Frugal Meal Ideas

These ideas were gathered from various posts on one of my favorite message boards. The comments are from the people who posted the ideas.

For breakfast
-banana bread
-bulk quick oats, fresh fruit
-wheat/whole grain bagels/toast from the day-old bread store
-eggs
-breakfast burritos (with tofu, eggs, beans, salsa, cheese, tvp..the possibilities are endless) made with flour tortillas that I get for 69 cents for 10.
-whole wheat waffles- I make huge batches at a time and freeze, throw a couple in the toaster for breakfast- add some fruit, milk, and I love to top mine with peanut butter and all fruit spread- pretty well-rounded meal
-hot cereal- oats, soy grits, etc, always very cheap, again with fruit and milk, or juice
-whole grain cold cereal, milk, fruit, etc
-egg sandwich
-smoothies- anything can be a smoothie
-English muffin with sugar free fruit spread or a drizzle of honey
-boiled egg on the side
-oatmeal or other cooked grain cereal
-homemade pancakes or waffles with fruit
-homemade biscuits with sugar free spreads or with and egg inside
-homemade biscuit shortcake with berries
-fruit smoothies
-homemade skim yogurt with fruit
-oatmeal or corn grits with fruit and soy milk (sometimes raisins)
-smoothies- soy milk with banana and other in season fruit.
-homemade bread, fruit, cheese.
-Cereal with milk
-Fruit
-Homemade yogurt with fruit or a dab of sugar free fruit spread
-Hot cereal -- oatmeal with raisins or Malt O meal
-Cornbread with fruit and milk or with sugar free fruit spread or syrup
-homemade French toast

Cheap lunch/dinner:
-three bean chili and cheese
-chili with beans/veggies/tvp
-homemade broccoli cheddar soup (with tasty but not so fatty 25 cents a can buttermilk biscuits from Aldi's)
-homemade vegetable soup or minestrone with brown rice
-homemade taco soup (diced tomatoes, veg stock, taco seasoning, corn, diced peppers, black beans, cilantro...top with diced avocado, shredded cheddar, crushed corn tortillas)
-veggie fajitas/enchiladas
-veggie stew (with potatoes, mushrooms, carrots and a 'beef stew' seasoning packet) and homemade bread
-steamed rice and veggie stir fry
-scalloped herbed potatoes
-chicken parmesan (use tvp chicken patties and top with mozzarella and marinara) with spaghetti
-fresh steamed/boiled veggies
-baked potatoes topped with leftover broccoli cheese soup
-grilled sandwiches: roasted red pepper with mozzarella, Portobello and mozzarella or provolone
-Veggie Tacos/Fajitas, fruit in season or canned. corn
-Veggie & Cheese Deep-Dish, Homemade Pizza Pie, Salad w/ chopped veggies on top & your favorite dressing, Fruit in season or canned
- corn chowder
- potato soup
-stir-fry- veggies, noodles or rice, seasoning, for quick and easy stir-fry, take a package of ramen noodles(throw away the seasoning packet) chop up veggies and add them with the noodles and season- use 5 spice, sesame oil, low-sodium soy sauce and oyster sauce
-Burritos with veggie refried beans and cheese, top with lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, tomatoes. A very quick and easy meal is a bean and cheese pie- place a tortilla shell in a pie pan, then layer refried beans- seasoned with homemade taco seasoning- sprinkle some cheese, repeat layers ending with tortilla and cheese, microwave for a bit top like a taco- if desired- and serve
-Haystacks- Chili beans- topped with tortilla chips and all the regular taco fixings
-veggie burritos- black beans, zucchini, spiced tomatoes, corn, onions, season with cumin, garlic, homemade taco seasoning, use a whole wheat tortilla, top and enjoy
-salad- southwestern style with beans, corns, tortilla strips
-southwest lasagna- layer like a regular lasagna, but use refried beans, spicy cheese and salsa, instead of meat and spaghetti sauce
-Baked Stuffed Potatoes (Bake some taters and clean out the fridge for toppings...chili, cheese and leftover veggies, salsa, sour cream, etc.)
-homemade vegetable and dumpling soup (made with potatoes, canned or frozen tomatoes, peas, and corn, celery, carrots, etc.)
-Tomato soup / grilled cheese sandwich
-spaghetti w/ sauce and bread
-any breakfast food served at night
-homemade pizza
-bean soup with cornbread or biscuits
-vegetable stir fried rice
-beans with rice
-vegetable/pasta casseroles
-Rice and beans (black, kidney, chick peas) with veggies
-Spanish rice and pinto beans with salsa and cheese
-Salad and grilled cheese
-pasta with homemade sauce
-bean and veggie burritos
-fried potatoes and sautéed greens
-curried potatoes and cauliflower
-vegetable stir-fry with brown rice
-hardboiled eggs
-sandwiches of any sort
-Rice with steamed or stir fried veggies
-Veggie Fried Rice
-homemade pizza or calzones
-chili
-bean soup
-tomato soup
-potato soup
-veggie barley soup
-veggie soup with homemade dumplings
-cornbread or biscuits with any of the above
-fettuccine
-mushroom Swiss spaghetti
-regular spaghetti
-macaroni and cheese
-assorted veggie pasta casseroles
-baked potatoes

Cheap Snacks or Desserts:
-Popcorn
-Peanuts & raisins
-Baked potato wedges
-Vegetable platter: cucumber, carrots, celery, tomatoes... maybe some dip?
-Homemade biscuits
-Fresh fruit
-Cheese
-Homemade oatmeal cookies
-Applesauce
-Cottage cheese with pineapple
-In season fruit
-Banana muffins/oatmeal cookies/apple crumb/
-apple pie etc made from scratch.
-Yogurt
-tortilla chips

One of my favorite food sites, Chowhound, has a great thread on frugal meals.

Picture from altemark at flickr