In college, I lived in my vehicle and worked the night shift at a convenience store. I was allowed to take the leftover hotdogs, popcorn and breakfast biscuits for free. Needless to say, life was hard, freezing and sweltering for 3 years, but absolutely worth it in order to graduate with a degree in chemistry.....DEBT FREE. Where there's a WILL, there's a WAY. Good luck on your journeys❤

woman. i need you to know. i am praising God u made this vid. im 4k in debt and no money for food, out of my parents house forever now. this literally every facet of it is pure wisdom. ive watched ur videos for a while now but this especially is saving me rn

When we were young married, we were saving aggressively for our first house. My husband traveled a lot for work and received a per diem for meals. He drove to most jobs and packed a cooler with food and ate what he could cook in the microwave in his room and saved most of the per diem for our savings.

Thank you for this!! I live in a super tiny student apartment with a mini fridge, a microwave and a hot plate and I always struggle with finding recipes I can make in my little "kitchen." This is so helpful!

If any college students are watching this to get meal ideas, please please please make sure you are eating enough. There is no shame in going to food pantries if you have to, some schools even have on-campus food pantries just for students. For someone with a full course load and a job/extracurriculars/etc., you’re going to burn through a 450 calorie breakfast like it’s nothing (that’s roughly how much the oatmeal dish is in this video). Do not feel like you’re doing something wrong if you need to eat more than this.

A couple of the things I love about your videos is your empathy towards the situations others may find themselves in..and your advocacy towards food-security for everyone.

I have not yet watched but one of my early rentals did not have a stove or a real fridge. I was super broke and rented it dirt cheap. I managed to get a mini fridge for free on the side of the road. I hit yard sales until I found a crock pot and an electric skillet. I think I paid $5 for the both of them. For over a year that was the only method of cooking we had. Not even a microwave.

Time stamp 4:15, bananas. When i first started shoppimg for myself, i was complaining to my mother that i could never go through an entire bunch of bananas before they statred to go bad. My mother sighed, ansd said "sweetie, you know they sell them by the pound. You don`t have to buy the whole bunch just because they are attached." Apparently "sweetie" issmomspeak for " moron."

Also if you don't have enough storage jars or cups/bowls, etc you can save the glass containers from items you've purchased. Wash them out well and use them as you would purchased storage containers, or even to eat your food out of. Not a new idea, but a reminder for us all.

I love this idea! So clever! My husband and I went on a family vacation recently. We needed to feed 9 people lunch and dinner for 5 days. Our hotel offered continental breakfast and we had a microwaves in our rooms. I spent a little over a hundred dollars and cooked a weeks worth of meals for everyone. I froze the main courses and chilled everything in coolers so they would slowly thaw over a period of a few days. It was so nice to have homemade meals and not need to eat out every night. I made beef tacos, chicken tortilla soup, mostaccioli, chicken, broccoli, and rice, and burgers. We also had lunch meat sandwiches, nuts, dried fruit, peanut butter and jelly, lots of cut fruits and veggies, chips, and drink pouches for lunches. It saved us so much money to pack and warm our own food in the hotel. Microwaves can be so handy if you get creative!

The reason why oats arent considered gluten free, because all oats are naturally gluten free, is because they are commonly processed in same plants as gluten or grown in the same fields as gluten products and are harvested using the same equipment! That is actually the best price I've seen for gluten free oats! Generally they range from ~$2-$3 a pound! Gonna go check my wal mart to see if they have them!

Great video. At my daughter’s college that have a food pantry to shop at for free and it is pretty impressive. She usually finds a few vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions; milk, cheese and butter; canned goods like peanut butter, canned fruit and vegetables and beans; plus pantry items like boxed cereal, oatmeal, pasta, rice, dried beans. So usually they stop there first before going to the grocery store. It is a great way to stretch the budget.

I've been so excited about this video since you mentioned it! I live in a studio apartment while I pay debt and save for a house and work 12 hour shifts so microwave meals are my JAM!

