When your monthly grocery budget is running dangerously low, but you still have 4 days left before your next paycheck, panic usually sets in. You stare at the 2 small chicken breasts sitting in your refrigerator and wonder how you will possibly feed an entire family of 4. The secret to surviving a tight budget is not rationing your expensive meats until everyone goes to bed hungry. The true secret is learning how to aggressively stretch those expensive proteins using cheap, heavy foundational ingredients. If you keep your kitchen stocked with the right items, you can easily turn a tiny portion of meat into a massive, highly filling feast. Here are the 5 essential staples that stretch any meal plan beautifully.
