s/o s/o Low Cost Meals, Americans, HELP!!

[Impish]

Ok, so there doesn't seem to be a plan for Canadians looking for a $x/wk budget.

 

So, if you have a meal plan for low cost recipes for a wk/mth, could you please share? Something that incl recipes would be great.

 

I used to use the Hillbilly housewife site, but since it changed hands, every.stinking.time. I go there, it freezes up my puter. She had a cpl of different menu plans, one for (I think) $75/wk, and one that was higher.

 

Obviously, the actual $ amts won't work here, but at least if I can find some low cost meal plans, it will still help out.

 

Anyone?

 

Oh, and stuff that either a) doesn't require me to buy some sort of membership and b) doesn't require me to download anything (my internet charges for that) would be really greatly appreciated.

 

TIA!

[delaney]

you can look over at diaperswappers.com and they have a thrifty section that has a huge $5 meals thread.

[Impish]

Thanks!

 

Anyone else??

[Amber in SJ]

You can try $5 dinner mom.

 

http://www.5dollardinners.com/

 

She has some great ideas.

 

Amber in SJ

[BlessedMom]

You might try this site for some ideas.

 

http://www.miserlymoms.com/frugalrecipes_updated.html

[Amber in SJ]

The Peaceful Mom has $100/ week & $125/ week menus, which doesn't seem like a very tight budget, but she is cooking for six people, three of whom are big teenage appetites.

 

http://thepeacefulmom.com/

 

And for very tight budgets there is the Prudent Homemaker

 

http://www.theprudenthomemaker.com/

 

The website is pretty to look at, too.

 

Amber in SJ

[Audrey]

I don't think a lot of the American plans are going to help you much. They seem to rely an awful lot on alternate proteins like dairy (yogurt, cheese, etc.) and those are pricier than meat, kilo for kilo, here.

 

Also, be aware that the majority of the low-cost meal plans I've seen revolve around non-food -- packaged crap, salt-filled junk, sugar-filled garbage, and other fake food-like substances. In other words, if you are willing to eat the dietary equivalent of $#^!, then those plans are great. If you want to eat food, you'll have to do some creative hunting or come up with your own plans.

 

 

That said, it is easy to find actual food and plan low-cost meals here if you keep in mind that:

• Seasonal produce is expensive out of season, so get in tune with eating within the season.
  
• Canadian cheese is not a low-cost protein substitute. It is a nice occasional, pricey treat.
  
• Meal planning saves you money. Look at the sales circulars and decide what fits your budget best. Plan a week's menu around the sale items.
  
• Stock your pantry with non-perishables when sales occur. Don't buy anything for the pantry that isn't on sale. At first, this limits your meal choices, but paying full price for pantry items limits your budget. Something has to give one way or the other.
  
• Tell the picky eaters and chronic snackers that they're SOL and stick to your guns on that. Nothing kills a budget like a fuss-pot and a junk-food addict.
  
• I know you're GF, and while I'm not completely GF, I limit that severely. Don't bother with GF versions of foods. They taste like crap and are ridiculously expensive. Plan meals without the G, instead of trying to mimic it.
  

And, that's my tough-cookies advice. ;)

 

FWIW, I do the above, but I also grow most of our produce and raise chickens for eggs, and dh produces all of our pork and beef. I spend remarkably little on food over a year. Most of our purchases are pantry items and late winter produce when our garden stash runs out. This month, I've spent NOTHING on food except for milk and coffee. It is possible to eat cheap and eat well here. You just have to want to put in the effort.

Edited September 26, 2012 by Audrey

[sparrow]

I had this one bookmarked:

 

Pennies A Plate

 

....I haven't really looked at it, but I must have bookmarked it for a reason. Maybe it was just for you, because lo, and behold, it's CANADIAN!

[Audrey]

Oh, and then there's these girls.

 

http://www.mennonitegirlscancook.ca/

 

Today's recipe is a gluten-free fruit crumble. :001_smile:

[Impish]

I don't think a lot of the American plans are going to help you much. They seem to rely an awful lot on alternate proteins like dairy (yogurt, cheese, etc.) and those are pricier than meat, kilo for kilo, here.

 

Also, be aware that the majority of the low-cost meal plans I've seen revolve around non-food -- packaged crap, salt-filled junk, sugar-filled garbage, and other fake food-like substances. In other words, if you are willing to eat the dietary equivalent of $#^!, then those plans are great. If you want to eat food, you'll have to do some creative hunting or come up with your own plans.

 

 

That said, it is easy to find actual food and plan low-cost meals here if you keep in mind that:

 

• Seasonal produce is expensive out of season, so get in tune with eating within the season.

• Canadian cheese is not a low-cost protein substitute. It is a nice occasional, pricey treat.

• Meal planning saves you money. Look at the sales circulars and decide what fits your budget best. Plan a week's menu around the sale items.

• Stock your pantry with non-perishables when sales occur. Don't buy anything for the pantry that isn't on sale. At first, this limits your meal choices, but paying full price for pantry items limits your budget. Something has to give one way or the other.

• Tell the picky eaters and chronic snackers that they're SOL and stick to your guns on that. Nothing kills a budget like a fuss-pot and a junk-food addict.

• I know you're GF, and while I'm not completely GF, I limit that severely. Don't bother with GF versions of foods. They taste like crap and are ridiculously expensive. Plan meals without the G, instead of trying to mimic it.

 

And, that's my tough-cookies advice. ;)

 

FWIW, I do the above, but I also grow most of our produce and raise chickens for eggs, and dh produces all of our pork and beef. I spend remarkably little on food over a year. Most of our purchases are pantry items and late winter produce when our garden stash runs out. This month, I've spent NOTHING on food except for milk and coffee. It is possible to eat cheap and eat well here. You just have to want to put in the effort.

I pretty much gave up on GF subs long ago. W/the exception of GF Rice Krispies, and the odd Udi bagel (they go on sale now and then), I just can't be bothered.

 

Unfortunately for me, we don't have the ability to raise either produce or meat where we are. Heck, I can't even find someone to buy eggs from! Ack!

 

Best I can do is hit the Farmer's Market on Thurs...when Wolf is home in time before they close. Bah.

 

I don't use pkg'd stuff as a general rule. Whole foods, although I can't afford organic is what I tend to stick to (there's the occasional treat) and none of my kids are picky. Grazers, yes, but they stick to fruit and veggies, b/c that's what I keep in the house. Apples and pb are a huge fave here.

 

That's the thing...I don't think my budget is that flush to start w/. I'm trying to figure out where to cut. Wolf suggested he'd be more accepting of some meatless meals, whereas before more than 1x a wk and he wasn't a happy puppy. So, trying to suss out some recipes for that.

 

I notice a LOT of low cost recipes are pasta based, which doesn't work for me. And soups. Still too warm here for soup, imo.

 

Oh well. I'll figure something out. :tongue_smilie: