Good day to all. It is wonderful to be here another day. God is good. Hope all are well.
It is 40's this morning and it looks like 70's for today. I will take it. A good day to air out a little and do some outdoor work.
AMEN
I know everyone probably gets tired of me talking about meals and food budgets, but I think it is so important right now. I am lucky to live in a place where many stores are discounting groceries and prices everyday (normal here). I know not everyone has that luxury. Even our local Kroger stores have hundreds or more of groceries at cheaper prices right now (some are higher as well). Still not like they were years ago - but that is life. Inflation is a part of life.
Anyway, we all need to do what we can to keep budgets low and still have good and hearty meals. Especially those with families to feed.
Imagine in this world, that families expect 2 or 3 meals a day, every day! The gall of them! LOL
So, today we talk about making it good and inexpensive as possible.
PLAN - make a plan as well as possible. You may not totally stick to it, but having some sort of plan is important. Even if it is making a whole chicken work for 3 or 4 meals. The more quick runs you make to the store, the more you spend. PLAN first with what you have on hand, then add to that with sales and markdowns as much as possible. Learn to be creative!!!
SIMPLIFY - you don't have to have a bunch of courses to a meal. Keep meals simple yet filling. Add bread or crackers or a salad to your main dish - which helps stretch it out. Ex: a simple casserole that used up all the leftovers and some garlic toast or a small salad. Chili and crackers or cornbread, etc. Tomato soup or whatever you like and a grilled sandwich - very filling and inexpensive. Kiddos and adults alike like a PBJ every now and then - protein and filling!
NEVER WASTE - reuse things up in some way. It may be used at a breakfast or lunch another day, it may be frozen for later on, or it can be reconstructed into something new.
Pretty darn cheap meals and tasty too! Nothing wasted.
Leftover mashed potatoes can be used with additional ingredients to make potato soup - hearty and yummy. They can make potato cakes. Leftover veggies can be pureed and added to spaghetti sauce (extra vitamins) or to a cream of soup (even a can of soup). Small pieces of meat can go into soup, stir fry and added to a sandwich. Add to a scrambled egg for a heartier breakfast................
GROW something - even if you live in an apartment or a condo - you can grow something. Lettuce, green onions, herbs - super easy and they add to your food supply. Look for fresh produce and local if possible. Even grocery store 'fresh' is better than no fresh goods - see if there is a clearance section as well.
Buy INGREDIENTS - instead of packaged foods. I know we all buy some packaged and processed things, but ingredients give you so much more of a variety on things you can make. The 'real' food is more satisfying and filling than the processed stuff.
I know not everyone can spend a lot of money. Some have Ramen budgets. That is ok. Use the Ramen, the pasta, the rice - all inexpensive and can be supplemented with leftovers and odds and ends in the kitchen. Ramen - just don't use that little flavor packet - use your own broth, add veggie and bits of meat leftover. You have a heartier soup that isn't all bad. Add pasta or rice to soups and casseroles. It expends them a lot. Even if there is just a spoonful or two left of something, save it!!!!!! Stick it is a freezer bag or container and at some point, it makes soup! Or stir fry or fried rice or added to spaghetti sauce or pizza............there is no end to the way to use things.
Buy SEASONAL MEATS! What does that mean? Well, when turkey is super cheap at Thanksgiving - get as many as you can for the freezer. Heck, you can't buy lunchmeat for the prices they charge. Buy ham when on sale for Christmas or Easter (usually less than $1/lb.). Stock the freezer. Usually ground beef, hotdogs, smoked sausages, etc. go on sale around summer holidays for picnics and grilling. Chickens go on sale pretty often - get when cheaper and freeze or can for easy future use. Fish generally gets a bit cheaper around Lent.
You may need to adjust what you buy as well. I am not a huge fan of dark meat of poultry - but I am learning. Chicken legs and thighs can usually be found at a much cheaper price than my preferred breast meat. I buy ground beef and other ground meats when I find marked down. I can make burgers, fritters, meatloaf, meatballs, soup, etc. Cheaper than a roast for sure!
I often find pork very inexpensive in my area. I can usually find a nice packet of chops for $5 - many servings. I also look for the sales on loins - .99-1.99/lb. That is a good pound price for any meat. You can make so many things with it.
Eat meat as a side like other food - not a main course! Use lesser amounts in soups and casseroles than recipes call for.
