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The Moment That Changed Everything
Maybe you know what it feels like to go through the checkout line with all your “allergy-safe” groceries and you’d rather not see the total. You have no idea what to eat and you have no idea how to buy the right things so your expenses fit within your budget. You have to feed yourself, your husband and your kids something everyone will like, full of nutrition, baby safe, allergy-safe, and you have to keep your grocery bill under $300/month. For reference, the average family of four without allergies spends about $500/month on groceries. After some tough times and stressful days, I realized there is a better way to shop. The food allergy industry wants you to believe safe=expensive, the health industry wants you to believe healthy=expensive, marketers want you to believe processed foods are easiest and cheapest. All of these are the biggest lies we can believe. You’re going to find 7 crockpot recipes that are gluten free and dairy free that are cheaper than a single serving frozen pizza to feed a family of four!
- From Overwhelmed New Mom to Budget-Friendly Crockpot Recipes Expert
- The Science Behind Why These Crockpot Recipes Work for Allergy Families
- 7 Allergy-Safe Healthy Crockpot Recipes That Cost Less Than Takeout
- Recipe 1: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
- Recipe 2: Heart Healthy Slow Cooker Chili (Cost: $15)
- Recipe 3: Savory Cilantro Lime Crockpot Chicken Recipe (Cost: $10)
- Recipe 4: Chicken Wild Rice Soup (Cost: $5)
- Recipe 5: Swedish Meatballs (Cost: $15)
- Recipe 6: Crockpot Beef Bourguignon (Cost $25)
- Recipe 7: Yellow Curry (Cost: $10)
- How to Actually Make These Crockpot Recipes Work in Your Chaotic Mom Life
- FAQ: The Questions Every Mom Asks About Allergy-Safe Crockpot Recipes
- The Real Cost Breakdown: What These Crockpot Meals Save Your Family
From Overwhelmed New Mom to Budget-Friendly Crockpot Recipes Expert
When I first had my allergies, everything seemed expensive and I had no idea what to eat, so sometimes I avoided eating entirely which was really difficult for me. Being a wellness coach didn’t really help me navigate such an unique and what felt like an isolating situation.
After some deep research and a desire for a better relationship with food and a healthy life for my family, I discovered a cheaper but still healthy way to eat. Apart of my discovery was these delicious allergen friendly crockpot recipes that work for everyone my family! I went from spending $200/week on groceries to spending $250/month of groceries. These easy crockpot meals can help you and your family in the same way! Plus slow cooking also is a great way to preserve nutrients in our food compared to other forms of cooking.
Why Most Food Allergy Crockpot Meals Fail Real Families
A lot of allergy-friendly crockpot meals fail because they require ingredients that are “special” and “safe” that end up costing 2-3x more than naturally allergen friendly ingredients. I’m talking about dairy free cream cheese which can be $7 for 8 ounces or a gluten free cream of chicken that isn’t even dairy free… Spending hours finding safe meals that will work for your family and then getting to the store and reading a ton of labels while my baby cries in the cart isn’t the life I was looking to live.
We can make crockpot meals with cheap ingredients while giving our families complete nutrition and whole foods. Cheap ingredients don’t mean poor nutrition, these healthy crockpot recipes will prove that to you.
How These Crockpot Recipes Support Your Family’s Complete Wellness
Tasty healthy food that is safe for the whole family to eat goes beyond full bellies. They create opportunities for us to connect at dinner time. Family dinner time has significant benefits for emotional and mental wellbeing for each member of your family. The fact that these healthy crockpot recipes are made to maximize nutrition for less can help you have peace of mind as you work towards physical and financial wellness. These aren’t just crockpot meals – they’re proving whole body wellness is possible.
If you’re interested in learning more about well rounded family wellness check out my Beginners Guide to Complete Wellness .
The Science Behind Why These Crockpot Recipes Work for Allergy Families
How Slow Cooking Changes Food at the Molecular Level
I briefly mentioned it before but using a slow cooker itself has health benefits. With the low temperature and longer cook time, it helps keep all the vitamins and minerals in our food intact. We are getting the most out of what we eat!
The combination of meat, vegetables and fat in these meals also help us stay full longer. They aren’t full of processed ingredients that our bodies digest quickly and in turn make us hungrier sooner. These simple ingredients can help our immune systems, glucose trends and energy levels improve at low prices!
(Source: The Benefits of Slow Cooker Meals | N.C. Cooperative Extension)
Why the Cheapest Ingredients Make the Best Crockpot Meals
To me the criteria for a good crockpot meal is 1. Tastes good 2. Easy to prep 3. Cheap 4. Nutritious (and obviously allergen friendly)! So, of course the cheapest ingredients that are whole foods make the best slow cooker meals. A good example is dried beans. They are cheap and they are easy to use for crock pot meals. Not to mention all the fiber and iron they have to keep us regular and our energy levels maintained.
Another great example is vegetables. Frozen ones are perfect for crockpot recipes because they are quick, can be stored for a last-minute meal and their nutritional value is the exact same of fresh vegetables. The freezing process preserves the vitamins and minerals along with the rest of the veggie! Plus they can be significantly cheaper than fresh produce sometimes.
The cherry on top of healthy crockpot meal is you can use tough cheap cuts of meat and they end up being tender and delicious. In my eyes there is not better type of meal to manage while also balancing the rest of motherhood!
7 Allergy-Safe Healthy Crockpot Recipes That Cost Less Than Takeout
For all these recipes, I had totaled the cost for feeding about 5-6 people or 4 people with a weeks worth of leftovers. This way your meal can do double if not triple duty.
To get started… you’re going to need a crockpot, if you don’t have one here is my favorites for small and bigger spaces!
Recipe 1: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
I LOVE me a pulled pork sandwich and even better so does my kiddo! He can be a bit picky at times but this pulled pork never fails to satisfy. I can feel good about everyone eating it since it is naturally allergen friendly, full of complete protein to help growing and hard-working bodies and it is delicious! I make this for just us 3 and also for 6-8 people, it really just depends on the size of the pork roast!
Recipe 2: Heart Healthy Slow Cooker Chili (Cost: $15)
This healthy crockpot recipe is perfect for the transition into fall and winter. It is warm and packed with nutrients to keep our immune systems going in full force. This one is easily customizable and can even be made vegan without any meat! For the cheapest option use ground turkey instead of beef, it is more heart healthy and will save you a lot of money! It is a perfect make ahead crockpot meal and can even be freezed for a last minute weeknight meal.
Recipe 3: Savory Cilantro Lime Crockpot Chicken Recipe (Cost: $10)
I love this slow cooker chicken recipe because of how versatile it is! Throw this in in the morning and at night have tacos, homemade café rio, burrito bowls, nachos, or a salad. The possibilities are endless! It is packed with flavor and beats an expensive rotisserie chicken every time! It’s an easy 3 in one slow cooker chicken recipe!
Recipe 4: Chicken Wild Rice Soup (Cost: $5)
This chicken crockpot recipe is so delicious and is full of whole grains! Whole grains reduce the risk of heart disease and keep you fuller longer! PLUS the garlic in this is perfect for an immune booster going into fall! This soup could feed an army for less than $10! This is perfect for a potluck or weeknight dinner! This is definitely the one to make if you have family members that are skeptical of crockpot meals.
Recipe 5: Swedish Meatballs (Cost: $15)
Meatballs are the perfect versatile dish for dinner! Pair then with rice, noodles, veggies, or anything at all and it’ll be delicious! You don’t need a ton of ingredient for this one. To get the biggest bang for your buck make these with ground turkey!
Recipe 6: Crockpot Beef Bourguignon (Cost $25)
Beef bourguignon makes my mouth water just thinking of it! This crockpot meal is a great example of using cheap tough cuts of beef and ending up with tender goodness! This one is perfect for helping your family eat more veggies!
Recipe 7: Yellow Curry (Cost: $10)
Going out to buy Indian food is outrageous. It’ll cost you at least $20/person with no leftovers, but this crockpot meal is under $10 for 5 people and can be made to leave a ton of leftovers. This is one of the cheaper meals but if you don’t have all the spices it could cost a little more. I like to buy my spices from bulk bins so I only have to buy what I need. This recipe has turmeric and sweet potatoes which are both holistic powerhouses! They aid in immune boosting and vitamin absorption, which is exactly what our kiddos need this time of year!
