $0.06

Grain Blend - $0.20

2 oz Spinach - $0.18

Egg - $0.14

4oz Orange Juice - $0.20

TOTAL: $0.78

LUNCH - Left Over Lavash

Free (See day #9)

TOTAL: $0.00

DINNER - Cheddar & Cauliflower Soup (6 Servings)

Cheddar Base - $1.00

Grain Blend - $0.80

Cauliflower - $0.60

6oz Spinach - $0.38

Bread - $1.50

Butter - $0.18

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Subtotal - $4.46

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TOTAL: $0.75

BREAKFAST - $0.78

LUNCH - $0.00

DINNER - $0.75

Total: $1.53

Day 10

BREAKFAST - On the Go!

Banana - $0.14

Apple - $0.17

String Cheese - $0.18

20 Almonds - $0.20

TOTAL: $0.69

I know we all have days where getting out the door seems more important than breakfast.  Sometimes we think we can just power through it on an empty stomach and be just as productive.

I hate to break it to you, but you can't... I can't, and health experts agree.  Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day!  Was I rushed today? Yes.  Did I have time to make a gourmet meal?  No.  Is there a ton of nutrition in this breakfast grab bag?  Yes.  With a bottle of water, I felt great all the way to lunch and stayed on budget!

LUNCH - Egg Sandwich & Spinach 

2 Eggs - $0.28 (found a better deal on eggs this week!)

English Muffin - $0.17

3oz Spinach - $0.27

Splash Poppy Seed Dressing - $0.05

TOTAL: $0.77

There's an old song called "If you don't know me by now" by Harold Melvin and it's quite applicable to this blog.  If you don't know I like eggs by now, you'll never know I like eggs.  What is it?  If I don't have eggs in the morning, I gotta have 'em at lunch... or even dinner.  As far as I can tell from this challenge, they are the most nutrition packed and protein potent food out there.

DINNER - Acorn Squash, Grain Blend, & Sauteed Spinach

1/2 Acorn Squash - $0.25

1oz Pecans - $0.15

Grain Blend - $0.20

3oz Spinach - $0.27

Butter - $0.03

Brown Sugar - $0.02

TOTAL: $0.92

This is one of the best feel good, warm comfort meals on the planet!  This is the trimmed down version, cause we usually bake a chicken and pour gravy on the grain/rice accompanied by a delicate Pinot Noir or heavy Cab.  Let's all say it together, "Mmmmmm".  This meal is still extremely satisfying sans vino & pollo.  Hometown favorite.  I learned this combo from Patrish (Mom) and have shared it with many.

BREAKFAST $0.69

LUNCH $0.77

DINNER $0.92

Total: $2.38

Day 09

BREAKFAST - Huevos Rancheros

2 Eggs - $0.36

2 Tortillas - $0.12

1/3 Orange - $0.06

Salsa - $0.06

TOTAL: $0.60

T+ (Taco Plus) does this better.  Andrea was out to breakfast with friends and I got a little lazy.  Still pretty good.

LUNCH - Pulled Pork Sandwich & Edamame

Bagel - $0.25

Pulled Pork - $0.61

Edamame - $0.25

TOTAL: - $1.11

The bagel was nice and crunchy, yet still soft on the inside, I toasted it.

DINNER - Lavash with Salt Cream (6 servings)
Bread - $1.99
2Eggs - $0.36
6oz Spinach - $0.38
Cauliflower - $0.60
4oz Heavy Cream - $0.25
Pulled Pork - $0.61 (only used 1 serving)
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Subtotal: $4.19 (6 servings)
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TOTAL: $0.70 (per serving)
Our friend Yeva introduced us to Lavash a few years ago and we love it!  It is a Middle Eastern staple and there are many different kinds of fresh Lavash available at specialty markets around town.
I felt like the Lavash I made needed a little something else, I whipped up cream, but didn't add any sugar.  I know it seems weird, but if you think about it... whipped cream left savory is kind of like very light butter (light when it comes to actual mass... ha ha ha, I don't think it lowers calories).

BREAKFAST - $0.60

LUNCH - $1.11

DINNER - $0.70

Total: $2.41

Day 08

BREAKFAST - Rice Bowl with an egg over easy & Sauce a l'Andrea
Brown Rice - $0.09
Egg - $0.18
Sauce - Free (figured into the meal cost last night)
TOTAL: $0.27
Yes, this is the same brown rice from the night we made Dijon Chicken.  Thankfully, it is the last of it.
After a quick saute, an egg, and some of the amazing sauce left over from last night... an amazing breakfast was had.  Mmmmmm.

LUNCH - The "BIG" Salad, but no chicken this time.

Lettuce - $0.17
Grape Tomatoes - $0.25
Cucumber - $0.13
1/2 Carrot - $0.05
Flax seeds - $0.01

TOTAL: $0.61

Another salad on the go.

DINNER - Chicken Noodle Soup w/Whole Wheat Bread & Butter

Bread - $0.25

Butter - $0.03

Soup - $0.60

TOTAL: $0.88

Andrea made three different soups that taste AMAZING!  She froze two servings per Ziploc.  The perfect homemade convenience food!

BREAKFAST - $0.27

LUNCH - $0.61

DINNER - $0.88

Total: $1.76