Welcome back to another exciting week of wallet-stretching meal options! As we dive into week four, we’re thrilled to continue our culinary journey, exploring delicious recipes, time-saving tips, and creative meal ideas. This week we are bringing two simple, yet flavorful meal options to your table. They were designed to feed four people at under $3.50 per person. The key to these meals is getting a few ingredients ready and then finishing with quick cooking– and we can help!
This week’s items:
2 packs Certified Angus Beef Steak (Buy one get one free)
1 box Ka Me Noodle Rice Sticks
1 bag PICS Frozen Broccoli (16 oz)
1 bag PICS Frozen Onions & Peppers (16 oz)
1 pack PICS Fajita Tortillas (10 oz)
1 bag PICS Shredded Cheese (8 oz)
1 pack McCormick Fajita Seasoning
1 jar Fage Sour Cream
1 pack Kikkoman Broccoli Beef Seasoning
Optional for a fun meal addition:
1 jar PICS Pizza Sauce
3 packs Thomas’ English Muffins (buy one get TWO free)
Smart set up:
Bowl for marinating or velveting meat
Large skillet or wok
Sharp knife/cutting board for slicing meat
Measuring spoons
Wooden spatula for stir-frying
Prep tips and hacks:
Cook rice or noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
Hack: Freeze steak for 10-15 minutes. Remove from packaging to cutting board, and slice thinly across the grain. Slicing across the grain is part of ensuring it is tender and cooks quickly.
Meal #1: Steak Fajitas!
1 pack Certified Angus Beef
1 pack PICS Frozen Onions & Pepper (16 oz)
PICS Fajita Tortillas (10 oz)
PICS Shredded Cheese
Fage Sour Cream
McCormick Fajita Seasoning
Prepare fajita marinade in a bowl large enough for liquid and sliced steak. Reserve 2 tablespoons of marinade. Cut lime into wedges. Prepare flour tortillas to be warmed in the oven or microwave.
Tip – Cooking frozen veggies first allows for water to evaporate and veggies to brown. Skip this step if you want to cook together.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in skillet or wok. When heated, carefully add frozen veggies to the pan, stir frying quickly to heat through and crisp. Remove from skillet when done, place in a bowl, add reserved marinade, and keep warm.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in the skillet. Place marinated steak and marinade in the pan and stir fry on high heat until done. Discard any remaining marinade.
Return cooked vegetables to the pan, toss with cooked steak and heat through. Squeeze lime wedges over meat and vegetables and serve!
Meal #2: Beef and Broccoli
1 pack Certified Angus Beef Steak
1 box Ka Me Noddle Rice Sticks
1 bag PICS Frozen Broccoli
1 pack Kikkoman Broccoli Beef Seasoning Mix
Hack: Freeze steak for 10-15 minutes. Remove from packaging to cutting board, and slice thinly across the grain. Slicing across the grain is part of ensuring it is tender and cooks quickly.
Place sliced steak in a bowl and sprinkle with 1 ½ tsp baking soda per 8 oz. Return to the refrigerator for 30 minutes to allow meat to “velvet”, which tenderizes the meat. After 30 minutes, rinse meat slices and pat dry before seasoning or adding marinade for Beef and Broccoli.
Heat oil in large skillet or wok, and add frozen broccoli carefully, watching for splatter. Use wooden spoon or spatula to quickly toss and allow water to evaporate and broccoli to begin cooking. Add meat and marinade and continue stir frying until meat is brown and cooked, and all meat and vegetables are cooked and seasoned.
Leftover love – Make fried rice with leftover meat and/or scrambled eggs, rice and PICS frozen peas and carrots!
Stir fry frozen vegetables in a large skillet or wok. Scramble two eggs in a coffee cup and cook in the microwave. Add chopped leftover meat and rice to the vegetables, and the scrambled eggs. Season with two tablespoons of lower sodium soy sauce – done!
English Muffin Magic – A fun addition to this week’s meal ideas!
1 pack Thomas English Muffins (Be sure to purchase three to get buy one get two FREE)
1 bag PICS Shredded Cheese
1 jar PICS Pizza Sauce
Breakfast, lunch or snack attack – English muffins are a versatile, fun, and easy way to enjoy a quick bite. Try the Whole Grain or Lite versions to amp up the benefits, and the sky is the limit. Quick and convenient whenever you want to eat it! Toasted with nut butter and banana, or avocado and everything seasoning! Kid-friendly – Grab some PICS Pizza sauce and PICS Shredded Mozzarella and make mini English Muffin pizzas! Guaranteed fun for little and big kids 😊
Written by our friends at Green Mountain Energy
2024 is finally here, and with a new year comes new possibilities. As we look forward to the year ahead, we’re making a list of all the things we can accomplish together by making good choices for the planet. No matter where you are on your green journey, we’re here to help you take the next step.
