Struggle Meals

Eggplant: A fruit you didn’t know was a fruit. Often underrated and overlooked, Frankie shows us how to shop for and cook this filling, delicious, cost-effective, and versatile ingredient. Master these cooking techniques and the days of mushy, bitter eggplant will be long gone.

Frankie busts the myth that eating plant-based is expensive. Preparing these good-for-you meals is all about eating seasonally to save money on produce, and shopping the bulk aisle for even more savings on plant-based pantry items. It’s nutritious and great for the planet. Win-win!

Frankie figured out the weekly budget grocery equation so you don’t have to. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner for seven days, for a family of four, for under $150. All it takes is a little planning, meal prep, and using up leftovers in inventive ways to avoid food waste.

Cheese can be really expensive. Frankie teaches us how to cook with more affordable cheese swaps than what might normally be called for in a recipe. More importantly, we learn how to stretch cheese in a dish so it can be the star without breaking the bank. Bonus: Frankie teaches how to make cheese at home!

Tomatoes are one of the most produced fruits, especially when in season. Frankie teaches us how to prepare them fresh in a variety of ways. And for even more savings, Frankie will share a few tips on how to preserve tomatoes so you can enjoy their freshness throughout the year.

Date night doesn’t have to be at an over-priced, mediocre restaurant. Frankie prepares an affordable and delicious sushi date night at home, filled with three courses, plus tips on how to set date night ambiance at home on a struggle budget. That special someone will love it!

A big way to save money on a struggle budget is to prepare homemade lunches for work. Frankie shows us how to make five delicious lunches for the whole work week. Each one flavored differently during meal prep so you don't get bored. You'll be saving money, and you might even be more productive at work after a nutritious homemade lunch!

Flour has the super power to transform into an endless variety of meals, and a little goes a long way. Frankie teaches us how to make three different meals using flour as the affordable vehicle. Save money, learn new techniques, and strap on an apron. It's time to get messy in the kitchen.

You say hotdishes, Frankie says casserole. Either way, these one-pot hotdishes are an affordable way to feed a group of people, or the family for dinner. Plus they're great to freeze for future meals. Frankie's secret is to use a combination of frozen and fresh ingredients to keep these hotdishes nutritious and cost-effective.