When I'm on a tight budget, my emotions manifest differently.
It's like walking through a buffet with a full stomach but no money—there's so much to choose from, but you have to stick with rice and water.
However, it is also a time for creativity to flow. I suddenly became an expert in meal planning, budgeting, and thrifting at the store.
The feeling of being on a "tight budget for a meal" is very real.
However, it has a humble and nostalgic quality.
Have you ever eaten something so simple that it was highly satisfying?
While traveling, I encountered vendors selling bundles of vegetables we could cook, specifically for Chopsuey.
Chopsuey is a Filipino-Chinese stir-fry dish that features a variety of proteins and vegetables cooked in a flavorful, thickened sauce. It is a favorite for special occasions and everyday meals because it is delicious and nutritious.
For only 100 pesos, the bundle includes one cabbage, two carrots, two cauliflowers, two bell peppers, ten snow beans, and two sayote (chayote in English). I mixed half a chicken liver with tried-and-true ingredients to make it even more delicious. These are the standard ingredients for Chapseouy, but you can add the following if you'd like.
The main ingredients are shrimp, chicken, pork, and occasionally quail eggs. Baby corn and mushrooms can also be added to the vegetables. In terms of aromas and Sauces, I recently purchased garlic, onions, soy sauce, or oyster sauce. Still, you can also add cornstarch (to thicken) and, occasionally, fish sauce for extra flavor.
This is my condensed explanation of the cooking procedure:
Sauté Aromatics: I start by fragrantly sautéing onions and garlic.
Cook Proteins: I cook the chicken liver and the meat of my choice until they are cooked through and browned.
Add Vegetables: I start by adding vegetables that take longer to cook, like cauliflower, carrots, and sayote, and then move on to ones that cook more quickly, like bell peppers and snow peas.
Simmer with Sauce: I add water, broth, or soy sauce (such as oyster sauce) and simmer until the Sauce is glossy and thoroughly coats the ingredients.
Adjust the seasoning with fish sauce, salt, or pepper before serving. Serve over rice, hot.
After I finish cooking, this inexpensive meal provides excellent, healthful satisfaction.
Knowing that I can care for myself and my finances without sacrificing taste or health is the perfect blend of pride, relief, and happiness.
I work as a financial advisor, chef, and dietitian simultaneously.
There are numerous significant benefits to having an affordable and emotionally satisfying family meal plan.
Maintaining low-cost meals frees up funds for other critical needs or goals, such as emergencies, savings, or even small pleasures. I am less likely to spend too much money on fast food or unnecessary groceries when I plan ahead.
Whole foods, such as grains, legumes, and vegetables, are commonly used in low-cost meals because they are healthier than processed foods. Our meals contain less sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats because I control what goes into them.
Savoring a simple, filling meal prepared with love has an exceptional quality that encourages gratitude for the little things in life.
