Welcome toThrifty. A weekly column where associate nutrition editor and registered dietitian, Jessica Ball, keeps it real on how to grocery shop on a budget, make healthy meals for one or two and make earth-friendly choices without overhauling your entire life.
6 Soups You Should Be Making, Not Buying
1. Caesar Salad
The Caesar salad is an icon for a reason. It even tastes good in the airport, which is saying something. That said, Caesar salads at restaurants and salad bars can be really expensive and loaded with added salt and fat. Instead, make your own so you can customize it with the crispy and crunchy ingredients you like. My go-to is ourBest Caesar Salad with Crispy Parmesan. Though the Parmesan crisps are a bit of extra work, their flavor is well worth it. Top it with grilled chicken or salmon to add extra protein and make it a meal. Really any salad can be a Caesar salad with homemadeCaesar Salad Dressing, so don’t hesitate to keep it simple too.
2. Tabbouleh Salad
Do you have a huge bunch of parsley from the grocery store that’s on its way out? Don’t toss it!Tabboulehis a healthy and refreshing way to use up a lot of herbs and boost your veggie intake. Plus, when you make it at home you can control the salt content compared to premade containers at the store.
3. Grain Salad
4. Simple Green Salad
5. Chopped Salad
I love a chopped salad for a lot of reasons: versatility, crunch, nutrition and more. Unfortunately, a salad like this that is loaded with a variety of toppings is one of the most expensive options at the salad bar (mostly for weight reasons). Making your chopped salad at home can save you money and allow you to use only the ingredients you are excited about. OurEat-the-Rainbow Chopped Salad with Basil & Mozzarellais just as delightful to eat as it is to look at, if you’re interested in impressing your friends or family members. Another favorite of mine is ourItalian Chopped Salad, which pairs perfectly with pizza (if I do say so myself!).
Bottom Line
As much as I love salad bars, they are so expensive that they aren’t viable for me to go to often. Instead, I make these salads from home to boost my veggie intake on a budget and help me cut down on food waste. Making your food at home allows you to customize flavors and have really delicious leftovers, too.
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