If you’ve been reading my blog for some time now or if you follow my Instagram Stories, you’ll know that I’m obsessed with 1) Trader Joe’s and 2) quick, easy, & healthy meals. I’m also pretty into not spending thousands of dollars on groceries (and losing some weight while I’m at it).
Living in LA is expensive, so shaving off some dollars from my grocery spending is always a plus. So, this week I challenged myself to see if I could make a weeks worth of protein-packed, vegan lunches for under $15.
Shopping List
- 1 can of organic black beans: $0.89
- Chickpeas: $0.79
- White Beans: $0.89
- 2 Avocados: $1.98
- Cucumber: $1.29
- Spinach: $1.99
- Bread: $2.49
- Onion: $0.69
- Pepper: $0.99
- Rice: $1.69
- Tomato: $0.79
Total: $14.48
Monday
Black Bean & Chickpea Salad
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup chickpeas
- 1/2 cup black beans
- 1/4 onion chopped
- 1/2 tomato cubed
- 1/4 avocado cubed
- 1/4 red pepper sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Place all ingredients into a bowl or Tupperware and enjoy!
Tuesday
Smashed White Bean Sandwich
Ingredients:
- 2 slices bread
- 1/2 cup white beans
- 1/4 avocado
- 8 cucumber slices
- 1 cup baby spinach
Put the white beans into a bowl and mash with a fork. Add the white bean mash to a slice of bread and top with all other ingredients and enjoy!
Wednesday
Avocado Toast
Ingredients:
- 1-2 slices bread
- 1/2 avocado
- Olive oil drizzled
- Salt and pepper to taste
Mash the avocado into a bowl and add olive oil (or lemon). Add mash to a slice of bread and add salt and pepper to taste.
Thursday
Chickpea Avocado Salad Sandwich
Ingredients:
- 2 slices bread
- 1/4 avocado
- 1/2 cup chickpeas
- 10 cucumber slices
Put the chickpeas into a bowl and mash with a fork. Add the mash to a slice of bread and top with all other ingredients and enjoy!
Friday
White Bean Salad
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup white beans
- 1/4 onion chopped
- 1/4 avocado sliced
- 1/4 red pepper sliced
- 1/2 tomato cubed
- Salt and pepper to taste
Place all ingredients into a bowl or Tupperware, mix together and enjoy!
Saturday
Black Bean & Brown Rice Bowl
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup black beans
- 1 cup brown rice cooked
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 red pepper sliced
- 1/4 onion sliced
- 1/4 avocado sliced
Place all ingredients into a bowl or Tupperware, mix together and enjoy!
Sunday
Open-Faced Homemade Hummus and Veggie Sandwich
Ingredients:
- 2 slices bread
- 1/2 cup chickpeas
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 garlic clove
- 8 cucumber slices
- 1/4 red pepper sliced
- 1/4 avocado sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Put the chickpeas into a bowl and mash with a fork. Add the mash to a slice of bread and top with all other ingredients and enjoy!
I hope this helps you kick start a new and healthy week! Not only will these meals make you feel good on the inside, but you’ll be glad that you saved all that money, too! Let me know if you give this a try and what you think!