I couldn't keep fresh potatoes on hand as our over heated apartment would cause the potatoes to sprout. I discovered there are shelf stable dried potatoes in a box (no added seasonings or preservatives), labelled to make hash browns. (Betty Crocker, Idahoan brand, Hungry Jack or Hamburger Helper makes a line with cheese packets). I would use them to fill out a soup, stew, or prepare a small amount to add to a wrap with beans. Great to have on hand in emergencies.

Any food is healthy food if you’re starving! Thanks for sharing.

I actually love it when you take something like a mac and cheese box and revamp it to do other things. My mind is blown when you do that, I'm thinking wait that's against the rules, and then im like why cant you do that. I lived off the single microwave easy macs in school but they were super expensive, I never would have thought to make regular box in the microwave.

This is also great bc right now my parents home is pretty much gutted bc of IDA flooding and their gas is off - so no cooktop. They have counters. A microwave and fridge that work only. Great ideas!

I love this! We lived in a camper for s time that only had a microwave and a stove top. Ohmygosh. I've never used a microwave so much. A note about oats. You can also grind them to make flour and use as a partial replacement for regular flour and you can eat the raw with fruit, milk and cinnamon. Which is actually summery and delightful.

When you were picking the chili beans I'm over here yelling get the mixed chili beans. It has black, pinto, kidney beans and it is sooo good! Blessings! Also 1 can of roast beef and gravy, 1 can of veg all, salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder with water make a good microwave "beef stew"! Also a microwave crisper plate is really convenient! Also add can chicken or tuna and cheese to the cottage for a "bake" or cold. My breakfast this morning was cottage cheese and tuna, yummm!

I am a truck driver who stays out on the road about 3 to 5 months at a time. Your video was definitely very informative and I can't wait to give some of those recipes a try.👍🏻

I really love how creative you are with a small amount of ingredients. I have used some of your tips and tricks since I started watching your Channel. Last night I made a shepherds pie and bulked my meat up with lentils. It not only saved me from using 2 pkgs of meat, but I used my lentils, which I have a lot of. I really enjoy this kind of video.

YES I needed this, my oven is currently out of order and all I have is my microwave!

I have been "cooking" from my microwave quite a bit lately because my kitchen is under construction, you gave me a couple of good ideas that I had not thought about. I make a mac n cheese with fire roasted tomatoes and whatever cheese I have on hand and it is super yummy, also I was thinking that the potato soup would be good with corn and the sausage and both could then be added to other meals and you would probably come in under $20. Your fruit and snack choices were great. You had some great ideas, thanks for sharing, I appreciate the time you take to do this.

I agree with the instant rice as an add in .With a few conversions you can use some shelf stable ingredients. Boxed potato mixes, smoked veinna sausages. Just a few examples.Your site is wonderful. You are helping alot of people. Keep up the good work.

I could have used this video a month ago when I was staying at an Airbnb that had only a microwave and fridge. I would never have thought to make the pasta in the microwave. Genius!

If you have a few extra dollars to spend up front, you can get large containers of powdered cheese (like what's in the mac & cheese boxes) online or possibly in stores. The price would be more upfront but would save some in the long run. And then you could buy bulk bags of pasta which is way cheaper than buying mac & cheese boxes themselves. Just an option for those it might help. 😊

In Dennark we eat oats just with milk over it (just like cereal). Top it with sugar, raisins or if you are fancy, fresh fruit.

While we don’t eat a lot of these types of foods, I always feel inspired by your creativity in these challenges! Most recently I’ve started stocking my pantry with some food items for emergency cooking. We have a wood stove that I can cook on if I need to, so I’m keeping that in mind as I purchase packaged foods.

For someone that wants some meat in their dinner this is not the healthiest but you could slice a hotdog to cook with your macaroni and cheese and broccoli. Probably add it in towards the end. I made stuffed peppers in the microwave ones, not the frozen ones I made it from scratch.

Thank you for all of your great videos. I listen to you on my work commute almost everyday. You have a soothing voice, great budget friendly meals and I think your kiddos are very lucky to have you as their mom. You’re doing a great job. I hate that you have to put disclaimers out about not enough fruits, veggies, protein etc. people should not make comments like those. We’re all in this world together and everyone’s story is different. When you were doing this video I was also thinking about the families living in these pay by the month hotels that have small kitchenettes. This is great for them. I think there are a lot of people living this way due to economics. I don’t think a lot of those come with stoves- so these microwave meals are great for them. Keep up the good work. I’ll continue to listen and keep smiling.