Here are 4 eco-friendly choices you can make today that will have a positive impact on this beautiful planet.
1. Ditch the gas guzzler and drive an EV
Electric vehicles are more affordable than ever these days, so now is the perfect time to ditch your old gas-powered car for one that rides on pure electricity. Transportation is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions in the U.S., so buying an electric vehicle means plugging into a cleaner transportation landscape.
We can even help you out with EV buying experts, charging station maps and 100% solar energy plans tailored for electric vehicle drivers so you can live green and drive clean.
2. Avoid the landfill by composting your food waste
Food scraps and yard waste make up more than 30% of what we throw away. When these organic waste products reach landfills and start to decompose, they release harmful greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, directly contributing to climate change. Why not use them to help your plants and garden grow instead?
3. Leave single-use plastic on the shelf and use reusables
Single-use plastic products like shopping bags and water bottles add tons of unnecessary trash to the waste stream every day. Next time you’re going out shopping, bring along reusable bags and carry a refillable water bottle wherever you go.
4. Shrink your carbon footprint by choosing 100% clean electricity
There’s no way around it: when we make cleaner choices for ourselves, we help make the planet greener. One of the best choices you can make for a cleaner planet is to commit to clean energy for your home.
By powering your home with 100% clean electricity, you’re cutting out one of the biggest sources of carbon emissions in your life. It’s a good choice that supports a healthier planet. When 2025 rolls around, you can say you did your part to help make our planet cleaner and greener.
We’ve partnered with Market 32 to offer a clean energy plan that rewards you with 10,000 AdvantEdge Rewards points ($100 value) after 2 months of service, and 1,000 points ($10 value) every 6 months for as long as you stay on your plan! Learn more here.
Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN, CDN
Eye health is an often-overlooked issue (no pun intended) until something happens to impact or change vision. Loss of vision is a substantial health challenge with significant impacts on quality of life, and the most common diseases have a long, slow development timeline, leaving many not realizing they are headed for vision issues. Nutrition has been a target for research and consumer interest in this field. Research shows some important nutrient roles in maximizing vision functions, but connecting specific nutrients to specific roles in prevention and management of vision issues has been more challenging than expected.
The good news is that we can connect recommendations for eating more produce, managing blood pressure and blood sugar, and enjoying foods that are part of a Mediterranean style of eating to reduced likelihood of chronic vision challenges such as cataracts, macular degeneration, or glaucoma. There is a significant linkage between ensuring heart and artery health is maintained, because all nutrients that have a relationship with protecting vision also need to reach those tissues via a strong cardiovascular system.
Orange flags produce that offers significant amounts of Vitamin A, essential to ensuring eyes can see light and color – carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, and apricots are on the menu for this critical nutrient. Vitamin A also protects against dry eye and has a role in the quality of tears. Antioxidant Vitamin C, found in red peppers, oranges, strawberries, and more, has been correlated with prevention or delay of macular degeneration.
Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids also have roles in eye health, along with bioactive compounds lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in leafy greens, tomatoes and eggs, and are critical to the health of the macula, which is the center of vision function in the eyes. Most of these vitamins and compounds are fat-soluble, meaning they need some healthy fats in food to be absorbed well, which opens the door for delicious foods like avocado, nuts, seafood and olive oil – hopefully, they were all on your grocery list already!
Supplements also have some supportive data and are most beneficial for those with macular degeneration or at risk for it. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 found supplements with specific amounts of the vitamins highlighted have positive benefits when used in conjunction with recommendations from your health care provider. Learn more about that here Vitamins for AMD – American Academy of Ophthalmology (aao.org).
Bottom line – plant-forward, nutrient-rich foods are important to eye and overall health throughout your life. Enjoy them as part of your vision of a healthy future!
Can you believe we are already half way through January? As the new year unfolds, January brings with it a sense of renewal and the opportunity for a fresh start. You may be watching what you eat and watching what you spend. We understand, and we are here to help! At Price Chopper and Market 32, we are excited to propose week three of our wallet-stretching meal options. The line up we have created was with the intention of feeding four people for under $3.50 per person! Let’s dive into this week’s guide.
