Trying to feed teenagers at home without breaking your budget? It can be difficult, but this list of 100 ideas will set you free!
Are cravings threatening to derail your grocery budget? If so, we’ve put together a long list of quick, easy, healthy, AND frugal meals that we know your teens will enjoy.
We’re very grateful for all the input from our Facebook community – lots of great suggestions and ideas helped us put this list together!
Frugal Food Ideas for Hungry Teens
Are you feeding a large crowd (or just your teenagers)? Here’s a collection of easy, delicious, and frugal meal ideas!
Soups and stews
Add more vegetables and broth to stretch your meat even further, and be sure to include bread or rolls as another great filling!
Sandwiches
Bread and buns freeze wonderfully, so stock up on sales and always keep a loaf (or 7) on hand for sandwiches.
It’s pizzas
Hungry teenagers will eat anything pizza-ish at any time of the day!
Pasta
Pasta is a great way to fill up hungry teens without breaking your grocery budget – especially if you don’t have meat and sauce and add a salad and garlic bread.
Breakfast
Breakfast is another winner when it comes to junk food that all kids seem to love, and it’s budget friendly!
Mexican
Use beans, rice, and corn to stretch out all your Mexican favorites and make this junk food filling and affordable.
Other
- Loading Tater Tots
- Baked Potato Bar
- Chicken Drumsticks
- Stirfry and Rice
- Casseroles
Frugal Food Ideas for Hungry Teens
If you’re an after-school or post-game hangout, you’ll want to stock up on these easy, frugal snack ideas. (And homemade is always budget-friendly!)
Generate Snack Ideas
These healthy options are great before or after sporting events, after school, or whenever you’re craving a snack but don’t really want “junk food”.
- Fruits and Vegetables with homemade dip
- Apples & Peanut Butter
- Carrots with Homemade Hummus
- Bananas with Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chips
- Fruit with Whipped Cream
- Home Fries or Potato Fries
- Apple Nachos
- Peanut Butter Banana Rollups
- Celery with Peanut Butter or Cream Cheese
- Air-fried or Cubed Sweet Potatoes
- Yogurt with Fruit and/or Granola
- Dill Pickles (buy a gallon jar!)
- Smoothies
- Frozen Grapes
- Watermelon (if in season)
Salty Snack Ideas
These easy meals on the go will fill you up for less than other options. Save even more by buying multiple family-sized bags and separating them into your own zip-top bags.
Delicious Snack Ideas
Perfect for lunch, between meals, or as a fun after meal.
Savory Snack Ideas
If you’re not ready for another full meal, but a small snack won’t cut it!
- Sourdough Bread with fat for dipping
- Quesadillas
- Ramen Noodles
- Mac & Cheese
- Hard Boiled Eggs
- Charcuterie Board (Summer Sausage or Ham, crackers, grapes, and cheese)
- Pasta Salad
- Frozen Chicken Nuggets
- Bagel bar
- Taco dip or Pizza dip with chips and crackers
- Cheesy Rice Balls
- Bagels with Cream Cheese
Want more ideas?
Here we are even more junk food and snack ideas to fill your hungry kids without breaking the bank!
Do you have any ideas to add to this list? Let us know!
FREE DOWNLOAD: 60 Diets To Help You Avoid Excretion!
Mealtime just got a whole lot easier!
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