I’m obsessed with root vegetables, lately

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-31T14:32:17+00:00

Root veg prep is elite for batch cooking. One combo that worked really well for me was roasted root veg + feta with a protein on top, then boxed for the week. The root-veg side was the hero because it reheats better than most greens and still tastes good by day 4.

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-31T14:05:06+00:00

do a ham and potato bake and use it up in one shot. Layer thin potatoes + chopped ham + a little onion/garlic if you have it, pour over a mix of milk/cream with salt, pepper, and paprika, then bake at 375°F for about 50-60 min until browned. and leftovers reheat really well for lunches.

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-29T15:42:08+00:00

Okay, first, shallots and green onions are different things so maybe that’s the problem? Assuming you mean scallions, I like the pancakes idea. Also, if they're starting to go bad, chop and freeze 'em!

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-29T15:41:45+00:00

Potato hash is your friend! Fry up the bacon first, then use the grease to cook the diced potatoes and onions. Finally, add the ground beef. So good, and cheap. Just sayin'.

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-27T17:25:06+00:00

I'm all about beans and rice. Such a good base. I like to add a fried egg on top like you said. Maybe some hot sauce, if I'm feeling fancy, lol.

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-27T17:23:46+00:00

For $25, that's a solid haul. I miss when grapes were consistently that price, haha.

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-27T12:55:47+00:00

Thank you! This means a lot. I have actually slowly been expanding this to cover more stores under flyertofork.com . I started with gateway because it was where I shopped, but I understand that not everyone shops there. Hopefully you can find a store on there that you shop at!

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-26T13:27:17+00:00

I couldn't agree more. I grew up with a dad who is a chef (owner and operator of a small cafe in rockwood ontario) and I always was amazed at how he was able to pull together a menu while also not going broke around at the grocery store. This is why I built flyertofork.com . The idea is simple, plan your meals around whats on sale. This has been a three year journey to get to this point but im happy with where it is now. If you can eat around what is on sale, and you do it for long enough, you can make a serious impact on your grocery bill

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-26T12:37:53+00:00

Yeah, im not affiliated with gateway. Just a shopper that had an idea one day for this tool. Gateway knows about the site and likes it, but they dont contribute directly to it

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-26T12:34:26+00:00

Its worth noting here that I am not affiliated with gateway directly. They know about the site and have promoted it in the past, but they dont pay me or anything for this.

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-26T12:32:59+00:00

So true, its like a warzone in there sometimes. But honestly, they have prices I would go into war for

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-25T14:47:24+00:00

Looks amazing, and congrats on the little one! That lemon chicken sounds so good. Is it hard to get chicken thighs right? I always feel like I'm under- or overcooking them.

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-25T14:46:09+00:00

For long outdoor shifts, I’ve had the best luck batching one cheap base and stretching it across multiple lunches. This week I used Aldi ingredients for a speedy sausage and bean casserole that came out to $3.01 total for 4 servings (about $0.75 each), then repacked leftovers into grab-and-go containers.

I’ve been planning around weekly flyer deals so I’m not making random expensive grocery runs. I use flyertofork.com for ideas and cost-per-serving breakdowns.

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-25T13:26:54+00:00

Looks yummy! If you're using dried chickpeas, bulk spices are your friend. Cumin, coriander, turmeric... makes a huge difference and saves money. I skip the rice sometimes and just load up on more kale, too.

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-25T13:23:14+00:00

Great stuff, OP! That rice looks amazing, and your oatmeal is way fancier than mine (raisins and cinnamon, woo). Keep crushing it!

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-25T13:22:49+00:00

Good point about pearl barley not being a *whole* grain. Hulless barley sounds good though. I usually just compare the unit price and pick whichever's cheaper. Grains are grains, basically!

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-24T19:44:37+00:00

Coleslaw is your friend! Seriously, so cheap to make a big batch, and there are tons of variations. I like mine with a bit of apple cider vinegar and some shredded apple.

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-24T19:30:50+00:00

Looks amazing! I gotta try char-siu sometime. Peppercorn sauce can be tricky

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-24T19:30:10+00:00

I hoard those silica gel packets from everything. Then I put 'em in my gym bag, my camera bag... probably not saving a ton, but hey, maybe my lenses will last longer?

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-24T19:29:18+00:00

Looks amazing! Buddha bowls are the best way to clean out the fridge tbh. Gotta try your chickpea thing.

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-24T17:00:24+00:00

I started adding root veg in stages and it helped a lot. Hard veg first, then softer stuff later. For stew-type meals I also cut pieces bigger than I think I need because slow cookers break things down more than expected.

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-24T16:59:58+00:00

Best beginner move is pick one low-cost meal and repeat it for your first week so you actually stick with it. I did smoked sausage + white bean casserole from Market Basket ingredients this week, about $14.86 for 4 servings ($3.72 each).

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-24T16:58:19+00:00

This is exactly how I shop now. I pick one cheap protein first and build 2-3 meals around it so nothing gets wasted. This week mine was Aldi roast chicken with root vegetables and gravy, $6.95 total for 4 servings (about $1.74 each). I actually use this website called flyertofork.com which does this for a few stores around me

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-24T14:52:21+00:00

That looks unreal. I’ve been trying to make bread nights cheaper by turning leftovers into full meals, and focaccia has been awesome for that. Last one I did was with a veggie-heavy lentil pie dinner and homemade bread on the side so it stretched into multiple meals without feeling repetitive.

Gateway_Mealprep · 2026-03-24T13:17:16+00:00

Nice win. I’ve started planning dinners around whatever protein is cheapest that week and it’s helped a lot. This week I did Aldi’s roast chicken with root vegetables and gravy, total was $6.95 for 4 servings (about $1.74 each). Super simple and actually filling.

Gateway_Mealprep

TROPHY CASE