"You Don't Need a Silver Fork To Eat Good Food" —Chef Paul Prudhomme 

Whether you're going through tough times financially or just want to eat well without spending a lot of money, we have books and other resources to recommend. If you are a New York State resident and don't yet have a NYPL card, you can get a digital card via our SimplyE app.

 

100 Days of Real Food on a Budget: Simple Tips and Tasty Recipes to Help You Cut Out Processed Food Without Breaking the Bank by Lisa Leake

Lisa Leake wanted to overhaul her family's diet by eliminating processed foods.  Discover how she was able to accomplish this affordably. 

 

 

 

Plant-Based on a Budget:Delicious Vegan Recipes for Under $30 a Week in Less than 30 Minutes a Meal by Toni Okamoto

Toni Okamoto decided to follow a vegan diet while living paycheck to paycheck.  She found out that eating vegan was not only good for her health, but also her finances. 

 

 

 

 

Ten Dollar Dinners: 140 Recipes to Elevate Simple, Fresh Meals Any Night of the Week  by Melissa D'Arabian

Food Network Star Melissa D'Arabian shows how you can put together family-friendly meals for less than $10 per meal. 

 

 

 

 

Well Fed, Flat Broke: Recipes For Modest Budgets and Messy Kitchens by Emily Wight

As a mother to a picky eater, Emily Wright features dishes with an international flair that will please kids and adults alike.

 

 

 

30-Minute Frugal Vegan Recipes: Fast, Flavorful Plant-Based Meals on a Budget by Melissa Copeland

Melissa Copeland creates vegan meals using pantry staples, such as pasta and beans that are easy to locate and easy on the budget. 

 

 

 

Keto Simple: Over 100 Low-Carb Recipes That Are Easy on Time, Budget and Effort by Martina Slajerova

Keto diet cookbook author Martina Slajerova shows that living a Keto lifestyle doesn't have to be time consuming or expensive.

 

 

 

 

Budget Bytes: Over 100 Easy, Delicious Recipes to Slash Your Grocery Bill in Half by Beth Moncei

During the 2008 recession, nutritional scientist Beth Moncei decided not to let her financial troubles get in the way of eating well.  She was able to cut her food budget by using these simple and delicious recipes. 

 

 

 

Gluten-Free on a Shoestring: 125 Easy Recipes for Eating Well on the Cheap by Nicole Hunn 

Studies show that eating gluten-free can cost up to three times more than a traditional diet.  Nicole Hunn offers gluten-free recipes to stay on your diet and in your budget.

 

 

 

 

Cook Once, Eat All Week: 26 Weeks of Gluten-Free, Affordable Meal Prep to Preserve Your Time and Sanity by Cassy Joy Garcia

Nutrition consultant Cassy Joy Garcia teaches easy meal prep techniques that can not only save  time, but money too.  All meals are gluten-free.

 

 

 

Taste of Home Affordable Eats: 100+ All Time Favorites that Won't Break the Bank by Taste of Home

The editors at Taste of Home magazine compiled over 100 comfort food recipes that will leave your mouth and wallet happy. 

 

 

 

Resources for Food Assistance

New York City Department of Education Meal Hubs
Free meals for all New Yorkers, regardless of age. 400 Meal Hubs across NYC.

Food Bank NYC
Find food pantries, soup kitchens, and senior centers throughout NYC.

Comida Gratis
Recursos alimenticios en Espanol  (Free food resources in Spanish).

NYC Emergency Food Assistant Program
Get emergency food help in NYC ASAP

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Information about and application for the SNAP program.  Available in multiple languages. 

Hunger Free America
Neighborhood guides for food assistance.  Available in multiple languages. 

Get Food NYC
Get Food NYC COVID-19 Emergency Food Distribution 

City Meals on Wheels
Weekend, holiday, and emergency meal delivery service for aging New Yorkers

Hunter College NYC Neighborhood Food Resource Guide
Find food resources in your neighborhood. 

Good and Cheap Cookbook: Eat Well on $4 a Day by Leanne Brown
Free downloadable cookbook. (Also available via NYPL in English and Spanish)

 

---

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!