For a quicker look at the items we chose, check them out below:
1 Market 32 Fresh Whole Chicken
1 Bag Market 32 Baby Carrots
1 Bag Market 32 Russet Potatoes
1 Bag Organic Celery Hearts
1 Bag PICS Frozen Brussels Sprouts
1 Bag PICS Frozen Veggies
2 Loose Onions
1 Bag Pepperidge Farm Buns
1 Bottle Kraft BBQ Sauce
Option 1: Chicken, Potatoes, & Brussels Sprouts
1 Market 32 Fresh Whole Chicken
1 Bag Market 32 Baby Carrots
1 Bag Market 32 Russet Potatoes
1 Bag Organic Celery Hearts
1 Bag PICS Frozen Brussels Sprouts
1 Bag PICS Frozen Veggies
2 Loose Onions
This meal is simple, yet delicious. Bake the chicken by following the steps below. With an abundance of vegetables at your disposal, let your creativity shine! Take the potatoes as an example – you can opt for mashing, baking, roasting, or slicing them to create oven-baked or air-fried French fries. For a more straightforward approach, consider tossing the potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, and Brussels sprouts directly into the pan with the chicken. The possibilities are endless with this combo!
To cook chicken and vegetables:
1 whole chicken, neck and giblets removed.
1 large roasting pan –
Hack: consider lining with aluminum foil for easier cleanup.
Wash baby carrots and 3-5 stalks of celery per chicken. Chop celery into 2-3 inch pieces. Chop onions into chunks. Spray roasting pan or foil with oil, and scatter vegetables in the bottom.
Place chicken on top of the vegetables. Season with salt and pepper, herb blends to taste.
Roast until the food thermometer registers 165 degrees F.
Let chicken rest for 15 minutes before serving.
Option 2: Pulled Chicken Sandwiches with Veggies
1 Market 32 Fresh Whole Chicken
1 Bag PICS Frozen Veggies
1 Bag Pepperidge Farm Buns
1 Bottle Kraft BBQ Sauce
Let’s take a twist on the classic pulled pork sandwich and use pulled chicken instead! Shred the leftover chicken from the first option and mix it with Kraft BBQ sauce (see instructions below). Microwave your PICS Frozen Veggies of choice, and get creative with your leftover potatoes by making fries or chips on the side. Simple, right? Two quick, easy, and cost-effective meals for this week right at your fingertips.
To shred:
While the chicken is still warm, remove skin and remove meat from bones by hand. Place in a bowl and use a hand mixer to shred; alternately, you can shred using two large, sturdy forks.
Hack – Roast 2 chickens at once – save money and time with this roasted chicken hack – cook once, enjoy multiple meals! No change in cooking time when there are 2 chickens in the oven.
Hack – save the chicken bones, celery tops and onion skin and make broth or chicken soup!
Haleigh Eustis
Intern, Digital Marketing
Happy Winter! This time of year can tend to drag on as the days are shorter, temperatures are colder, and people wait patiently for the first signs of spring. That being said, there are plenty of activities to keep yourself occupied as the cold weather thaws away slowly. Easy for all ages to make; let’s create bottle cap snowmen ornaments!
What you need:
1. (3) bottle caps for each snowman
2. White paint
3. Black and orange paint pens (sharpies work too)
4. Small pom-poms (choose any color you’d like)
5. Sheets of felt material (choose any color you’d like)
6. Hot glue gun (glue sticks work too but with better results glue guns are preferred)
7. Winter or holiday ribbon
8. Small buttons (choose any color you’d like)
Let’s begin:
- Before we begin, assemble your ornaments pieces. With your colorful felt you can cut and create small hats, and scarves for your snowman. It’s simple. Just cut out 2D shapes of winter beanies and strips of felt (6/8 inches) for your scarves.
- You will glue those to the front of your snowman.
- Cut your holiday ribbon to a length that is suitable for your liking. Remember, this is going to be used to hang your ornament, so whatever length you cut make sure it’s enough when folded.
- With the bottle caps, you’re going to paint the entirety of it white, front and back! This task may feel tedious, but you’re going to want to repeat this if the white paint is streaking on the first coat. Wait until the paint is completely dry to continue.
- Once your paint is dry, take your markers and draw on the snowman’s eyes, coal and nose.
- Now, assemble all of your pieces together. Start simple: hot glue all your bottle caps together. Glue as you would a chain, from top to bottom, not back-to-back.
- Next, hot glue your ribbon to the back of the snowman’s head. Make sure it’s shaped like a loop so it can hang on hooks or branches!
