When the groceries are bare and you are doing what you can to stretch that last paycheck to cover meals, it becomes a matter of not getting what groceries you want, but what groceries your family needs.
In general, starches (carbohydrates) are easy enough to get for little money. There is brown rice, enriched pasta, potatoes, corn meal and flour to be had for very little money, especially if you buy generics or in bulk. Protein sources, on the other hand, can be a little more difficult to get inexpensively. Your food dollar won’t stretch as far with protein sources usually, as it will with starches.
But protein is important. It will build muscle and help your body function. Here are some of my favorite protein sources to find. You can take advantage of these sources when you are really in a desperate situation, or you can incorporate them into a normal meal plan in order to save money.
Nuts
Peanuts can usually be had, for well, peanuts. Choose whole peanuts for the best savings. Yes, they do have some fat, but they are also loaded with protein and the fat they do have is good fat. Snack on peanuts or add them to a vegetarian stir fry or salad. There are other nuts available, of course, but they are generally more expensive.
Peanut Butter
And after peanuts, the next logical step is peanut butter. Peanut butter with a little bit of real jam and a glass of milk makes a very nutritious meal for very little money. If you find yourself having to make hard choices about feeding your kids, you can’t go wrong here.
Beans
Dried beans are usually the cheapest you can get, but canned beans can be inexpensive, too. Put together a number of bean dishes to get that protein. from vegetarian chili to cold salads, beans are a great source of protein. When paired with brown rice, the meal will be even more delicious.
Eggs
Go for generic eggs, and you can eat practically all of the protein that you want. Discount grocery stores, such as Aldi’s offer really inexpensive eggs. You can also catch frequent sales on eggs at the grocery store.
Chicken or Turkey
Buying a whole bird when it is on sale, you’ll spend a bit more than the suggestions above, but you’ll get a lot of protein for your money. The trick is to put it all to use. Eat the dark meat as well as the white meat, boil the bones for soup, etc.
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!
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