It’s no secret that I like food. I love to cook, and I enjoy preparing healthy and delicious meals for my family. The biggest challenge in getting food on the table around here is our budget. We want to eat tasty, wholesome foods but like many families, we have a fairly limited grocery budget. Today I decided to look into things that families can do to help their grocery dollars stretch as far as possible without sacrificing nutrition or taste.
Anyone can slash their grocery bill by eating a lot of ramen noodles and other cheap, heavily processed foods. The problem is that these foods are often loaded with salt, sugar, preservatives, dyes, and other chemicals that some of us feel that we would be better off not eating. Fortunately, there are a few things that we can do to reconcile our tight budgets with our desires to eat well.
There are some foods that are available at low prices even when they are not on sale. These essentials can be used as a base for many nutritious and healthy recipes. Many varieties of dried beans, for example, cost under a dollar and a half per pound. They do take a little time to prepare, but most of the prep time is soaking them and simmering them, so it is largely hands – off. Beans can be used in chili, soup, casseroles, and many other ways. They have lots of fiber and protein to help you stay full and they are low in fat. Rice is another versatile, low cost ingredient that is available in many varieties.
Fruits and vegetables can be tricky. It seems as though the cost of many produce items has gone up lately. Avocados sell for $2.50 each around here, among other things. Fortunately, it is summertime and your local growers have been busy planting and tending to local produce that you can buy at farm stands and farmers’ markets, often for less than at the grocery store. I also use a lot of frozen vegetables, which are easy to stock up on when they go on sale. Frozen vegetables are almost as nutritious as fresh, and they are very easy to prepare.
Meat and dairy are probably the most challenging items to find for a good price if you are looking for good quality. We have been eating a lot of naturally raised ground turkey instead of beef, because organic beef is very expensive. Ground turkey is versatile and nutritious, and may cost about the same as hamburger, depending on sales and prices in your area.
Meal planning and making a grocery list are also important things that can help you get the most nutritious food for your money. A tight budget does not have to prevent you from feeding your family the way that you want to. With a little effort and planning, you can eat well without going broke. Do you have other eat-well-for-less tips? I would love to hear about them.
Photo by jdurham on morguefile.com.