Healthy, Frugal Food?

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version

   We are needing to go on a very tight budget so I'm looking for ways to cut back wherever I can. I don't usually spend a lot on food, and make most things from scratch, but I'm looking for ways to do even better. So, what do you do to keep your food budget low? What are some of your favorite low-cost but healthy and filling meals? I'm a vegetarian but DH is a meat and potatoes guy - he's much better about veggies than he used to be, but he still requires more "substance" to a meal than I do. 
How do you cut costs as much as possible but not resort to subsisting on cheap imitations of real food?

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version
horseymama Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'inductee Member Rating(1) Beginner Pinner 264 days Joined: 01 Mar 2009 Posts: 166	Quote Reply Topic: Healthy, Frugal Food? Posted: 03 Nov 2009 at 12:43pm
	We are needing to go on a very tight budget so I'm looking for ways to cut back wherever I can. I don't usually spend a lot on food, and make most things from scratch, but I'm looking for ways to do even better. So, what do you do to keep your food budget low? What are some of your favorite low-cost but healthy and filling meals? I'm a vegetarian but DH is a meat and potatoes guy - he's much better about veggies than he used to be, but he still requires more "substance" to a meal than I do. How do you cut costs as much as possible but not resort to subsisting on cheap imitations of real food?
	Daughter of God, wife to my wonderful DH, mom to beautiful DD "C" 9/2/09 and my angel baby 1/8/08


renataka Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'insightful Yearlong Pinner 1 year 165 days Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Location: Silicon Valley Posts: 1223	Quote Reply Posted: 03 Nov 2009 at 3:06pm
	I recently got to try an awesome dish at a potluck called Kushari - it's Egyptian comfort food. Lentils, rice, garbanzo beans, macaroni noodles. Topped with a spicy tomato sauce and caramelized onions. It's really stick-to-your-ribs and delicious. There are a million recipes out there - just google around. I also like ma pa tofu. Here's a simple recipe with nice pictures. I augment with frozen edamame and frozen peas at the very end to add more green. If you haven't already, get rid of juice/soda/alcohol/bottled water. Same thing with snacks like pretzels, chips, sweets. Edited by renataka - 03 Nov 2009 at 3:10pm
	Rena, mom to The Barbarians Sept05 and Feb07. Call us if you need anything destroyed!

Sweetbliss Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List P'insightful Perennial Pinner 4 years 309 days Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 2789	Quote Reply Posted: 04 Nov 2009 at 12:31am
	We like to use meat mainly as "flavoring" in our house - such as some ground beef in spaghetti sauce, turkey kielbasa in lentil soup, etc.... Keeping the meat to those smaller amounts saves a lot. We eat a lot of beans - a lot of rice.... My husband really likes corn chips and beans. Perhaps you can find a cheap snack your hubby particularly likes and get extra of that....
	Mommy of Peanut, Lumpy, Bug, and Muffin Diapers for sale

Dec1st Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'inductee Yearlong Pinner 1 year 104 days Joined: 06 Aug 2008 Location: Saskatoon Posts: 137	Quote Reply Posted: 05 Nov 2009 at 2:14pm
	Mac and cheese in individual dishes, then add a couple of oz of ham to his.
	Erin B: mom to Ellie, Step mom to the best two preteen girls in the world, wife to an amazing man