The $50 Fall Reset: A 7-Meal Cart You Can Order
- admin29551
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
What you’ll make (7 fast assemblies)
Sheet-Pan Chicken + Root Veg
Lentil-Tomato One-Pot
Tuna-Bean Toss w/ Greens
Veg-Egg Skillet (any meal)
Yogurt + Oats + Fruit (2× breakfasts)
Rice Bowl: Frozen Veg + Egg
Pantry Pasta in Tomato-Garlic Oil
Protein across the week, fiber daily, and ingredients you can actually find.
The Cart (price-banded & swappable)
Proteins
Chicken thighs ($$) → swap to extra canned beans ($) if needed
Canned tuna ($)
Carbs/Bases
Long-grain rice ($)
Pasta ($)
Rolled oats ($)
Produce
Onion, garlic, carrots, potatoes, bagged greens, seasonal fruit ($)
Cans/Jars
Crushed tomatoes ($), canned lentils ($), canned beans ($)
Dairy/Alt
Plain yogurt ($)
Frozen
Mixed vegetables ($)
Basics (assume pantry; add if missing)
Oil, salt, pepper, chili flakes, vinegar
Smart swaps
Gluten-free: GF pasta or do more rice bowls
Dairy-free: Replace yogurt with canned coconut milk ($$) + splash water
Higher protein: Add a dozen eggs ($) or 1 extra can of tuna ($)
7 Quick Builds (3–6 steps each)
1) Sheet-Pan Chicken + Root Veg (30–35 min)
Toss chicken thighs + chopped carrots/potatoes + onion with oil, salt, pepper.Roast at 425°F for ~25–30 min. Finish with a splash of vinegar.Serves 3–4.
2) Lentil-Tomato One-Pot (~25 min)
Sauté onion/garlic in oil → add crushed tomatoes + 1–1.5 cans water → simmer.Stir in lentils; cook till tender. Salt aggressively.Serves 3–4.
3) Tuna-Bean Toss w/ Greens (5 min)
Drain tuna + beans → add sliced onion, vinegar, oil, pepper → toss with greens.2 servings.
4) Veg-Egg Skillet (8–10 min)
Sauté frozen mixed veg in oil, salt. Push aside, crack eggs, cover to steam.2 servings.
5) Yogurt + Oats + Fruit (2× breakfasts)
Stir ½ cup oats into yogurt, top with seasonal fruit.2 quick breakfasts.
6) Rice Bowl: Frozen Veg + Egg (hands-off)
Cook rice (batch). Top with heated frozen veg + fried egg + chili flakes.~2 bowls.
7) Pantry Pasta in Tomato-Garlic Oil (12–15 min)
Sizzle sliced garlic in oil (medium-low). Add crushed tomatoes; simmer.Toss cooked pasta; season with salt, pepper, chili. Fold in chopped greens.~3 servings.
Time, Cost, and Waste Notes
Cook rice once; reuse for bowls and alongside lentil leftovers.
Roast extra root veg with chicken—leftovers pair with pasta or eggs.
Freeze leftover crushed tomatoes in an ice tray for next week’s meals.
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