$9 a Day for a Nutritious Meal Plan?! Power it with Potatoes!
DENVER, Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the USDA, the average American should be able to build a nutritious, home-cooked meal plan for $9 a day or $33 a day for a family of four. But with the current price of groceries, this may seem easier said than done.
But that's not the case! Potatoes USA is confident Americans can keep grocery prices in check without having to sacrifice their favorite foods or flavors. The organization is sharing three spud-centric recipes you can use to eat well on $9/day. With a little planning, you can make a week's worth of delicious, nutritious, and cost-effective meals, no matter if you are dining solo or with your family.
Why are potatoes an all-star value vegetable?
Potatoes are one of the best meal prep foods for anyone looking to build seriously satisfying meals on a budget. They hit all the major requirements to get more bang for your buck:
- For meal prepping, look for affordable pantry staples that you can buy in bulk and last for weeks. When stored properly, potatoes keep for a month!
- Focus on nutritionally dense foods that help provide a well-rounded diet. Potatoes are an all-star vegetable with more potassium than a medium-sized banana, 30% of your daily value of vitamin C, 26 grams of complex carbohydrates to fuel your body and brain, 2 grams of fiber, 3 grams of plant-based protein, 1.1 milligrams of iron, and 10% of your daily value of vitamin B6.
- Build meals with cost-effective foods at a low price per serving. For example, a 10-pound bag of potatoes can provide more than 30 servings of vegetables for just over $5.
- Buy ingredients you can use in multiple meals for the week to simplify your grocery list. Potatoes are a versatile ingredient common in breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes.
A sample week of healthy meals on $9 a day
Potatoes USA's Chef RJ Harvey, Director of Culinary, and Executive Sous Chef Aurora Hollenbeck are sharing their favorite potato recipes for cozy, nutritious, and affordable meals. Start your day right with a hearty Farm Stand Breakfast Bowl for $4.70 per serving; have a power lunch with a Minestrone Style Roasted Potato Bowl for $1.77 per serving; and cozy up for a White Bean Ground Turkey Chili dinner for $1.46 per serving. That's a grand total of $7.93 per day!
Farm Stand Breakfast Bowl
Servings: 1
Ingredients:
- 2 Eggs, scrambled
- 1/4 cup (60g) Cottage Cheese
- 1 Chicken Apple Sausage link, cooked & sliced (optional)
- ¾ cup (6oz.) Yellow Creamer Potatoes, sliced
- 2 tsp (9g) Neutral Oil
- 1/4 cup (40g) Cherry Tomatoes, halved
- 3/4 cup (20g) Arugula
- Drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (1 tsp)
- 1 tbsp (15g) Feta Cheese
- 1 tsp (1g) Chili Flakes
Preparation:
Minestrone Style Roasted Potato Bowl
Servings: 6
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. (32 oz.) Yellow Potatoes, diced
- 2 tbsp (6g) Italian Seasoning
- 2 tsp (6g) Granulated Garlic
- 1 tsp (6g) Salt
- 2 tbsp (28g) Olive Oil
- 1 medium Yellow Onion (11 oz.), chopped into large chunks
- 2 cups (5 oz.) Celery, chopped
- 2 cups Carrots (8.5 oz.), chopped
- 2 cups (8.5 oz.) Zucchini
- 1 can (15 oz.) Kidney Beans or Cannellini Beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups (60g) Spinach
- 1 whole Bulb of Garlic (cut in half and roasted with the vegetables)
- Zest and Juice from 1 medium Lemon (~ 1/4 Cup)
- 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ½ tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 Jar (24 oz) Marinara Sauce
- Parmesan Cheese (optional)
Preparation:
White Bean Ground Turkey Chili
Servings: 10
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (160g) White Onion, chopped
- 3 cloves (9g) Garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp (14g) Neutral Oil
- 1 tbsp (18g) Salt (or to taste)
- 2 tsp (4g) Pepper
- 1 lb. (454g) Ground Turkey
- 2 cans (4-ounces each) Green Chili (mild or hot, based on preference)
- 2 tsp (4g) ground Cumin
- 1 tbsp (1g) dried Oregano
- 2 tbsp (16g) Granulated Garlic
- 1 lb. (454g) Yellow Potatoes, washed and diced in 1/2-inch pieces
- 5 Cups (1180mL) Chicken Broth
- 1 can (15oz.) Cannellini Beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 tbsp (1.5g) Parsley, chopped
Optional Toppings:
- Greek Yogurt
- Cilantro
- Jalapenos, sliced
- Cheese
Preparation:
For more delicious, nutritious meal prep ideas, check out the latest recipes from the Potato Goodness culinary team!
About Potatoes USA
As representatives of U.S. potato growers and importers, Potatoes USA's mission is to strengthen the demand for potatoes through marketing and research. By launching impactful marketing campaigns, coordinating regional, national, and international market and production research, and establishing new trade markets, Potatoes USA promotes the benefits of potatoes to audiences across the globe, including consumers, foodservice operators, retailers, and health professionals. For more information on America's favorite vegetable, please visit PotatoGoodness.com and PotatoesUSA.com.
Contacts
Erin Bracken
media@hillenby.com
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SOURCE Potatoes USA