Tasty, healthy and inexpensive recipes specially for AmeriCorps

City Year San José/Silicon Valley board member and chef, Sharon Matthews, knows a thing or two about cooking. And as Board Chair of City Year San José/Silicon Valley for the past five years, she’s quite familiar with the AmeriCorps member experience. Understanding that it can be a challenge to grocery shop and find healthy, appetizing meals to cook on a budget, she put together a resource of over 50 recipes specifically with City Year AmeriCorps members in mind. Here’s a snap shot of a few of those meals:

Pumped up ramen

Fall is here and Ramen noodles make the perfect comfort food for those chilly nights. They’re also delicious, easy to make and a staple for anyone grocery shopping on a budget. This Pumped Up Ramen recipe calls for store-bought packets of ramen along with eggs, fresh vegetables and your choice of protein. But most importantly, don’t forget the Sriracha sauce!

Warm up your nights with this excellent ramen recipe!

Strawberries and cream overnight oats

City Year AmeriCorps members work long hours to ensure that their students feel supported and reach their full potential which, of course, means lots early mornings on the go. This simple and tasty recipe for overnight oats will help make those mornings run just a little bit smoother. All you need to do is put five simple ingredients together in a mason jar and refrigerate it overnight. In the morning, you just grab and go!

Make you mornings a little less stressful with this easy breakfast recipe.

Having moved from across the country with virtually no money and only what could fit in my car, this resource was a huge blessing for myself and my household of first year AmeriCorps members. We make virtually all of our meals at home and save a ton of money by meal prepping weekly. We ended up eating a lot healthier, which helped with long days of service. – Kendra Alaniz (San José/Silicon Valley ’20)

Slow cooked BBQ chicken

For folks who work long days, like City Year AmeriCorps members, the slow cooker is truly a life saver. There’s no toiling in the kitchen once you get home, just the satisfaction of knowing that your meal is ready to be enjoyed. This BBQ chicken recipe is can be paired with a variety of sides and will likely yield lots of leftovers!

Come home after a long day to this great BBQ chicken recipe.

Quick and homemade tomato meat sauce

Like Ramen, spaghetti and tomato sauce is a staple for those who are trying to stay within their grocery budget. But if you’re feeling a little adventurous and want to make your own tomato sauce from scratch, this recipe is for you! It uses simple ingredients that are likely already in your pantry to create a hearty tomato sauce for your pasta. Feel free to omit the protein if you’re vegan or vegetarian.

Put a homemade twist on this budget friendly staple with this recipe.

As someone who moved to the Bay area for my year of service, I found the Kitchen Kit provided by City Year San José to be very beneficial. There were many things I had to worry about when transitioning to San Jose and I found it very comforting to have access to these resources and it allowed me to put more of my energy towards my year of service, and for that I am exponentially grateful. – Anissa Mendoza-Green (San José/Silicon Valley ’20)

Learn more about serving with City Year AmeriCorps: