Community Chat

[missy1]

dry white rice

dry beans

hot dogs ...$1 a pack (Bar S)..

bread*

peanut butter*

jelly*

top ramen

pasta*

tortillas 

hot sauce

eggs

potatoes

*store brand

[just bee]

When I was younger it would drive me nuts that my parents spent so much time poring over the weekly store ads.  When I got older and shopped for my mother, she had me running from store to store: Dairy from Store A; bread from Store B; meat from Store C.  Infuriating!

Now that I'm older I find myself doing the same thing.  Better-half and I avoid restaurants and we cook at home.  Take-out is rare, but we haven't given up the occasional pizza or Chinese.  Fast food?  No.  Processed, packaged, "convenience" foods?  Nay.  We buy bulk when it's practical and keep a pantry of basics.  Careful menu planning is key.  Don't buy soda, rarely buy juices.  Snack foods?  I try to avoid those aisles. 

We walk into a grocery store or Costco and suddenly go Amish.  Meat and produce and "dry goods."  Boring, perhaps, but I'm never embarrassed by what we have in the cart.

[deepwaterdotter]

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@ID2 wrote:

Oatmeal! I could eat oatmeal for every meal!  

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Steel-cut oats are a bit more pricey, but the flavor and texture are worth it.

[Noel7]

7 Of The Best Food Blogs For Eating On A Budget

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/11/budget-food-blogs_n_6135100.html

20 Somple Ways To Eat Healthy On A Budget

http://stronglifts.com/20-simple-ways-to-eat-healthy-on-a-budget/

[Lucky Charm]

Quinoa....can be for breakfast lunch and dinner!

[Mominohio]

And let's not forget seeds. Planting and growing your own food is great on many levels.

You know the source and what has been done (or not done) to it. It is fresher than even a farmer's market. You get exercise doing it. It is cheaper than buying.

People don't need huge spaces to grow some of their own produce, and many don't even need to till up the front or back yard. Some plants can be mixed in with flower and shrub beds, other in planters on the deck or balcony. 

If one has never grown food, they might be surprised just how many tomatoes can come from one plant or how many green beans come off the plants of just three or four seeds. 

[Sooner]

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@deepwaterdotter wrote:

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@ID2 wrote:

Oatmeal! I could eat oatmeal for every meal!  

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Steel-cut oats are a bit more pricey, but the flavor and texture are worth it.

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I've tried those and they are good, but I also like to take the thicker cut or non-quick rolled oats and only cook a single serving for maybe about a minute and a half in the microwave.  That way they still have some texture and some chew to them!  Hubby thought I was nuts until he tried it.  They aren't slimy that way.  

Might help if you can't find steel cut or if they are expensive.

[just bee]

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@Mominohio wrote:

And let's not forget seeds. Planting and growing your own food is great on many levels.

You know the source and what has been done (or not done) to it. It is fresher than even a farmer's market. You get exercise doing it. It is cheaper than buying.

People don't need huge spaces to grow some of their own produce, and many don't even need to till up the front or back yard. Some plants can be mixed in with flower and shrub beds, other in planters on the deck or balcony. 

If one has never grown food, they might be surprised just how many tomatoes can come from one plant or how many green beans come off the plants of just three or four seeds. 

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Last year we had a container "salsa" garden: A variety of tomatoes, peppers and a few herbs.  Not a huge investment and it didn't take up much space.  The black cherry tomatoes were amazing.

This works best if you know someone who also has a garden.  You can trade your excess tomatoes for their excess "whatever."

[jaxs mom]

tofu, it's cheap and you can use it tons of ways

I also used to make seitan from scratch when I was veg and vegan

homemade rice milk

I would not buy pasta sauce, you can make that easily from canned whole or crushed tomatoes. In fact just making stuff from scratch instead of buying prepared will save a ton. Make your own stock from a chicken carcass after you eat the meat for dinner. Free stock. 

If you really want to save money, garden. Better produce and a wider selection than is available at the store. 

[jaxs mom]

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@candys mine wrote:

Plain greek yogurt.  Add your own fruit or honey.  It can be a substitute for sour cream.  

Nuts, unsalted  add some to  just about anything.  Good for eating out of hand too.

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And you can ferment your own yogurt for the cost of the milk.