Eating Healthy on a Budget–it’s Possible!

EASY Lentil Brown Rice Soup on a Budget

1.5 cups dried lentils, rinsed
1 cup brown rice, rinsed
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 organic carrots, chopped
4 celery hearts, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 14.5 ounce cans organic tomatoes
7 cups water
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large soup pot heat the olive oil over medium heat.  Add the onions, celery, carrots and garlic and stir for about 5 minutes. Add the water, lentils, rice, and tomatoes with the reserved juice. Bring the ingredients to a boil, and then lower the heat to simmer the mixture, covered, stirring occasionally, for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the lentils and rice are tender.

Stir in salt and pepper to taste.

Makes about 12 cups of soup.

Here’s the cost breakdown:

1 16 oz bag of lentils=85 cents. Recipe calls for 1/2 bag=43 cents

1 32 oz bag of brown rice= $1.79.  Recipe calls for 1/4 bag= 45 cents

1 medium yellow onion =69 cents

3 organic carrots.  1 bunch of carrots=$2.99.  Recipe calls for about half bunch=$1.50

4 celery hearts.  1 package of celery hearts=2.50. Recipe calls for about half package=$1.25

3 cloves of garlic (50cents a head, so about 10 cents for 3 cloves)

1 14.5 oz can of organic tomatoes=$2.19. Recipe calls for 2 cans= $4.38

Water (FREE!)

Olive oil, salt, and pepper (negligible)

Total cost of pot of soup=$8.80

Soup makes about 12 cups.  If a dinner serving is 1.5 cups, then there are about 8 servings in the pot.

Cost per meal=88 cents