How to Actually Make These Crockpot Recipes Work in Your Chaotic Mom Life
The “Toddler Tornado” Crockpot Meal Prep Method
You’re trying to make dinner but you got a crying baby, a climbing toddler, a beeping timer and a loss of sanity. Enter crockpot meals… These can take less than 15 to prep and then at dinner time all you have to do is serve it up. It rules out our loss of sanity without sacrificing a delicious and nutritious dinner! A lot of these have a range of cook times so when your kids are having melt downs as you’re trying to prep, you can always finish a little later. I know some week crockpot meals are perfect and others- they just don’t and that’s okay!
Mom Proof Storage Methods for Crockpot Meals
I mentioned that a lot of the meals make great leftovers or freezer meals. You can freeze them in ziplock bags, Tupperware or mason jars. Realistically, most meals only freeze for about a month before they take on freezer burn in my experience so keep that in mind. Make sure to label your meals as well, with names and dates!
When Your Crockpot Recipes Go Sideways (Real Solutions)
“My Kid Won’t Eat This Crockpot Meal” Emergency Rescue Methods
At any moment your kids favorite meal can change, so there are no guarantees your kids are going to eat these meals. Some things that I always pair with my meals to encourage them to eat something are rice, mashed potatoes, a vegetable, or some French bread. Don’t be scared to let them cover it in cheese if that’s what they like, fat is really good for developing bodies and brains! Sometimes no matter what we do, our kids might not eat our perfectly crafted meal and it’s okay!
Missing Ingredients for Your Planned Crockpot Recipe
I go through seasons where I just can’t seem to get everything on my list at the grocery store. There has been so many times its 4pm in the middle of the week and half of the ingredients for my meal are missing… What to do now? I loath last minute grocery store runs so here are some things I keep on hand and ways I improvise.
- If I don’t have fresh herbs I just use dried ones, same applies for fresh garlic.
- When I am missing a “dairyesk” ingredient like butter or some type of milk I almost always revert to soy milk or coconut milk that is in a can. It works every time, the flavor just might be a bit different. You can even use dairy free butter in place of milk.
- I don’t usually have beef broth but I always have bullion and some water.
- Sometimes I just straight up omit some things and my family never knows the difference.
- If you don’t have gluten free flour, corn starch or even blended up oats can be good substitutes.
What These Budget Crockpot Meals Really Mean for Your Family
As you and your family navigate your budget and allergies these crockpot meals are a way you can feel confident about both. You always have a easy low prep meal in your arsenal with these slow cooker recipes, making for a great family night. Since these recipes are easy and healthy it takes one more thing off your plate so you can spend more time with you kiddos and less time worrying, cooking or planning.
Once you’ve tried one of these recipes, you’ll know like I do, that great crockpot recipes don’t have to be expensive and they can be safe for people with allergies!
Sometimes these crockpot meals are what make the impossible possible in our busy lives. And of course we can prove to ourselves and the world that health is never something to sacrifice.
FAQ: The Questions Every Mom Asks About Allergy-Safe Crockpot Recipes
“Can I really feed my family safely with budget crockpot meals?”
Yes! These meals are all naturally allergen-friendly or easily substituted! We have used these recipes and stayed in our budget and had no issues with our allergies.
What if I can’t find ingredients for these crockpot recipes?
If you can’t find ingredients look up some simple swaps or even simply try it without. You might be able to buy it online and get it shipped to you but only do it if you’ll use that ingredient a lot and it is cost effective.
The Real Cost Breakdown: What These Crockpot Meals Save Your Family
These crockpot meals helped me get from spending $200 a week on groceries to spending under $300/ month! That’s a big difference! A huge bonus too is you have to buy less food when these are on your meal rotation. The leftovers can be for lunches and even future dinners! Think about it… I started saving $500 a month, what could you do with that much more money every month?
Your First Step: Choose Two Crockpot Recipes This Week
This roundup of crockpot recipes are easy to add to your meal rotation! Start with picking 2 of them and trying them this week! Comment your wins and struggles with these meals, we are here to sustain and support each other as moms and caregivers!
If you’re interested in more budget-friendly crockpot recipes, make sure you sign up for my email list! Every time you create these crockpot meals, you’re proving the impossible is possible for every family.
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