I may be the oddball here, but I actually enjoy Grocery Shopping. I like to shop the sales and see how cheap I can make my shopping trip every week. However, that does not mean I skimp on quality or taste. Here is a full meal for two adults and a toddler for $10, not per person – total! The items you should have in the pantry are not included in the cost.

Chicken Cordon Bleu with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Balsamic Glazed Wax Beans

Chicken Cordon Bleu
5 Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs – $6.23
1/4lb Low Sodium Deli Ham – $1.30
1/4lb Swiss Cheese – $1.89
Breadcrumbs
Egg

Roasted Sweet Potato
1 Large Sweet Potato – < $0.79
Spices

Balsamic Glazed Wax Beans
1lb Wax Beans – from our CSA – ( ~$1.99 typically)
Balsamic Vinegar
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Butterfly chicken. Place one piece of ham and one piece of cheese on top, roll the chicken / dip in egg / dip in breadcrumbs / use a toothpick to secure if necessary / lay seam side down on a greased baking sheet / sprinkle with Mrs. Dash no salt seasoning / peel and cube sweet potato / drizzle with olive oil and spread on same pan with chicken / bake 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Boil wax beans just until tender / drain and add back the pan with a drizzle of vinegar / let simmer for 5-10 minutes and serve immediately.
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The above was enough food for three of us, plus two lunches for the following day. Cooking healthy does not have to break the bank. If you pay attention and shop the sales it can be extremely affordable – or buying just what you need! The chicken was on sale this week “buy 1 get 1 free” so technically the above package cost me just over $3 and I have another package for later. Cold cuts tend to go to waste in our house so I chose to buy only what we needed for this meal which was just enough! Shopping a little differently can save you time and money in the end.

I always try to have potatoes (regular and sweet) in the pantry along with vinegar and sauces, spices, eggs and breadcrumbs because they can be so versatile to make a basic dish much more tasty!