Just remember if things are really tight - you need to fill bellies as well as possible and as cheaply as possible - it may not be a well-rounded meal - but that is ok at times.
GO to food pantries if you need to. Please do not let anything stop you if you need food. They are there for a reason.
Lastly - GIVE THANKS for what you do have!!!
A grateful heart and spirit make most things better.
Even if it is a PBJ sandwich or tuna/crackers or pot of cheaply made potato soup or an egg sandwich or buttered pasta - give thanks.
My favorite phrase this year - GET CREATIVE. It truly does save money!!!!
Have a blessed day my friends.
I do pickup meals all the time. Some nights it is just cheese and crackers. We never had chicken breasts growing up so when I buy chicken it is always thighs or drumsticks. I like dark meat. I know I’ve said this before but we never had dessert with meals so I don’t have them either. (If I have frozen yoghurt on hand, however, I will eat it at any time of day.)
ReplyDeleteI rarely waste food but this week I had to throw away the last two slices of store bought bread because it was moldy. That was a shock. I keep my bread in the refrigerator but I may keep half in the freezer now. I only use about one loaf a month.
I know that food prices have increased a lot but I still see lots of carts with chips, candy and things like K-cups and frozen snacky-type food. If they can afford it, fine (although too much of that is bad) but if they are complaining about food prices they should read your excellent tips over and over! Barbara M.
I have done cheese and crackers as well. Whatever floats my boat. Some days I may be real hungry and some days not. I have always liked white meat - but we usually had legs and thighs growing up. I never really fix a dessert either - maybe I have brownies on hand or cookies or ice cream - but that is a snack.
DeleteI totally agree - if you can buy the bad stuff - then please don't complain about food prices. The bad stuff costs much more than ingredients or real food.
Thank you - I know we always have new people reading, so repeating things is often a good idea.
Chilly day but the sun is coming out now. :)
ReplyDeleteI try to make sure all leftover bits become part of another meal. My "treat" purchase in recent months has been store brand cookies - one after lunch, one after supper. If I make cookies at home I have no willpower and they'll get eaten up quickly. :( Peanuts is a good snack, protein and filling. Fruit with every meal. Plenty of veggies at least two meals per day. Meat as a "side" or seasoning.
People at my work usually buy lunch every day - that's an hour's paycheck, whooosh.
I do buy the 8-packs of cheese/peanut butter crackers and keep one little pack with my work things, just in case I get "the weak trembles" before I can get off for the day. Don't usually need them, but they're good to have on hand just in case.
MaryB
Nothing wrong with buying treats now and then and when you can afford to. Like you, I bake cookies or brownies they sure don't last long. I have no real will power when it comes to sweets - so I try not to have around.
DeleteIt is amazing what people spend daily for a simple meal. You are so right at least an hour of pay. Go out to dinner and good grief and few hours or a days work.
I like cheese crackers and have them around sometimes. You are smart to keep something at your job, just in case.
I keep the cheese/pb cracker supply in a different place, not in my kitchen. So I don't see them often, and don't get tempted. It's been a matter of Will Power and training to eat only one cookie after lunch and one after dinner. If I could not hold to that I'd have to quit buying them altogether. Games we play with ourselves! :D
DeleteMaryB
That is so true - we do play games with ourselves.
DeleteYour advice is badly needed now, so don't quit. I think you should have national readership like dear Abby!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kim. I appreciate the kid words. I just hope someone reads it and needs to hear it!
DeleteThis is a great blog post Cheryl. I'm always looking for new ideas and don't get tired of talking about meals and food budgets. I've put leftover meatloaf in my spaghetti sauce and although Bailey could tell, she and I both liked it. Whenever I make ramen, I always add a can of mixed vegetables to it to bulk it up. You can even make them into stir fry too. You're so right, there is no end to the way to use things.
ReplyDeleteThanks Belinda - I don't get tired of talking food and I am always looking for new ideas too.
DeleteThat is smart to add the meatloaf to spaghetti sauce! Why not? Veggies can really bulk up Ramen and you can get those pretty cheap as well - so an inexpensive meal.
Just a little thought and we can make about anything, with what we have at home.
Such good advice. I have got much better at using leftovers, but it is often the little bit of food that goes in the bin if I am too full at a meal. I need to start saving those bits.
ReplyDelete