How To: Prepare a meal for 10 people - on a budget.
Putting together a meal for 10 people on a budget can be challenging but achievable. There are tons of cost effective ways that ensure you stay within a budget.
For starters, consider your main course. Try finding the store with the cheapest products or sales. Meats can get expensive, but when you catch a sale it's helpful to look for the best reduced prices in stores. Don’t forget to look for the bigger portions that reduce cost.
For example: if you find a large tube of ground beef, you can divide it in half and create 2 cost effective meals.
Once you choose a main course, move on to your sides. I always find frozen or canned veggies to be cost effective while still including your necessary carbs, fats and starches. But, there are also numerous local organizations and food banks that provide free fresh produce if it's financially needed, like P.O.W.W.O.W. and your local food bank.
Here are some meals you can prepare with just $20:
Spaghetti: Find your choice of noodles and ground beef. Already prepared tomato sauce is sold in stores, which can be seasoned with home held seasonings to your liking. Lastly, an pre-bagged mixed salad is always a great side dish option.
Roasted Chicken Rice: Buy a whole roasted chicken already prepared or unprepared (season to your liking) on a bed of wild rice. This is where your frozen or canned veggies come into play as your side. Purchase a can of mixed veggies or a frozen bag of broccoli to finish this dish.
Tacos: Find a pack of ground beef and a pack of already prepared taco shells (either flour or corn). Garnish with fresh toppings like tomato, onions, lettuce and an inexpensive pre-shredded pack of cheese.
Thank you to volunteer Pleashette W. for compiling this article!
Can you drop off a meal for I-HELP?
Various cities in need, including Glendale (current need) and Peoria (coming soon!)
Details: Purchase or prepare a meal for individuals experiencing homelessness that are currently enrolled in our IHELP (Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging) program. Drop your meal off, hot and ready to be served at 5:30pm. If you are not able to cook, a $100 donation will cover the cost of a delivered meal for one location.