Cookbook Review: 100 Days of Real Food on a Budget

Hello and Happy Friday!

Remember last week when I said I would be sharing a cookbook review soon? That day is here! If you missed my previous post, you can read it HERE.

I was so excited when I was chosen to be a Cookbook Ambassador for Lisa Leake’s new cookbook: 100 Days of Real Food On A Budget. This cookbook is 100% up my alley. I’ve blogged many times about how I try to maintain a healthy lifestyle and eat food that is good for me. I’ve also shared how important sticking to a budget is to me. This cookbook combines both of those things and I am excited to share my review today!

Let’s get into it!

*Full disclosure: I received this cookbook at no charge in exchange for my honest review*

I went into this trying to stay as unbiased as possible, but knowing that most likely I would really enjoy the cookbook. And I was right! I was impressed that there are many things other than recipes included in this cookbook. A few of the details I really appreciated are:

• There are $15 or less shopping lists for every recipe. Every recipe has a shopping list and price breakdown, which is very helpful. There have been times in the past when I went to buy the ingredients for a recipe and I was shocked when the price was totaled up. There will be no surprises with the recipes in this cookbook. Everything is laid out for you upfront.
• It includes budget tips, such as a Supermarket Comparison Chart. There are many budget tips included in this cookbook, which I really appreciate. The Supermarket Comparison Chart is really cool. It compares prices of varies ingredients at all of the major grocery stores. From what I can tell the prices appear to be pretty accurate, so this can be really helpful in making sure you get good, real ingredients at the best price.
• There are color photos of every recipe. I don’t know about you, but I love seeing pictures of recipes. It always helps me to decide what I want to cook. Sometimes you just have to see your food, I think. It’s also helpful once I’ve picked out a recipe, because I have a general idea of what it’s supposed to look like in the end.
• Lunch ideas are included. I always struggle coming up with lunch ideas that are portable and work friendly. This cookbook has a whole chapter on lunch ideas, which is so helpful! I already have several recipes I want to make and bring to work with me. I will be sure to report back on how it works out.
• The recipes are special diet friendly. Although Chris and I aren’t on a special diet, I really appreciate that many of the recipes in this cookbook either are or can be easily converted to Gluten-Fee, Dairy-Free, Peanut-Free, and Vegetarian. I know this is a high priority for many families and this cookbook definitely has that covered.

And for the most important point of all…

The recipes are delicious! So far I have cooked 1 of the recipes from this cookbook and it did not disappoint. I made Easy Chinese Chicken and it was really good! I had all of the ingredients on hand already and it was a very straight-forward, quick recipe. Perfect for a weeknight. I served it with brown rice and green beans. It was a hit!

I plan to try many more recipes over the coming weeks and I will be sure to write a follow up post detailing how I liked them. For now, my first impression is that this cookbook is exactly what the title says: healthy, real meals on a budget. And I think that’s something we can all appreciate! If you are interested in ordering this cookbook for yourself, you can follow this link: 100 Days of Real Food On A Budget.

Are you interested in healthy cooking on a budget? What other cookbooks would you recommend?

*This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using my link.