Suggestion: On the Potato Soup, (if the budget would allow) add some Potato Flakes. There are bags of instant potatoes that are $1.29 or cheaper. They have lots of flavors to choose from and would add an additional depth to the flavor. Love the Vid.

Great how you educate about good, inexpensive protein sources like peanut butter and cottage cheese. I was impressed you got so much fresh fruit/veggies in for $15. Fortunately food is not taxed in my state l, which helps a lot.

These are good after school ideas for young teens! Mine seem like they always come in starving and it’s 3-4 hours til dinner -they need more than a snack. These meals are a good way for them to get comfortable in the kitchen and get used to preparing things for themselves. These are all good ideas! Thanks!!

This is not a plug because I don't sell these or get a commission on any sales. The electric lunchboxes are a great invention. They are highly portable. I bought an Itaki Shabuki pot. I chose it over the Itaki Pro or Jumbo because the Shabuki can be used as a kettle for boiling water for drinks, and to sear meat and fry eggs. It's essentially an electric pot. I bought the optional steamer tray. I chose the Shabuki over cheaper versions because it is made with high-grade stainless steel instead of having the nonstick coating. I just don't like using nonstick stuff. My local Chinese supermarket sells 6 1/2" bamboo steamers. These fit the Shabuki. I bought one so now I can cook three different layers of food at a time. I use my Shabuki frequently. I've made curry in the base, while steaming rice above it. I've roasted a chunk of chicken, with vegetables above, and a custard above that. I've done braised steak, and steamed noodles to go with it. I've used it like a pot to cook oatmeal and polenta. I ordered two Shabukis as my niece also wanted one. They're permanently on sale! This qualified for free shipping, and I used a 10% coupon from the Emmymade KZfaq blog. This brought the cost down to $51 each. There's a wide range of electric lunchboxes and small rice cookers with additional steamer trays at a wide price range on Amazon. I've found a very similar product to the Shabuki at my local Chinese supermarket for $16.99.

Absolutely love this! My daughter is almost 3 and pasta is her favorite. It's nice to have a way to make her a quick pasta meal with extra protein in it.

I'm sure if you go to a thrift store you would be able to pick up bowls/plates/cutlery and a variety of microwave safe cooking containers very cheap.

Whenever we travel, I pack my instant pot. I'm sending one with my kiddo to college, too!

Hi Mindy! These recipes are very satisfying, I have tried some of them before. Brought back some college memories. Now I use the microwave for my favorite dinner... popcorn and wine (the wine doesn't go in the microwave). I have noticed that sometimes if I am in a hurry, baked potatoes will (of course) go faster in the microwave than they do in the oven, but if I plan ahead I can cook them in the crockpot before I leave for work. Those noodle and sauce packets can be good in the microwave too if you want to add some precooked canned chicken and veggies for extra fiber and protein, but it will be salty for those people watching their sodium levels.

I liked your idea of frozen potatoes. I think that Walmart has frozen southern potatoes with peppers and onions. I may try the quick potato soup using those and buy the small great value bag of bacon bits/ pieces to add with some cheese on top! Thank you, Mindy, for trying all these ideas out for us and giving us a great starting off point! I appreciate you!😊

You’re a good human. 🤍 thank you for providing ideas for people that may need it in dire times.

Take packets of salt, pepper, and sugar, as well as mustard, mayo and ketchup from your cafeteria! Also, feel free to take an extra banana or apple or carton of milk from the cafeteria too, any way that you can cut down on what you need to buy. Don't feel bad about taking these things if you have a meal plan, you're paying for them!

I love how well thought out your videos are. I' ve learnt alot from you and frugal fit mom. I started to wa you guys when we lost our jobs due to covid and left with 20$ rest for a week with family of 4 to feed! Keep up the good work ☺️

I have oatmeal almost everyday for breakfast and I always put peanut butter in it! Along with either banana or apple. But lately I've been into a more savory oatmeal. I've been putting shredded cheddar in it, along with salt, pepper or this garlic and pepper seasoning I get at Kroger. Top it with an over easy egg! So good. I also will add in some sauted mushroom and onion when i have some left over.

