Shoestring Meals Budget friendly ideas for healthy eating

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Old 06-23-2010, 03:10 PM   #16  
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Originally Posted by Suzyszoo View Post
I am a canner. Grow my own veggies, can 'em up! Make my own jams and jellies, pickles, applesauce...

I buy a cow from a neighbor, and that feeds my family for the year.

We love to fish, so I freeze, can or smoke all the salmon I can get my hands on. Last summer I canned up 10 cases of salmon.

My weekly food budget for myself and my 5 kids is minimal. It's a lot of work, but so worth it in the end.
Wow that sounds amazing, I wish I was that self-sufficient.
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Old 06-23-2010, 03:15 PM   #17  
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My salad spinner cost me $10 and saves me a fortune on spinach and salad greens. It seems time consuming and a pain, but it's not and the quality is so much better.

I also "shop around". I get my produce and meat from Sunflower Market, which is local, fresh, and cheap and I get everything else at the chain. I have cut my bill in half doing this.

And I also buy dry goods in bulk (beans, rice, couscous, etc..)

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Old 06-23-2010, 03:17 PM   #18  
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If you go in the last hour (11-12), you can get some really good deals as the vendors mark down stuff they don't want to load back in the trucks...they start filling up bags with stuff and selling them for a dollar or two.
I love doing this. So many great deals to be had if you wait it out
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Old 06-23-2010, 03:49 PM   #19  
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Buy fruits/veggies in season.

Shop Asian/international markets if you have them. I went yesterday and got 4 big bags of fruits/veggies for under $30.

Ditch the soda or other beverages.

Buy in bulk where you can. We buy organic beans, nuts and grains in bulk, much cheaper than buying the prepackaged stuff.
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Old 06-23-2010, 04:39 PM   #20  
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Measuring foods can conserve. If I eyeball oatmeal, I tend to take larger servings than if using measuring cups. Saves pennies and calories.
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Old 06-23-2010, 05:29 PM   #21  
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I like to sprinkle a bit of soy sauce on chicken when I bake it for some extra flavour, but due to a gluten allergy I have to get wheat free soy sauce. Tamari is soy sauce that is wheat free is twice the cost of it's regular soy sauce (and the tiniest bottle ever)! 8.99 versus 3.99 is a big jump just to have them leave the wheat out

So I went to the health store today and got some Bragg's soy water, it tastes the same, naturally wheat free, and 10 bucks for a mazzive bottle.

I know this isn't really a 'healthy' eating tip, but if your looking for cheap and wheat free soy sauce this stuff is great

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Old 07-11-2010, 12:46 PM   #22  
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Definitely planning ahead. I used to buy shopping then cook what I was in the mood for, and I threw a lot out. The family would often finish work, not be bothered to come up with a meal and get a really unhealthy takeaway. By planning a week's menu, we only buy what we will use, use up what we buy, waste is minimised and we don't spend anything on takeaways or restaurants these days.

And without a doubt, always cooking meals from scratch. I haven't gone near a microwaveable meal in at least a couple of years.

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Old 07-11-2010, 01:29 PM   #23  
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Make food from scratch. Pre-made, pre-packaged usually costs more and has lots of stuff in it that isn't healthy.

A tablespoon or two of frozen apple juice in seltzer water is a good method to get away from soda pops.

Grow some things. Herbs are easy and a nice way to feel successful as a gardener. I live in zone 7B and tomatoes, okra, and peppers grow well in containers here.

Look for sales and bulk discounts.

Trade with neighbors.

Weighing and measuring does help reduce waste.

Make sure highly perishable food is eaten, frozen, or canned. In other words, no food gets thrown out.

Eat at home rather than buying cooked food from a store, café, restaurant, etc.
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