I was sure budget meal prep was gonna be bland garbage, but 3 months of beans and rice proved me dead wrong

I thought all those $20 a week meal plans online were just clickbait from people who never actually tried eating that way. But after losing my job back in March I had no choice but to give it a real shot. I bought a 10 pound bag of pinto beans for $6 and a big sack of rice for $4 at the local grocery. After like 2 weeks of experimenting with spices and different ways to cook em I actually started looking forward to lunch. The key was adding a dollop of salsa and some shredded cheese I got on sale. Has anyone else found a dirt cheap staple that surprised them with how good it actually tastes?

2 comments

2 Comments

kellyr189d agoTop Commenter

Totally agree on the salsa and cheese trick. I started doing bulk lentils with a can of diced tomatoes and heavy cumin, dirt cheap and I actually crave it now.

simon_coleman8d ago

Three bucks for a whole meal that tastes like actual cooking, not punishment. I once added so much cumin to lentils my kitchen smelled like a taco truck for two days. My spouse walked in and asked if we were having a fiesta for one. Now I just tell people it's intentional.