Love it. My son microwaved a pen once. Didn’t end well. 😀

Oats are realy my go to on most days. Due to some health issues I have often problems with my tummy but oats work always! I even make cookies, pancakes and cake with them :) Love your videos, thank you

I lived in a dorm for 4 years. My meal plan was any 10 meals M-F, so I grocery shopped on the weekends. My fridge was small enough to fit atop my dresser and my microwave fit in my bookshelf. Limited space was all I had, and eventually I realized it was all I needed. Hooray for Cheerios and sandwiches.

Great ideas! A bag of real bacon bits would add flavor to most of those dishes also. My mom often ate pears with cottage cheese. I thought that’s what you were about to show when you had the potatoes with cottage cheese. 👍🏻☺️

I don’t always necessarily like the food you make but I just really appreciate how kind you are and how you are actually helping so many people including me! You seem like you’re a really lovely mum who’s done the hard yards and is sharing her wisdom with us ❤️

I have enjoyed your 5-15 mins meals so much. My husband is having to help me in the kitchen now because of some health problems. We are cooking together now. Your meals are great to teach him how to cook. Thank you. He's a good shopper, too. I'm a pastor's wife, too.

I really enjoyed that you were creative enough to not say have the SAME MEAL for 7 days in a week but used the items you had and MIXED IT UP 😍😍😍

Its so interesting to see all the differences between your foods and what I and my surrounding people eat in Germany, and how different prices are. I can happily say, that I never needed to stick to a tight budget, but still I think its so important to know how it could work, in case its needed. So thanks for new ideas =)

Thank you! I travel a lot, live alone, and in Bangkok, ovens are not common. This video is great!

This is exactly what I've been eating this month. Recovering from surgerys. Lots of fiber and low fat products. Just good food served in a hurry. I premade beans and rice. Fruit was fresh and canned. Yummy and easy.

This is just one of your Videos I'm watching. We also have a family of 5 in almost the same age range. I absolutely love your ideas and tips. I have tried several things you suggested and my cooking skills have increased tremendously just by watching you and thinking outside the box. I am now able (thanks to you) to whip up delicious meals on serious budget that even my picky children will devour. I oftentimes get a thumbs up now thanks to you. Before I discovered you, there were a lot of tears involved in dinnertime. Especially when it came to the veggies. Thank you for all your hard work and for this video. This is a great way to teach many of us to think outside the box. I love your approach and how you actually explained everything. Great job and another wonderful video!

For added protein eggs can be poached or scrambled in the microwave which could pair with toast if you had an electric toaster.

I personally love these kind of videos and I get my teenage daughters to watch them. They do a lot of cooking already- traditional cooking mostly. So this kind of cooking is something I honestly haven’t taught them. But it takes me back to the days of my roommate and I surviving on microwaveable oatmeal, grits, mac n cheese and little smokies 😁

Oh, Mindy, you forgot the no bake oatmeal cookies that don't require any cooking at all just mixing oats with cocoa and peanut butter. Might have left one ingredient out but y'all can look it up. All I remember is rolling it in balls and it needs to be refrigerated.

I am at college and dropped my meal plan so I can save more and this video helped me out, in fact I’m going to get my government work done then go by walmart and get me some food to do your recipes. Thank you!!!

this is such a thoughtful video, I'm sure it will help so many people! I don't love sweet breakfasts so something I love to do with oats is cook them with some water and broth powder and add some frozen mixed veggies. I like to put an egg on top too but I'm not sure about cooking eggs in the microwave.

