[Amy]

OK frugal minds, I need ideas. I’m really good at making my grocery budget work, and have a lot of really good, inexpensive meals. They’re high in protein and fresh fruits and veggies. BUT hubby, who has hit a certain age (I’m a whole year younger!) now has severe dietary restrictions. NO pasta, no white rice, no red meats. He’s borderline diabetic, borderline high cholesterol, and has high blood pressure, despite the fact that my numbers are all great and I do all the cooking. So we’re going to make even more changes to our diet.

I need ideas for a few meatless meals that won’t break the bank and are edible. This is throwing me a curve ball, as I avoid soy products and many recipes I’ve found include tofu.

Also, before you say beans and rice.. recipes? I mean, I can’t imagine anything worse than boiled beans and brown rice thrown together. There’s got to be a way to make them taste decent.

[Allison]

Before you totally change your diets have your husband test his blood sugar levels after eating different foods. Everyone’s body reacts differently to different foods.

I found that caffeine seriously affects my blood sugar so I changed to decaf…. what a difference.

[Claudette]

Fresh salsas, pico de Gallo, ground turkey, grilled fajitas vegetables all great for beans and rice, avacado and guacamole too!

[Monica]

Bad cholesterol actually is made better by eating more meat and less carbs if he is diabetic.

Diabetics do better on low carb, which over time as insulin resistance is reversed will lower the cholesterol.

[Michele]

I substituted lentils for meat in my chili, it came out really good. Serve with brown rice.

My husband has similar dietary restrictions.

[Jessica]

How about fish?! You can do a lot with different fish, even canned tuna and salmon.

[Amelia]

Have him do “intermittent fasting” -basically eating one less meal per day – see Dr Fung’s YouTube channel. He can eat less carbs that way too.

[Kelly]

Google a recipe for red beans and rice. Make chili with some lean beef or ground turkey and beans. Or make white chicken chili with some chicken and white beans.

Roast chickpeas for a healthy snack

Don’t miss: I am looking for some fun, easy meals to have for the kids

[Rebecca]

Research the Mediterranean diet. There are videos geared at eating it on the cheap. I have found that buying whole foods (lean meats, fruits and veggies, canned beans) is so much more frugal than I thought it would be.

My husband was just diagnosed with simular issues.

[Stacy]

Lentil soup is great, can add lots of vegetables. And lentils cook up more quickly than other legumes.

Also, Indian Dahl, made with “red” (they’re really orange, but cook up yellow) lentils is delicious. I just season with garlic, onion, ginger, and a few Indian spices to taste

Explore these too: Trying to plan ahead as much as possible for meals during the school year when it gets crazy on weeknights

[Lauren]

I like falafel…you can find the mix in most groceries in the ethnic aisle, or there are several places to order online which I’m not allowed to tell you about.

[Author]

Posts