Frugal Healthful Food

It is almost the end of September and I still have money left in my food envelope so I have nearly made it through the month on $600.  It wasn't too hard really.  Eating out declined sharply for us.  I had much less coffee out.  I packed cheap lunches -- a la pbj for everyone.  I still bought organic milk (with the Organic Valley coupon).  I did make more conscious choices to have less expensive dinners.  The kids seem to prefer a light dinner of bread, cheese, and fruit anyway.  We took advantage of the u-pick apple farm and bought 42 pounds of apples at 35 cents/pound.  They were deeelicious and provided many side dishes -- apple sauce in the crockpot, fried apples with breakfast, apple pie, dried apples, and apple fruit leather and of course just apples.

Here are some general tips on eating green and healthy on a budget:
1) Don't buy organic junk food.  If you are going to eat chips, just eat chips and don't waste your money.
2) Eating out is the most expensive.  If you can substitute ready made healthy food for eating out you save.  If you can substitute a mix for ready made, you save.  If you can substitute home made for a mix you save.  You have to decide where you are on the financial food chain for that particular meal. 
3) Buy organic staples in bulk: rice, beans, flour, pasta, coffee (this is a staple, isn't it?). 
4) Some more processed foods are no longer more expensive than totally unprocessed.  For example, shredded cheese is nearly the same as block cheese for many brands now.  Shredded cheese saves me a little time, effort and a dish or two. 
5) Eat simply -- 3 or 4 ingredients in a meal can suffice. 
6) Consider cooking less -- have hummus, veggies and pita wedges for dinner.  Frittata and fruit.  Goat cheese, slices tomatoes and crostini.  These meals are complete, simple to make and simple to clean up.  I pile everything on one big plate in the center of the table and everyone takes as much as they want.

There are many great recipes out there to try but if you'd like to make your own staples, I would suggest starting with bread and yogurt.  Here's a great yogurt website:  http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/cheese/yogurt_making/YOGURT2000.htm .  A loaf of whole grain organic bread usually costs me about 50 cents to make.  Organic home made yogurt costs about $1.25 per quart.