StaceyinLA Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 and 4 people to feed, what would you purchase to get the most bang for your buck?? What types of meals would you be cooking to stretch this? 2 adults and 2 littles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 No allergies and omnivores? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IfIOnly Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 For what length of time would the $100 need to cover? Two weeks, a month,...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 For how long? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Like the PP asked: how long does it have to stretch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbi in Texas Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Potatoes- you can fix them for any meal Rice-cheap and rice pudding is delicious for dessert or breakfast Oats but only if your family will eat them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyinLA Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 No food issues other than milk allergy (and pretty much just straight milk - dgs can tolerate cheese and milk in cooked foods). It HAS to stretch about 10 days, but longer would be better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Dried beans Rice Chicken drumsticks or thighs (sale?) Canned tuna Frozen vegetables Oatmeal Eggs Peanut butter I am assuming a pantry that has basic herbs and spices, condiments like vinegar and mayonnaise and mustard. What I might suggest based on not knowing any weekly specials. Also, my family is gluten free, so I don't think about lunch the way others would. Among meals I'd make Cuban black beans and rice -- maybe with a tiny bit of sausage added Refried beans and Spanish rice Something with lentils Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Beans for protein, as many ways as I could think of. Buy in bulk for best results. Costco has large (10 or 25, I forget which) sacks of pintos. Cook those into refritos and make your own tortillas to go with them from Masa Harina. Make black bean soup. White bean soup. Many bean soup. Buy or make baked beans. The thing about those suggestions is that they are all cheap, and they taste quite different from each other, eliminating the usual horrendous boredom of eating frugally. See if you can grow tomatoes--they have BOTH A and C vitamins, and are great substitutes for fruit and veggie nutrition. Plus they are pretty easy to grow. Sweet 100s and Beefsteaks are a great combo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Chicken- whole -and/ or a pack of thighs Hamburger Small pork loin ( they are on sale here) I'd also check in the fish deptarment to see if there are sales 2 dozen eggs Jar nut butter 5 lb bag of carrots Celery Cabbage Onions Couple of can of beans or dried ones Small corn tortillas Rice Some frozen veggies -Spinach for a frittata, and butternut squash for a soup. Thinking of using some of the hamburger for a minestrone. Corn 1 or 2 large cans of light tuna Whole wheat bread Cheerios or oatmeal Can stewed tomatoes large, or two small Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Do you have any food already stocked? Does it have to be portable? Are there any other options for feeding your family if the money *doesn't* stretch (free summer food for kids, foraging, food pantry, friendly neighbors who have regular weekend barbecues)? It's a doable budget, but it's more doable if you already have beans and flour and rice, y'know? (Do you need sample recipes?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyinLA Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 Well, here's the deal; they eat a lot of chicken thighs, black beans and rice. They will definitely buy some chicken and they have beans and rice. They also have basic spices and things of that nature. Dd isn't big with chicken on the bone. I know that costs them, but boneless, skinless thighs are pretty cheap. Maybe I could talk her into bone-in thighs and they could use the bones for a broth or something to make soup with. I love the whole pork loin idea (I do this) and they are going to Sam's for meat so I know they can get a deal on a pork loin. They were also thinking a big pack of ground beef or turkey for spaghetti, meat patties, meatloaf, meatballs. They don't eat a lot of carbs other than rice and beans, so the meats with some frozen veggies will actually work well. I'll definitely tell her to add the longer lasting fresh veggies. They drink a lot of water, but the kids will need almond milk. They are young and recently weaned so they both like at least one cup of milk a day. Forgot to add that they do eat eggs almost every morning, so they'll get eggs, and I'll mention peanut or almond butter for sandwiches, though they don't usually eat sandwiches. It'll be something they might need to do right now. Also, the kids like cheap fruit (apples and bananas) and they DO have blueberries from their bushes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IfIOnly Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Breakfast: Oatmeal Cream of brown rice Eggs..corn tortillas with scrambled eggs is yummy Lunch and dinner: Pork sandwiches made with cheap cuts Chili and corn bread Bbq, thai, and teriyaki chicken with cheap cuts Tacos Potatoes for mashing, baking, oven fries...stretching eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 If she cuts the chicken from the cooked whole or thighs before serving, child never has to see the bones. Since she has beans and rice and others items, I'd replace them on my list with some apples. Or whatever is in season where she is. She should also look around fro Folks with gardens. Everyone here is trying to give zucchini away. Grated into muffins, or chopped finely into a minestrone, nobody ever need know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyinLA Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 It's not the children that have a problem with the bones - it's my daughter. She probably has no idea how to even cook a whole bird, or chicken with bones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 The pork shoulder (butt roast) is much cheaper than the loin. But the pork shoulder at SAMs comes in a 2-pack so it's a bigger upfront investment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Lol ok. I understand. For those of us who do whole birds , we consider it simple -- almost cheating! But I can see how it might be daunting to a young cook. But really... So so so easy! Let me call her! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyinLA Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 I cook whole birds all the time. I just don't think dd is comfortable fooling with it. She is very funny about sensory stuff, and it just grosses her out. They never cook breasts - only thighs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 See if your, or your dd's, library has a cookbook called Cheap Fast Good by B. Mills. It teaches about ways to save and the recipes focus on being inexpensive and recipes that are super cheap are marked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cera Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 If they aren't into sandwiches they can do tortilla roll ups. My kids love them with pb, beans and rice (basically a burrito), left over chicken, tuna, egg salad, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Look for a bread outlet. I get 3 loaves of name brand whole wheat bread for $2.97 (same price for buns of all kinds, bagels, cinnamon raisin bread, etc). I keep it in the freezer so it would last a while. You could use this for sandwiches, toast, French toast, or as fresh bread crumbs to make the meatballs and meatloaf, stuffing/dressing as a side dish, or a strata with eggs and veggies. This free pdf of the Good and Cheap cookbook was recently mentioned on NPR and has some great sounding recipes that aren't run of the mill. http://www.leannebrown.ca/cookbooks/ It was designed to help folks on food stamps eat well on their $4 a person a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Ethnic supermarkets often have rice cheap in big bags, both Asian and Hispanic stores. Depending on the type of ethnic market, certain other foods are also cheaper, you have to wander down all the aisles and see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Looking at your list of foods that use ground beef. Meatballs and hamburgers are relatively expensive since they use a lot of meat. I'd use about 1/2 lb mixed with a can of black beans for tacos. (We use 1 lb with a can of black beans to feed, essentially, 4 adults and 1 child) Another 1/2 lb for the spaghetti sauce but pre-mix it with the cooked pasta--it will stretch more that way. Maybe another 1/2 lb for hamburger soup--essentially veg soup w/ground beef. I like to stretch mine with shredded cabbage. Rice is cheap and a good filler. Baked potatoes topped with leftover chicken and bbq sauce and maybe cheese is delicious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlsdMama Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 and 4 people to feed, what would you purchase to get the most bang for your buck?? What types of meals would you be cooking to stretch this? 2 adults and 2 littles Eggs & Oatmeal in the AM. Tuna, Eggs, Beans, Brown Rice, etc for lunch with veggies (in season) Chicken (Wholes are usually the best cost and made into broth) for supper with Brown Rice and Veggies for supper. In season fruit for snack. Water to drink - no other beverage Popcorn as snacks Heavy on seasonal veggies and green leafies. Brown rice - happy sigh. I honestly think I could eat it three meals a day with anything and everything. Cabbage, cabbage, cabbage. I also LOVE cabbage and it's dirt cheap. Eggs are wonderful. In season veggies right now are great for you. Most people waste needless $$ on dairy. It's not that awesome. I will make