How to turn $20 worth of Trader Joe’s ingredients into a meal for 4

Friday, July 21, 2023

CNBC Make It Life helps you lead a healthier, richer and more fulfilling lifestyle.
By Aditi Shrikant

How the creator of Black Girls in Trader Joe's turns $20 of ingredients into dinner for 4

Mercedes "Dee" Davis, an avid lover of Trader Joe's, grew a loyal following of her own after sharing her go-to products from the quirky grocery store on her Instagram page. This inspired her to create an online space called "Black Girls in Trader Joe's" where she shares her favorite buys and recipe ideas.

While a walk through the aisles can offer up a nearly endless supply of dinnertime options, there is one meal in particular that Davis says is easy to whip up for a family of four and costs $50 or less: tacos.

Davis suggests these Trader Joe's ingredients to make family style chicken tacos:

BBQ Teriyaki Chicken (skip the sauce if you'd like): $5.99
1 bag of white rice or brown rice: $2.99 to $4.49
Taco shells: $2.49
Shredded cheese: $4.49
Jar of salsa: $2.99

Altogether, the meal costs less than $20 before taxes. "That's way under $50, and even if you got two bags of chicken and did that, that's still plenty for a family of four," says Davis.

How to Talk to People: 4 positive phrases parents of successful kids use

When you're overtired or irritated, it can be difficult to stay positive while responding to your child. Still, what you say — and how you say it — matters, according to parenting expert and "Coach Parenting" author Erika Katz.

Addressing them with empathy and kindness can help mitigate anxiety, self-doubt and low self-esteem as they grow.

Here are four scenarios where you may get frustrated with your kid, and what to say, according to Katz.

When they started their chores but didn't finish them all: "You did such a great job [completing one task]. Why don't we also ... ?"
When they're showing aggressive behavior: "I know you're upset, but you may not [hit, bite, kick, etc.]."
When they're struggling with their homework: "You did [this other assignment] really well. I know you can do another one."
When you didn't handle their emotions with care: "I apologize. I wasn't being sensitive to you."

Starting with the positive before you get to the negative is the most effective approach, according to Katz. "Find something good [that they did] before you jump into what can be improved upon," she says.

'Oppenheimer' sets record as longest IMAX movie

The IMAX theater at AMC Lincoln Square 13 on New York's Upper West Side features one of the biggest screens in the country, measuring 97 feet wide and 76 feet tall. Starting this week, it will be one of only 30 theaters in the world screening Christopher Nolan's latest blockbuster "Oppenheimer" in 70-millimeter IMAX film.

David Keighley, executive vice president at IMAX, invited CNBC Make It into the projectionist booth at the venue to show off the 600-pound, 11-mile-long film reel for Nolan's three-hour epic about the story behind the nuclear bomb.

While it's known as the gold standard in the industry, 70 mm is rarely used. The last movie to receive a 70mm IMAX release was Nolan's "Tenet" in 2020, and due to pandemic restrictions, only 11 theaters were able to screen it.

It almost wasn't possible to display "Oppenheimer" in Nolan's preferred format. The movie is three hours long, resulting in a reel that was too big to fit on the platter designed to hold IMAX film.

When the director informed Keighley that his newest film was going to be 15 minutes longer than the previous longest IMAX movie "Interstellar," IMAX had to improvise. "We engineered those extensions [to the platter]," Keighley explains. "We changed some bolts and some things and were able to make it so that he could realize his dream of three hours in IMAX."

The effort, it seems, was worth it. Keighley has worked on more than 500 films over his 51 years at IMAX, and "this is in the top five," he says. "When you see the bomb go off, you will feel the bomb go off not just in your ears, but in your chest."

My dad's rules for a happy life

Christie Daley's dad, a successful banker and Army veteran, would have been 82 this year.

He survived cancer for more than 25 years, before ultimately passing away from it in 2012. As Daley, who is now the director of digital analytics for NBCUniversal News Group, grew up, she watched him carefully prepare her four siblings and her for a future without him.

Here are three of his rules for a happy, meaningful life, according to Daley:

1. Quit whining and get the job done

"My dad always focused on being constructive rather than complaining about things that were beyond his control," she says. "Part of his perspective was shaped by his journey with cancer. He worked throughout his treatment, and planned chemotherapy for Fridays so he could rest and recover over the weekend."

2. Take your time to give thoughtful responses

"Despite his objections to complaining, my dad never dismissed my feelings or concerns," she says.

"He always enjoyed hearing about my early career stories over dinner. Each time I came home from work and vented to him, he'd listen attentively without immediately responding. Often, he'd stop by my room hours later and suggest how I could handle a situation I'd mentioned earlier. I always appreciated that he put so much consideration into my concerns."

3. Come home for dinner

"My parents had five children over the course of 20 years," she says. "We all remember our dad coming home for my mom's home-cooked meals every night. Knowing how to balance his time was how he found happiness in life."