We have two special needs people in our household, this was a way for them to be self sufficient without worrying they may wonder off and forget the food being made. One of them makes the same thing everyday. Texture issues are hit and miss. Any extra broth or canned gravy is put into a baggy to freeze WITH label (dollar tree has labels -- one full sheet broth and one full sheet gravy Start by making 3 cups (1 1/2 raw + 3 1/2 cups water) of rice (15 -22 minutes) put into 1 cup containers. Stir every 5 minutes. If you don't stir and maybe just had a little too little water -it gets hard and crunchy over cooked - add a cup more water and go 5 more minutes, it will be fine. I Breakfast: rice in milk, cinnamon and sugar. Microwave for 1:30 covered it's like oatmeal. (apple slices and go-gurt on the side) Lunch - Mix in a handful of frozen peppers and onions (rinsed) into 1/2 can beef gravy (or chicken whatever the dollar tree has) and 6 meatballs over cold rice. Cover and microwave 3 minutes. Add 2 cutie oranges or banana. Snack: pita pizza - toaster pita in toaster till browned, smear of pizza sauce, cheese, pepperoni microwave for 15 - 30 seconds. Dinner: Lentil curry and rice. 1 cup water with chicken bullion (or broth), 1- 2 teaspoons curry powder 1/2 cup canned tomatoes (puree, crushed, diced whatever your texture threshold happens to be), 1 handful of frozen onion, 1 teaspoon corn starch and 1 can lentils (drained), mix well so there isn't a pocked of cornstarch. 2 minutes covered, stir, microwave 2 minutes more. IN A SEPARATE container covered dish microwave cold rice for 1 minute. If you are having roti with this fold it up and put it on top of the rice before microwaving. The steam from the rice will make it perfect. The curry stuff will stay hot while rice is going. My daughter is easier. She doesn't like foods touching so she is perfect for meal prep. Meat stuff with sauce or gravy another compartment frozen veggies and another compartment is cooked rice or noodles or frozen potatoes. Today she just made meatballs tossed in bbq sauce + onions and peppers + handful tater tots + 2 slices of swiss cheese folded as if it came from a lunchable and a piece of fruit. Since most of her stuff is frozen, check after 3 minutes, it may need to go to 5 minutes. Bonus friday mom loves you points: Make a cake mix and put it in ice cube trays (fill the cube don't be cake stingy). Put in mug or the container side of a homemade microwave meal

I love these videos. I ate like this in college too and I still love simple, easy meals like this. In these insecure economic times, this is good info for everyone.

I love that you do these challenges! It makes us think outside the box. These recipes seem great for kids learning how to cook with something besides a stove. Thanks for all the great tips!😁💜

Im currently living in a hotel room and this is so helpful! I do have an instant pot but cleaning the thing is such a pain in the hotel. I cook scrambled eggs and toast (i have a toaster too) and i heat frozen fries, mix in scrambled eggs and beed sausage and then put jalopenos on them and cheese and it makss a freat meal. I also eat a lot of pasta, instant grits, and rice mixed with black beans with chopped sausage. In the instant pot i have cooked neckbones, turkey necks, and chicken. Those are my go to meals.

Love this so much! I’m a 40 something stay at home mom, and am totally doing this for my breakfast and lunches! Thank you for the ideas! Love your channel ❤️❤️

My Mother has eaten gluten free for close to twenty years. The oatmeal was a surprise to me. What is really nice there are some convenience foods you normally wouldn't think about... Evaporated milk is a shelf saver!!!!!👌😉

Thank you for sharing your delicious yummy meals. My now college age daughter in the backround taking in the ideas even though she lives at home. She said she will try them. Who knew.

I LOVE your videos and I'm sorry people make you feel like you have to explain yourself about prices, processed foods, etc. It's just for ideas people!!!!, and you give lots of great ones!!! Thank you!

OMGosh. Mindy, this video could not have come out at a better time. We are working on the kitchen and only have the microwave for cooking. You can't imagine how helpful this video has been. It also inspired me to see what the Walmart next door to us has on offer. THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOU DO! Be blessed, well, and happy.

Thank you so much for posting this! You definitely gave some great ideas. I also really appreciate knowing the basic calorie content so I can figure out what to add. These look so good!

Hint; Make some bowl cozies. They take care of those hot bowls. Like your ideas. Thanks

Instead of macaroni I used rice noodles which cook really easily in the microwave

I love when you do these grocery challenge videos. Thank you for the ideas!!

I very much appreciate this post of yours. Its giving me ideas even if not all the items are affordable here in the Philippines. The ideas are mostly for what I could bring since I will be in a lock-in training but will only have access to microwave & water kettle. I will have a bar ref w/ tiny freezer, so I can only bring so much frozen items!