Make the most of this snowy winter with fun at-home activities!
Mia Teal
Marketing Coordinator, Paid Media
While salads are a very common side dish at the dinner table, making a meal out of a salad can be just as quick, delicious, and even more filling. At Price Chopper and Market 32, we have everything from salad starter kits in the produce section, as well as a wide variety of cheeses, nuts, vegetables, and meat. Not to mention, have you seen our aisle with the salad dressing? It is an understatement to say that there is an option for everybody! Check out some options below on what to put in your next salad.
Fruits &
Vegetables:
Tomatoes
Carrots
Edamame
Avocado
Corn
Peppers
Onions
Olives
Blackberries
Mandarin oranges
Blueberries
Strawberries
Apples
Proteins:
Chicken breast (Grilled or Fried)
Steak
Bacon
Salmon
Shrimp
Tuna
Tofu (Grilled or Fried)
Hard boiled eggs
Chickpeas
Beans
Nuts:
Slivered almonds
Chopped walnuts
Pecans
Pistachios
Sunflower seeds
Cranberries
Cheeses:
Shredded (any variety)
Goat Cheese
Feta Cheese
Blue Cheese
Gorgonzola
Mozzarella
Grains:
Rice
Quinoa
Barley
Toppings:
Croutons
Tortilla strips
Check out some fresh salad recipes!
Power Boost Salad: Need a boost? Try making this salad for lunch to power you through the day.
Grilled Salmon Caesar Salad: A mouthwatering meal you will love! For seafood lovers, try adding in a few pieces of shrimp as well.
Turkey Spinach Salad with Grilled Jalapeño Lime Dressing: Salad with some spice! If you have never tried this combo of ingredients, you need to ASAP!
We are back and excited for week two of our wallet-stretching meal solutions, and we have quite the fiesta lined up! Don’t worry, we have already taken the time to help you plan out three delicious meals this week, including two dinners and one breakfast. Even better, three of the items below have an eCoupon to help you save more money! Without further ado, let’s take a look at the three meal options below.
The three meal ideas were created with the idea of feeding three people for under $3 per meal. Yes, you read that correctly! For a quicker look at the items we chose, check them out below.
-Ground Butterball Turkey (Buy 1lb Get one 1lb free FREE!)
-1 box DeCecco Pasta
-1 jar Ragu Pasta Sauce
-1 bag Green Giant Vegetables, 12oz
-1 Old El Paso Taco Kit (eCoupon!)
-1 jar PICS Salsa (eCoupon!)
-3 Avocados (eCoupon!)
-1 bag PICS Shredded Cheese, 8 oz
-1 can Goya Beans
-1 Arnold Whole Grain Bread
-4 Oranges
Option 1: Ground Turkey Tacos
1 lb Ground Butterball Turkey
Old El Paso Taco Kit
PICS Salsa
PICS Shredded Cheese
1 Avocado
1 can Goya Beans
This meal can be created in a variety of ways. The taco kit provides the shells, seasoning and sauce, so no need to purchase those on their own! We have a variety of PICS Salsas including mild, medium, and hot. Any leftover salsa can be stored in the refrigerator, as well as any leftover Goya Beans and PICS Shredded Cheese. As for the avocado, using one whole avocado is recommended here, and it can be diced, sliced, or mashed. Not only is this a wallet-friendly meal, this is also a fun meal for the whole family to make!
Option 2: Turkey and Pasta
1 lb. Ground Butterball Turkey
1 box DeCecco Pasta
1 jar Ragu Pasta Sauce
1 bag Green Giant Vegetables
The possibilities are endless with this meal. The ground turkey can be browned in a skillet and added to the sauce. DeCecco Pasta and Ragu Pasta Sauce are perfect additions to the turkey, adding in flavor and fun to this Italian-inspired cuisine. To get your greens in, we suggest purchasing Green Giant Vegetables this week that can be found in the refrigerated produce section. We carry a variety of different Green Giant Vegetables, including brussel sprouts and green beans. These bags are microwavable, and only take three minutes to cook. Season with salt, garlic salt, or pepper.
Option 3: Avocado Toast with Oranges
2 Avocados
2 Slices Arnold Whole Grain Bread (per person)
4 Oranges
If you are generally on a time crunch in the morning, then stop what you are doing and check this out! For each person, toast two slices of Arnold Whole Grain Bread, slice 1/2 an avocado, and peel a whole orange. This meal is perfect for those in a hurry!
