Last post, we talked about some ways to change your general shopping habits in order to save you money on your shopping bill. These included writing out a list, planning ahead, learning what are real deals and what are just steals, and several other guidelines that can slash your budget by a great deal. These are good for both food, and non-food items, however, and not the specific ideas you may have been looking for.
This post will give a few pointers for actual cheap food ideas. They will also give you ideas for healthy meals, which will help you to lose weight or keep your weight down, control cholesterol and high blood pressure, and generally make you feel and look better. Some of these foods will even help with the look of your skin and hair…what benefits!
Keep in mind, though, that not all of the tips will lead to healthy cooking, and the main point is to show you a few ways to feed your family for less. Sometimes, that means keeping away from food that is specifically low calorie, but will still be good for you, on the whole. At least in comparison to the frozen, over processed, reheated cardboard and lard that are becoming the norm in the West.
• Tip Number Eleven – Stay with the Fresh
I have heard a rather bizarre saying in the last several years, and it still is difficult for me to believe: it is too expensive to buy fresh food. People seem to be under the mistake impression that buy fresh meats, produce, and other foods are way more costly than grabbing something that has been dipped in sugar and fat, fried, frozen, and then sold in boxes and bags.
I really don’t understand where this started. Perhaps it just came from someone who wanted a reason to stay in the frozen food aisle, or in the fast food joint. But it is, categorically, false. While it might seem like you are spending more on food when you buy it fresh, you are actually getting significantly more than if you bought the frozen stuff.
For example: a pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts is around $1.99. Seem more expensive than a bag of frozen chicken? One bag of frozen Tyson chicken, which is usually breaded and fried, costs around $7.00, for as little as a pound and a half. Not only does it cost much more, but it is less healthy. All of that is a lot to pay for a tiny bit of convenience.
Another example is produce. An entire bag of apple, usually five pounds, will cost around $3.00. Five pounds is between 10 – 15 apples. Oranges cost around the same, for the same weight and amount. A large melon costs around $0.99, and can be chopped up and kept in the fridge. Two large containers of strawberries is around $4.00. Two pounds of broccoli is $2.50, and an entire head of cauliflower is $1.50.
The things you can get, and for the price, will depend on your location and where it came from. If you buy local foods, especially from a farmers market, the prices can be half of what is given above.
• Tip Number Twelve – Learn the Joys of Dried Foods
I once went to a class given by a woman named Sheryl. In this class, she claimed to be able to feed an entire family of four on $160 per month. I was skeptical, but as it turns out, she was able to do it…and did. Now, I don’t follow by her methods (I believe in cheap and fast, but her methods aren’t always efficient). However, she had one fantastic tip that literally slashed a quarter off of my monthly food costs: dehydrated foods.
She gave a list of legumes, additions, beans, nuts, rices, wheat, barley, and a number of other non-perishable items that work wonders at creating a meal or side, and for a very low cost. Out of everything she suggested, my favorites are black beans, red beans, brown rice, popcorn, Chinese noodles, and dehydrated onions.
Every one of these things can be bought in bulk from grocery stores, warehouse stores, wholesalers, and canneries. Here in Utah, where I live, we have the Deseret Industries cannery, which will allow you to can large tins of these items for yourself, for emergency or daily use. They cost, literally, pennies on the dollar, and can really spread far.
• Tip Number Thirteen – Get it Bone-In
Did you know that getting boneless meat costs as much as three times less than with the bone still in? From beef to chicken, you are paying a lot of cash to take that bone out, and it doesn’t actually do you much good, unless you are cooking something that specifically calls for boneless, skinless, trimmed meat.
A package of chicken legs or thighs, with around two to four pounds of meat a piece, can cost as little as $2.50 a pack. This will depend on where you go, of course, but this is a common price seem from Kroger to Whole Foods. These can be thrown into a crock pot and slow roasts over the day, or naked in the oven, or on the grill. All you need is a little marinade, and it will taste as good as a restaurants.
Though, you may want to remove the skin yourself.
• Tip Number Fourteen – Buy Roasts of Whole Chicken
They might seem expensive, but a good pork or beef roast can spread really far, for a rather cheap price. A boneless pork roast is great if you are looking for something to put on sandwiches, which will be sure to yield leftovers. Beef roast is good in smaller amounts, to be used in any number of recipes.
But the best is a whole chicken, which can be slow cooked, then pulled apart and frozen, to be used in various meals. They usually only cost a few dollars a piece.
• Tip Number Fifteen – Join a Co-op
Almost every city will have a group or organization that owns a co-op. This is a way of working for a certain amount of food each week, two weeks, or month; you may also work to get better prices on items. The maximum amount asked of most workers is two to three hours of service per 30 days, and with that you get an entire month of cheap produce, sometimes even free.
Stay tuned for part three, which will offer you recipes.
By: Olivia Anderson