Meals with Maria – Your Budget-Friendly Culinary Companion
Welcome to Meals with Maria! I’m Maria, a passionate home cook with a mission to help you create delicious meals on a budget. As a wife and mom of three boys, I know how important it is to make every dollar count without sacrificing taste or quality.
How it All Started
My culinary journey began as a child when I read Ramona and Beezus, which sparked my desire to cook for my family. I became hooked on experimenting with flavors, ingredients, and techniques to create meals that were both affordable and tasty. However, my journey didn’t truly take shape until much later.
In 2020, I left my career in financial analysis to pursue something I truly loved: budget cooking. I started a YouTube channel to share my passion and help others cook delicious meals without breaking the bank. My experience as a financial analyst, combined with my love for cooking, gave me the unique ability to help others save money on groceries while still enjoying great food.
In 2021, I read the book Real Food for Pregnancy, which completely opened my mind to proper nutrition and the impact that food and ingredients have on our health. This was a turning point in my journey. I started diving deeper into the ingredients in the food we were eating, and I began noticing all the chemicals and additives in our everyday meals. It became clear that I wanted to make a change—not just in the way I cooked, but in the way we approached food as a family.
After a year of research and experimentation, I made the life-changing decision to eliminate chemicals, seed oils, and added sugars from our home cooking. I still eat at restaurants and enjoy holidays with my family, but my goal is to eat as much food made from whole, natural ingredients as possible, while keeping it manageable and not overly restrictive.
In 2025, I made a full commitment to living chemical-free, seed oil-free, and added sugar-free in our home cooking, but I wanted to make sure it was still budget-friendly. After all, many of these clean food products cost 3+ times as much as their conventional counterparts. I love sharing this journey with you because I want you to know that eating clean, whole foods doesn’t have to be expensive. You can enjoy delicious meals, make the change, and do it without breaking the bank.
How it’s Going!
As I continue to explore this healthy eating journey, my focus remains on sharing budget-friendly recipes and meal planning tips that help families eat whole foods while still being financially mindful. Whether it’s a simple weekday dinner or a special occasion meal, I provide practical and delicious recipes that can fit into any budget.
I love helping others take the same steps I took in creating meals that are not only nourishing but affordable. From budget-friendly meal ideas to grocery shopping tips, you’ll find everything you need to start making simple, healthy meals at home—without worrying about chemicals or additives.
I’m So Excited You Are Here!
Join me on this culinary adventure as we explore how to cook budget-friendly meals with clean, whole ingredients. Let’s unlock the secrets to creating delicious meals without breaking the bank and make cooking at home a fun, fulfilling experience. With Meals with Maria, you’ll discover how to cook gourmet meals on a budget and feel confident about the food you’re feeding your family.