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Here’s a list of 40+ recipes using staple ingredients – all Trim Healthy Mama friendly! We’re talking things like beans (dry and canned), brown rice, canned goods, frozen meats, frozen veggies, things like cabbage and cauliflower and root vegetables that store well, and baking staples.
I’ve included notes by the recipes linked below to indicate some of their main ingredients that could be considered pantry, fridge, or freezer staples. I’ve also included a note of NF (Necessary Food) or CF (Convenient Food) if the recipe is in one of my cookbooks so you don’t unnecessarily print out the recipe if you already have a hard copy of it.
Tip:
When you’re running short on groceries, don’t be afraid to make substitutions in recipes! I’m talking specifically about things like soup that are hard to mess up, not necessarily baked items that rely on a bit more accuracy. Even if your substitution turns the recipe into a THM Crossover (a combination of carbs and fats that is still healthy, just not as weight loss promoting as a single-fueled recipe), that’s fine! There’s nothing wrong with an occasional crossover, and sometimes desperate circumstances (like an empty wallet or a pandemic like COVID-19) call for deperate measures. 😉
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Breakfast
Special Occasion Baked Oatmeal (a filling 9×13 pan of XO baked oatmeal perfect for the whole family and using simple ingredients)
Blueberry Baked Oatmeal (and other oatmeal recipes) – NF
Easy Chocolate Oatmeal (oats, cocoa powder) – CF
Fiber Porridge Bulk Mix (common THM baking ingredients)
5 Ingredient Waffles & Pancakes (eggs, butter, baking mix) – NF
Homemade Greek Yogurt Tutorial (milk) – NF & CF
Greek Yogurt Parfaits + an easy Blueberry Topping (Greek yogurt, berries of choice) – CF
Entrees
Mommy’s Meatloaf (super simple, ground beef, oats) – NF
Italian Meatball Casserole (ground beef, oats, parmesan cheese, pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese) – CF
Parmesan Chicken Tenders (5 ingredients, frozen chicken tenders, butter, parmesan cheese) – NF
Simple “Brown Sugar” Grilled Salmon (frozen salmon filets) – CF
Sausage Patty Quiche (you could basically throw anything into this quiche) – CF
Easy Mixed Rice & Beans (canned beans and brown rice) – CF
Rice & Beans (canned or cooked dry black beans, brown rice) – NF
Crispy Chicken Cheese Quesadilla (cooked shredded chicken, cheese, low carb tortillas – kid pleaser!) – NF
5 Ingredient Buffalo Chicken Salad (use canned chicken) – NF
Egg Salad (turn hardboiled eggs into a family lunch) – NF
Soups & Stews
Split Pea Soup (dry green split peas, carrots, celery, meat of choice)
Sweet & Smoky Chipotle Chili (canned goods, ground meat of choice)
Vegetable Beef Soup (beef roast, radishes, carrot, onion, frozen okra)
Silky Butternut Squash Soup (butternut squash, sweet potato)
Creamy Sweet Potato Bisque (sweet potatoes) – CF
Mom’s Chicken Soup (chicken, carrots, celery, barley) – CF
Lasagna Soup (sausage, tomato sauce, cabbage) – CF
Hearty Barbecue Soup (canned goods, cooked chicken, brown rice) – CF
Hunter’s Venison Stew over Rice (sweet potatoes, carrots, venison roast, brown rice) – CF
Black Bean Stew (dry black beans) – CF
Sides
Bacon & Cheddar Cauliflower Salad (cauliflower)
Broccoli Cauliflower Salad (broccoli and cauliflower) – NF
Garlic Mashed Caulitoes (cauliflower) – NF
Cheesy Veggie Medley (great way to dress up frozen veggies)
Seasoned Quinoa (quinoa) – CF
Desserts
5 Ingredient Raspberry Cheesecake Mousse (cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, frozen berries)
5 Ingredient Cheesecakes (cream cheese, egg, Greek yogurt) – NF
Cottage Cheesecake (cottage cheese, sour cream, eggs)
Chai Spice Rice Pudding (brown rice, canned coconut milk) – CF
Rice Pudding (brown rice) – NF
Chocolate Custard Chia “Tapioca” (chia seeds, canned coconut milk)
Vanilla Custard Chia “Tapioca” (chia seeds, unsweetened almond milk, half and half, eggs) – CF
Hot Chocolate Custard (eggs, unsweetened almond milk) – CF
Hot Custard (egg, unsweetened almond milk, butter) – NF
Cranberry, Apple & Pear Crisp (use your favorite fruit, oats)
Crustless Pumpkin Pie in a Bowl (canned pumpkin, egg, heavy whipping cream)
Fried Cream Cheese & Berry Taco (low carb tortilla, cream cheese, berries) – NF
Peaches & Cream Bake (eggs, cream cheese, sour cream, canned peaches or berries of choice) – NF
Mango Soft Serve for One (frozen mango, cottage cheese) – CF
Check out this What I Ate post for more simple ideas:
Comment Below!
What are your favorite recipes to make when you’re running low on ingredients? How do you make things stretch?
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If you’re looking for family friendly easy recipes, check out my cookbooks!
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Thank you, Briana! In answer to the question of sweet vs. savory, I would prefer savory. I cannot eat any kind of sugar alternative (esp. not stevia) and thus cannot eat any kind of THM dessert. I would much rather have dinner ideas. Also, need to eat dinner, don’t need to eat dessert. Thanks for all you do! Stay safe, be well.