(those pictured are silicone with bamboo handles) and give it another go. Surprise! You've stretched that jar of peanut butter one sandwich further.
Over on the Attainable Sustainable Facebook page, I posted this video of Robyn O’Brien discussing America’s food system at TEDxAustin. It’s a very compelling video in which Ms. O’Brien offers a calm and concise look at the foods we’re feeding our families. For instance, did you know that genetically engineered corn is regulated by the EPA as an insecticide because it releases insecticides as it grows? Tortilla chips, anyone?
After seeing the video, Sophia, one of my Facebook followers wrote: How can the average (poor) family of five eat on healthier food? I’m wanting to, but stumped.
It’s a valid question. Learning about some of the atrocities in our supermarkets is the surest way to convince oneself that organic is the way to go. But organic food is expensive. It’s a sad day when food grown and prepared naturally is the alternative and not the norm, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.
I live in a state that is notorious for its high food prices, so I’m all too aware just how costly it is to eat well on the cheap, but some of my tactics may work for you:
Stop buying food products and start buying real food. Crackers (much as we love them), boxed cereal, and packaged granola bars are a food product, even if they’re organic – and they’re expensive. Swapping to organic cereal may eliminate some contaminants from your diet, but it’s still not real food. Instead, try homemade breakfast alternatives like granola, oatmeal, or muffins. Snack on baby carrots, apples, and sunflower seeds.
Shop the bulk food aisle. The bulk food aisle at my health food offers primarily organic versions of dry beans, pasta, nuts, and seeds. Sold by the pound, these items are generally less expensive than their packaged counterparts, saving you money and creating less waste, as long as you bring your own bags.
Buy in season. Fruits and vegetables are less expensive when they’re in season in your region. Indulge like crazy when strawberries are in season and then let it go. Buying strawberries from South America is expensive and terrible for our environment, not to mention not sustainable at all.
Visit farmers markets. If your community has more than one, check them all out. I find that some cater to a higher end crowd, and thus have higher prices. Find the market that has the best prices and frequent that one.
Make friends with a gardener. Successful gardeners generally have an abundance to share. Offer to help in the garden or barter a skill you have in exchange for surplus vegetables.
Grow some of your own food. If you’re new to gardening, there is an initial investment in getting set up as you work to either amend soil or fill pots with potting mix, but in the long run it will save money. Let’s say you spend $5 on a bag of potting soil and salvage a pot or bucket for planting in. Spend $2 on a packet of lettuce seeds, sow them, and in a month’s time (give or take) you’ll be rewarded with multiple heads of lettuce. If you’re paying $2 for a head of lettuce, you only need to grow four to recoup your costs – after that, it’s essentially a free salad.
Cook double. Instead of making one lasagna, make two and freeze one for another night. Make twice as many pizza doughs as you’ll need and freeze the excess. Frozen meals will save you on busy nights, eliminating the what’s-for-dinner panic and preventing an unexpected expense for take out. This not only saves time and money, but it saves energy as well.
Eat less meat. Unless you raise your own or have access to an inexpensive meat source, buying meat is expensive. Buying sustainable meat is even more expensive. If you’re a meat loving household (as mine is) Meatless Monday is a good inspiration and offers up a variety of meatless recipes.
Learn to love beans. They’re filling and cheap. Homemade chili and refried beans are an inexpensive meal option. If you’ve been buying canned versions of these, switching to homemade allows you to avoid the BPA that comes from the lining of the cans and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the savings.
Stop snacking. We are a nation of snackers, but it’s an expensive habit. This is one we’re still working on, but I’m inspired by a friend of mine who just simply doesn’t provide snacks. Her family eats meals and the kids are expected to fill themselves and make it to the next meal. It’s old fashioned, but it works.
Now it’s your turn. What tactics do you use to cut costs on your food budget while still eating a healthy, sustainable diet?
Some of my favorite comfort foods as a child are very cheap meals. I love a pot of brown beans & cornbread! Yummm… I have to confess we do put a 1/2 inch slice of cheap ham during the last hour of cooking. Then I just love it with chopped sweet onions and buttery cornbread fresh from the oven.
Since I only cook for two I try to stretch out the meat we do eat. Day one is roasted chicken then I debone what is left over and turn into chicken n dumplins another cheap meal that adds veggies… if you have left over veggies from your chicken roast.
Since my husband is English we must have Sunday Roast. This consists of a cheap joint of beef which I cook in the slow cooker. We usually have cabbage, carrots, roasted or mashed tatters…the left overs the next day all get thrown into one large frying pan for Bubble n Squeek. I put about 2 tsp butter in the frying pan then put in all the veggies and cut the left over meat into bite size chunks. Fry it all up till it gets that golden crust. (you have to know when to leave it alone to get golden) then put it onto plates and put a bit of gravy over it….serve with Yorkshire puddings another super cheap easy thing to fix and yummmmmm our favoritest meal of all!!!
Got me all hungry now… tonight however is a special treat. Salmon baked in parchment paper with bernaise, roasted tatties and chopped greens! (South meets England!)
Michele, I love your English Sunday roast! When I roast a chicken, I can get a couple meals out of it, plus I won’t throw the carcass away until I’ve simmered it for stock/broth. Same with my Thanksgiving turkey!
A couple years ago when money was beyond tight, I did this thing we jokingly called “adventures in pantry,” where I made do with what was in the house (we live in a somewhat remote rural area … so if it isn’t in the house, you’re not having it for dinner). We tried to see just how long I could go without going to the grocery store or food warehouse. And, the truth is …. you can go much longer than you think.
So, rather than shopping every X days out of habit … only shop when you really need to.
These days, I’m getting better at stocking up when certain things are on sale so that my more regular trips to the store are much smaller.
Roxanne @ Champion of My Heart recently posted..Dog Fear Isn’t Funny or Cute
Roxanne, That sounds like good practice for emergency living, too. It would certainly help you realize what’s missing from your larder!
When buying fresh, buy less, or at least just what you need. So much produce can go to waste if not eaten before it spoils and when you think about all the time, effort, and resources that go into growing organic crops…well, it just makes sense to buy what you need/know you can eat.
sarah henry recently posted..A Planner who Favors Edible- Eco Education- and Risks
I know someone who considers Sunday her vegetable broth day. Any vegetables that are less than fresh in her crisper go into the stock pot.
I’ve been following this banana diet (http://www.goodhealthmedicine.com/weight-loss-andbananas.html) thing for two months now. With this article I can be able to live a healthy life. Great article. I hope to read more from your posts.