Easy on the Wallet, Easy on the Waistline

Did you ever head into a new year, a new month, or a new week with a big goal in mind? Maybe one of those is to eat healthier, or to save more money. If so, we’ve got good news for you: You can tackle both of those goals in the kitchen with just a few simple tips. Monj Culinary Director and Chopped Champ Chef Chef Eliza is full of ideas for how delicious, good-for-you food doesn't have to break the bank. Here are just a few she swears by:

Shop Your Own Pantry (& Freezer)

Chances are your kitchen is stocked with all (or most) of what you need to make a tasty and healthy meal without hitting the store. In fact, you might find you have enough to make several meals. If you’re a Monj Nutrition or MonjWell member, you can use the search bar to type in ingredients that you have on hand and see what’s available to make. Or try “recipes by Google:” Simply type your ingredients into Google with a “+” symbol between the words to find meals that use what you already have. 

Become an Accidental Vegetarian

Because vegetarian proteins are naturally less expensive, challenging yourself to eat vegetarian at least once per week is a great money-saving technique. You’ll find that certain cuisines — like Indian or Thai — lend themselves well to being “accidentally vegetarian,” as many delicious traditional dishes are vegetarian with no modifications. Plus, they're designed to utilize seasonal produce and conserve resources. So-called “peasant dishes” include things like Chana Masala with Spinach, which is built on a base of that most ubiquitous of complete vegetarian proteins (i.e. beans & rice), and Thai Coconut Curry, which lends itself equally well to vegetarian proteins like chickpeas and tofu as it does to inexpensive cuts of meat, like chicken thigh. 

Waste not, want not

Did you know that Americans throw away $408 billion worth of food every year? Put a dent in your own food waste (and reduce your food budget) by getting creative with food scraps. Simmer up a healing broth with chicken bones, carrot and onion skins, and celery leaves. Blend root veggie tops like beet, turnip, and carrot greens along with basil to make a tasty pesto. (Check out Carrot Top Pesto in your app, if you’re a Monj member.) Shave broccoli stems and slice them into matchsticks to add crunch to a salad. Make citrus-infused olive oil with leftover lemon, lime, and orange rinds. It truly is incredible how much we can do with leftover bits and bobs from our cooking!

What’s your favorite way to save money in the kitchen? Share it on social media with the hashtag #monjlife — we’d love to hear about it!