Well, I decided to ask the moms, Kara and Celeste, over at Itty Bitty Bistro if they would ever be interested in maybe putting together some tips on how to feed our little ones on a budget, but how to still keep it healthy and nutritious. Well, they went a step above and beyond, they have actually created a new series on their site called, Itty Bitty Budget” and I will get to share with you the details on these budget friendly meals that are packed full of everything your kids (and us grown-ups too) need to grow healthy and strong.

Now… to zip it and let Kara introduce this fantastic new series and her very first creation…

Over at Itty Bitty Bistro, Celeste and I are doing our best to feed our children well. Too often, though, that leads to recipes containing expensive ingredients. I was thrilled when Penny-Pinching Parent asked us to guest post about feeding children well on a budget – it’s a fun challenge, and my grocery bills could use a trim!

The Itty Bitty Budget series will focus on maximum nutrition for minimum budget… while keeping it kid-friendly! First up, I present Eggs Over Barley. Eggs are a great, cheap protein – and my favorite way to stretch any protein is by combining it with a whole grain. For kids who like rice, barley is a nice change of pace – and it provides a good source of fiber, B-vitamins, and minerals. The onion is too often overlooked as a veggie – it’s full of antioxidants, fiber, folate, and even vitamin C!

1 cup barley – bought from grocery store, not on sale – $0.651
Vidalia onion – bought from grocery store, not on sale – $0.85
6 eggs – bought from Costco – $0.42 (or a mere $0.07 each!)

Alongside our eggs and barley, we had a crunchy romaine salad. We used about 1/3 of a head of romaine, so about $1.00 for the salad.

Total cost of dinner – $2.92

Be sure to check out Itty Bitty Bistro for the complete recipe!