*Egg prices fluctuate, and I get coupons, making them even cheaper.
**I cut my juice in half with water to reduce calories and sugar. $1.99 for 64 oz. of generic Ruby Red, then half a glass of juice and half a glass of water.
I buy Smithfield ham steak when it’s BOGO at Publix.
Eggs are cheap if you don’t buy organics. I get mine anywhere from 59¢ to 79¢ dozen at Kroger and Aldi. Kroger also occasionally sends me coupons for free eggs to get me to shop there more often.
I got a manager’s special on bacon, and found Butterball turkey bacon on sale for 2/$5 with a .55 manufacturer’s coupon (9¢ a slice). I later saw it on sale for $2.99, but buy 2, get one free (final cost $1.99 or 9¢ slice).
14¢ – 21¢ for 2 or 3 eggs
18¢ – 27¢ for 2 or 3 slices bacon
40¢ – yogurt cup (buy 10 for $4 at Kroger)
20¢ – 2 tomato slices
13¢ – 1/2 grapefruit (on sale for 25¢ each at Kroger)
3¢ – bread
13¢* – grapefruit juice or milk – 8 oz. glass
I dilute my juices to cut the calories and sugar in half, so $1.99 generic Ruby Red (64 oz.) diluted by 1/2
So, prices are higher during the pandemic. However, I am finding milk at Aldi and Kroger at $1.39 and $2.49 per gallon. I am finding house-brand jambalaya and red beans and rice for 28 cents to 33 cents per serving (I found half-price Tony Chachere’s for 17 per serving). Kroger is now selling $1.00, 9-oz. sausage.
Zatarain’s is $1.79 at Kroger right now (1/21), so I buy it at Publix when it’s BOGO. However, I can get the house brand at Aldi’s for $1.45 and $1.39 at Lidl.
I wait for deals on sausage and then buy a bunch of them and freeze them ($1.00 for 9 oz at Kroger right now).
Zatarain’s jambalaya (or red beans and rice)
sausage
baby carrots
canned tomatoes
corn bread
salad w/dressing
iced tea
Sausage is frequently $1.88 to $1.99 at Kroger, with or without a coupon. (which comes frequently from Kroger). I recently stocked up and froze Heritage Farms smoked sausage for $1 (9 oz.).
I dice and freeze the sausage in a Tupperware container and then anytime I want jambalaya or red rice and beans,, I can toss in a handful of sausage and/or a chicken breast. I also add canned tomatoes and baby carrots (sometimes this is enough and you don’t need meat).
Zatarain’s says a small box contains five servings. If I add meat and carrots and serve with cornbread, a salad and a drink, that’s a good lunch.
You can add chicken for another 15¢ – 25¢ per serving.
Kroger had refried beans (normally 89¢ can) on sale for 79¢. If you bought three cans, you got $1.00 off, bringing the price per can down to 46¢ a can. I got three bell peppers (normally 78¢ each) for 99¢ in Kroger’s manager’s special sacks (they have different veggies each day, depending on what’s getting close to the sell-by date).
Avocados can cost $1.78 each. Sprouts had them on sale for 3/$1.00. Publix had Pace salsa on sale for 99¢ a jar and accepted a 40¢ Kroger coupon (they don’t accept them any more), bringing the jar down to 60¢. If you have a garden, you have no cost for peppers, onions or whatever other veggies you want to add).
10¢ – flour tortilla (pictured is half a quesadilla)
I got 8 oz. of top round on manager’s special for $4.29. I used canned green beans and carrots (dented cans at 29¢ each). I got Tai Pei egg rolls BOGO at Publix.
I got boxes of Ronzoni pasta and Kroger manager’s special for 50¢ each. I got a brick of Velveeta for $2.99. I added a can of chili. This created six servings of chili mac.
