I do n’t love cooking — but I still sample to be mindful of eating healthily , so many of my meal are cursorily cast off together with component from Trader Joe ’s or Aldi .
Hi! I’m Kailey, a 30-year-old communications specialist by day and freelance writer by night living in the Chicago area. Lately, I’ve been on a mission to reduce eating out and ensure that I’m actually eating the food in my kitchen. I’ll be the first to admit that my cooking skills are pretty lame. Most of my 20s were spent living in a city bustling with food options, so I fell into theCarrie Bradshawroutine of eating out for a sinful number of meals.
These days, I’m much better at limiting my takeout, but cooking is still not my thing. I try to be mindful of eating somewhat healthily, so many of my meals are very simple and thrown together with ingredients from Aldi or Trader Joe’s.
My meals this week were primarily made up of my most recent Trader Joe’s haul, which was a little more expensive than usual. I live alone (with one cat child) and can get away with spending around $70 per week on groceries. This bill came to $110 because my fridge and freezer were calling for a major restock.
My groceries will vary depending on meals for the week, but these staples are almost always in my kitchen:
Here’s how my week went!
Mornings are my favorite (I know, I know…), and I rise and shine at 5:30 a.m. After feeding the gremlin cat, I pour a cup of water and a cup of iced coffee from the store-bought Starbucks Iced Coffee jug that’s in my fridge. Unsweetened medium roast. It is my kryptonite.
Breakfast: I am a creature of habit, so I prep my usual: low-sugar maple and brown sugar oatmeal. I top it with some fresh blueberries and am off to work.
Sometimes when I ’m feeling wild , I ’ll add yogurt or granola , too . Today , I ’m a unmingled Jane .
Lunch: Here’s my ultra-adorable Trader Joe’s lunch for work. I divvy up the family-size Caesar salad kit into multiple lunch portions and add chicken. I pack blueberry yogurt and sparkling water because I’m a beverage goblin who needs three drinks at my desk.
Dinner: I need to use the rest of the perishable ingredients in my fridge, so I throw everything into a pan for dinner. This concoction includes bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, spinach, mushrooms, and chicken sausage. I let the blend simmer and then dig in. Feels like my life is together on a Monday!
I end my night with a cup of Yogi Bedtime tea and catch up onAbbott Elementary.
Breakfast: Wake up at 5:45 a.m. and promptly pour a glass of iced coffee. Work-wise, I’m less productive than yesterday and find myself staring into the abyss while enjoying my cup of joe. It’s oatmeal and blueberries again for breakfast.
Lunch: Same lunch and snacks as yesterday. I swap out the T.J.’s sparkling water for this fancy Aura Bora herbal water. It’s honestly delicious and not too sweet (my preference). Last weekend, I purchased a single can of this to try. My review of this fancy-pants drink is 10/10!
Dinner: By some miracle, I manage a workout before heading home for the day. I’m starving, so my whole wheat rotini pasta with Rao’s vodka sauce and Parmesan cheese gives me life. Normally, I’d add turkey meatballs, but I ran out! Not pictured are the green beans I also had on the side. And yes, it’s couch dinner tonight because I’m all in on theA Court of Thorns and Rosesbook series.
Breakfast: I break free of my oatmeal routine and have an Eggwich sandwich from Trader Joe’s. Normally, I’d opt for scrambled eggs with spinach and turkey sausage, but these caught my eye at the store, so I’m giving them a try. They’re quick, easy, and a nice little breakfast treat.
Lunch: Are you sick of my T.J.’s meals yet? I heat up their burrito bowl around noon and have the rest of the salad from my Caesar salad family kit. My snack game remains the same, and I drink another lemon and ginger water for my daily sparkles. Feeling proud for not spending any additional money on food this week…yet!
Dinner: It’s not cute, but it’s filling and yummy. I toss T.J.’s beefless bulgogi into my air fryer and heat up some organic jasmine rice. Usually I’d air-fry broccoli, too, because it tastes divine, but today I just microwave a serving because I am feeling lazy.
Breakfast: Your gal has no chill and eats more oatmeal and blueberries. This time she’s added blueberry yogurt to maximize the blueberry flavor.
Lunch: It’s dinner leftovers for lunch (rice, broccoli, and beefless bulgogi) with a side of cotton candy grapes and a cheese stick.
Dinner: Since I’m heading to a yoga class later in the evening with a friend, I eat a snack dinner of pita chips dipped in kale, cashew, and basil pesto.
Once I’m back home, I spend the rest of the night on the couch with my cat starting the nextACOTARbook. It’s Nesta and Cassian’s time to shine, my people. I’m only three chapters in and already hooked.
Breakfast: I pour my iced coffee and ponder why it tastes so much better in a Mason jar. It just can’t be done in a regular glass —riddleme this! I eat yogurt and berries sans oatmeal.
Lunch: Living large today because it’s Friday! I decide to get a Chipotle burrito bowl with brown rice, fajitas, steak, tomato salsa, cheese, lettuce, AND guac. It totals $13.61.
Dinner: TGIF! The workweek is done, and I’m excited to spend some quality time with mybest friend. We’ve both had super-busy weeks at the office and lament about how we’ve done nothing after work but “blob.” Tonight we blob together. She brings salad, and I supply the wine (which I already had) and stop at a local grocery store for make-your-own-pizza ingredients. The total comes to $22.09.
Breakfast: My slow Saturday morning starts with a hot cup of coffee rather than iced, an egg sandwich, and a handful of berries.
Lunch: I make cheese tortellini with vodka sauce and throw some spinach in to give it some greens. I also snack on veggie-and-flaxseed tortilla chips, which are so crave-worthy.
Dinner: I spend the rest of the day with friends and go out to dinner for a turkey burger, sweet potato fries, and a drink, which comes to $35.10.
Breakfast: I’m back to my oatmeal roots, topped with a mix of berries today!
Lunch: Honestly, my lunch is just grazing on snacks. I have a cheese stick, grapes, and chips and call it a meal because I’m an adult. It’s finally feeling like spring, so I clean and keep my windows open!
Dinner: The good weather inspires me to take a long walk. I invite a friend and we catch up for a while. Once I’m back home in my clean space, I preheat the oven and throw in the Pizza Parlanno (my favorite among Trader Joe’s frozen ‘za collection) and heat up a side of green beans (random but true). I spend the rest of the night binge-watchingLove Is Blind. The consensus? Love is maybe blind, but life is definitely good with this pizza.