Now, what about those three eCoupons we mentioned? You can save an extra $1.80 by clipping and redeeming them. Check them out here!
Happy New Year! Notorious for new beginnings, the new year is the perfect time to create new routines, take on a new hobby, travel to a new country . . . and buy a new cheese! Price Chopper/Market 32 is thrilled to announce our January Cheese of the Month: ALPENHAUS® LE GRUYERE® CHEESE. Bring Switzerland to your home with this wonderfully nutty and earthy cheese. Made with nothing but the best ingredients, this smooth and hard cheese is protected by a natural rind that accompanies its briny-dry, slightly piquant flavor.
ALPENHAUS® LE GRUYERE® CHEESE is wonderful on its own and paired with other delicious fruits, such as figs, apples and pomegranate. Best for cooking, LE GREYERE tastes wonderful melted on top of meats and veggies, as well as a decadent fondue or soups. Pair this cheese with a Chardonnay for the perfect start to the year!
Ellie Wilson
MS, RDN Manager, Lifestyles and Wellness
National Gluten Free Day is an annual awareness day for those who must follow a gluten free lifestyle. Launched in 2014, it is intended to raise awareness of the need for a significant number of children and adults to avoid gluten in foods to maintain their best health. Recent statistics include:
– The U.S. gluten free market size reached $6.3 billion in 2022 and is expected to nearly double by 2030.1
-While approximately 1% of the U.S. population has celiac disease, survey data indicates anywhere from 0.5-15% of the population has non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS).2,3 Individuals with NCGS tend to have more non-gastrointestinal symptoms, like headache, brain fog, and joint pain.3
-6% of U.S. consumers follow a gluten free eating plan, according to IFIC’s 2023 Food and Health Survey.4 That’s more than 20 million Americans.
There are many adjustments to make if gluten is a concern for you or a loved one. The first is to ensure an accurate diagnosis for the individual, especially children, as they are growing and have critical nutrient needs that are often supplied by foods that contain gluten, including grain products made from wheat, barley or rye. Be sure you are working with a health care provider, and ideally with a registered dietitian-nutritionist that can help you enjoy eating well and offer a personalized roadmap to navigate sustaining a gluten-free lifestyle, whatever your budget, cooking style, health and family needs may be.
The good news is many foods like fresh produce, meat, and seafood are naturally gluten free. Ancient grains like quinoa, and new products like chickpea-based pasta are convenient and packed with nutrients adults and children needs to stay well. Food labeling meets strict standards to ensure products are gluten free, including PICS and Market 32 items in stores (on package and on the shelf tag), and on the “Ways to Shop” resource on the Price Chopper “Shop Now” website link. Always check labels in case items are not on the right section of the shelf. Keep it fresh and fun with a wealth of gluten free recipes and resources:
Learn more about the ins and outs of eating gluten-free at https://celiac.org/.
Sources:
- Gluten Free Products Market, Vantage Market Research, accessed here on 12/27/2023.
- Caio G, Volta U, Sapone A, Leffler DA, De Giorgio R, Catassi C, Fasano A. Celiac disease: a comprehensive current review. BMC Med. 2019 Jul 23;17(1):142.
- Cárdenas-Torres FI, Cabrera-Chávez F, Figueroa-Salcido OG, Ontiveros N. Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity: An Update. Medicina (Kaunas). 2021 May 24;57(6):526.
- 2023 Food and Health Survey, International Food Information Council, accessed here on 12/27/2023.
The beginning of the year is a time that a lot of people like to rest their fitness and financial goals. Fear not, there is no need to sacrifice your healthy lifestyle to save money. Making smart choices is easier than you may realize!
We would like to highlight BODYARMOR today. Not only is this drink good for you, but it is also good for your wallet. We love BODYARMOR because it offers best in sport hydration, specifically BODYARMOR LYTE and BODYARMOR SportWater. Let’s take a deeper dive into these drinks.
BODYARMOR LYTE is a great way to commit to your fitness journey this year while focusing on hydration, which is important before, during, or after any sweat session. This is a low calorie, ZERO sugar added sports drink made with coconut water. Even better, BODYARMOR LYTE has no artificial flavors or dyes and has potassium packed electrolytes.
Like BODYARMOR LYTE, BODYARMOR SportWater is a great option for hydration. This drink is high in alkaline and electrolytes, which makes it a great drink for your workout.
As for making sure you are making smart choices with your money, BODYARMOR 1-liter bottles are on sale for the month of January, so be sure to clip the eCoupon!