Man I really needed this video a month ago❤️. We’ve been going through a kitchen remodel for three months and our budget has been busted from not being able to cook easily in a microwave only.

Another good safety tip Mindy is to set the bowl onto a plate and then put that into the microwave. Caution is needed no matter what but generally the plate does not heat up and it allows you to take your bowl of piping hot stuff out without burning yourself!

Great for RVs too as easy back up meals. Thank you!

Just a suggestion, cook all you macaroni at once in salted water. Drain it, let it cool, then store it in a sealed container or a zip lock freezer bag in the fridge. I'm a single person and I've been doing this for years. I just take out what I need for a quick meal as needed. You don't have to wait for the pasta to cook through each time.

You are great at this! These don’t feel budget meals at all I’ll bet they are all super yum! And low cost! A winner video! Thank you! A keeper!❤

Thank you for this video! It will be so helpful for people just learning (for the first time) - but - this also opened my mind to looking at my regular purchases with new eyes!

You do extremely well coming up with ideas and small budget food options. I especially like the informative way you do your videos. Thank you Mindy

We used to buy the macaroni noodles, cook them in the microwave, then heat up a jarred meat sauce to pour over then noodles and it was an easy peasy dinner. Or if we didn't have meat sauce, then use fully cooked sausage like kielbasa so we had meat in our dinner. And is was delicious!

Great for when I'm in the condo in which my brand new oven & stovetop broke a year to date. $500 to fix it. Got a toaster oven, slow cooker, and microwave... So sorry Sears/Whirlpool. Not giving y'all another $500, when it barely lasted a year.

Excellent instruction for people in need that have access to a heat source. Thank you.

I don’t own a microwave, but I’m still here watching! I might need these tips some day.

My microwave is literally my personal chef, cus i cannot cook 😁

Very helpful. We are living in a camper with limited water and cooking options, so the microwave is our best option. I am definitely going to try some of these, and you have inspired me to try some of my own. . Plus save on the grocery bill, and not eat out so much. Great ideas!

What an amazing video! I do cook for just myself in an efficiency apartment. Thank you, Mindy!

Absolutely love your videos, I also love macaroni cheese with tomato sauce and barbecue sauce, very, very tasty. Simple and easy if you have run out of vegies to add. If you are a sewer have a look on youtube at microwave bowl holders, must be all cotton including batting - no more burnt fingers getting bowls out of the microwave, and useful for holding an ice cold bowl of icecream.

These ideas are great 👍🏻 They looked really good. Definitely would have added some variety to the pb&j and ramen staples that I ate as a teenager and young adult 😂 Thank you for sharing this 😊

The cottage cheese would go well with the pears as would some vanilla ice cream or yogurt.

I used to eat baked potatoes for breakfast as a kid. I was born disabled and spent so much time in the hospital for surgeries and having to be on special diets FOR those surgeries that the typical breakfast foods were just never appealing to me. I didn't want cereal or toast because I was never allowed to eat it long enough to get used to it, I craved potatoes. My mom got worried and talked to my team and they said that because I was already having so much trouble keeping weight on because of the amount of surgeries/diet restrictions I was going through that if that's what I wanted to eat then go for it because at least I was eating/hungry for SOMETHING. Just a plain microwaved potato with a little salt, pepper, and butter.

Check out savory oatmeal recipes. Oatmeal can be used in meatloaf too. Use about equal parts hamburger and uncooked oats.

Great ideas, Mindy! We appreciate you. The potato soup looks good.

Excellent recipes for when times are very tight!!

Very different and creative meals, especially creative ways to use beans. Thank you

I really wish that this video was around when I lived in my dorm! Love this video!

Very insightful! I can see how this could be beneficial fir someone that’s really in a tight spot!!!

We need to go into a hotel for at least 2 weeks. We will have a fridge and tiny microwave, so I'm trying to figure out what to make for lunch and supper. Lunch is easy enough (sandwiches or leftover breakfasts), but supper gets tougher. I'm not into making a grilled cheese from aluminum foil and a clothes iron, and we can only stand so many soups! Some of your ideas were quite inspiring, so thank you!

I couldn't love this more! Great job

This is an awesome idea! Thanks for sharing!