an exception for yogurt or kefir. But I will say that tends to be spendy. If you do yogurt, go large container, plain, unsweetened, unflavored. Compare frozen fruit to fresh in season fruit. Right now I can get peaches for $0.79/lb. That's cheap. But normally I can buy blueberries, berries, etc. from the freezer cheaper and it goes in more things -smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal. Often cheaper isn't more filling. Almonds and walnuts are expensive, but a handful of those or seeds goes a very long way nutrionally and it's filling. Nut butters as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeninok Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 The easiest way to cook a whole bird is in the crockpot, plop it in with some seasoning and a little butter, ignore it for 8 or so hours depending on the size of the bird. If she has sensory issues, do you think her husband would be willing to pull it all off the bones? We mix the shredded meat with rotel, beans and rice and have burrittos or tacos often, I keep the mix in the fridge and DS can make his tacos, and then slap it on a pn with butter or a little oil to toast the tortilla. Egg salad is healthy and filling. Last night we ate shredded chicken over baked potatoes, with pan gravy and a little sprinkle of cheese, super filling comfort food that costs very little. Potatoes can be fixed for every meal. Scrambled eggs, potatoes, a tiny bit of ham or sausage, and whatever else can be mixed up and used for breakfast tacos through the week. Ground turkey is cheaper than beef and goes great in spaghetti or chili. Chili is easy and you can stretch it by adding tons of beans, corn, tomatoes, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan C. Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I guess if she doesn't want to make a whole chicken, then there is no chance of her making a turkey? That is some good cheap eating! Compare the amount of tuna (yuck) to the size of turkey for the same amount of money, and there is no comparison to the amount of food you get. Cheap food that comes to mind: beans and rice pasta and sauce bought on sale, or get jarred tomatoes and make sauce, easy PBJ's for kids lunches oatmeal, large store brand carton cheap fresh produce grill chicken thighs and hamburger patties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 For how long and what's already in the pantry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRG Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 3 meals a day? First I would check what's on sale. Prices listed are what I pay at Walmart or Kroger--generic, no organic or speciality anything quick cook oatmeal $2 3 dozen eggs--I got eggs for .49/dozen yesterday... but that was a manager close out $4 chicken legs or thighs are almost always on sale here--$20 for 2 packages of each 2 gallons of milk if everyone else drinks it $5.50 Bananas $3 worth Grapes on sale this week .99/lb $2 Frozen veggies--big bags of any kind of veggies about $1.50--5 bags divided $7.50 ten meals of veggies Bread--$1 a loaf--our Dollar Tree carries Nature's Own, Sunbeam and sometimes Mrs Baird's $3 Peanut Butter-$4 Pasta--$3 5lbs of spaghetti Make your own sauce--tomato sauce 6 cans $3.60 Beans $1 Rice $1 Potatoes $4 3lbs ground beef-$8-$10 Tuna--.88/can 4 cans $3.50 Cheese $3 Yogurt $3 Juice--frozen juice 4 cans $4 Do her kids drink juice? Snacks for kids crackers, etc Walmart has $1 snack items on the cookie/cracker aisle $2 Flour $2 Sugar $2 Butter $3 Cornmeal $2 If I added correctly $98 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Ethnic supermarkets often have rice cheap in big bags, both Asian and Hispanic stores. Depending on the type of ethnic market, certain other foods are also cheaper, you have to wander down all the aisles and see. The local Asian market has good prices on produce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRG Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Well IDK what to say ;) Milk is $2.68 a gallon at Kroger--that's not a sale price and eggs run between $1.25-$1.50 a dozen and you can buy in bulk and get 3 dozen for $4. I bought chicken thighs this week at Kroger--4 packages and paid $5 of less for each package on sale. Each package had 7-8 thighs in it. I guess I live in a moderately lower COL area. Maybe I should stipulate that my prices are Walmart and Kroger in Texas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pooh bear Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 3 meals a day? First I would check what's on sale. Prices listed are what I pay at Walmart or Kroger--generic, no organic or speciality anything quick cook oatmeal $2 3 dozen eggs--I got eggs for .49/dozen yesterday... but that was a manager close out $4 chicken legs or thighs are almost always on sale here--$20 for 2 packages of each 2 gallons of milk if everyone else drinks it $5.50 Bananas $3 worth Grapes on sale this week .99/lb $2 Frozen veggies--big bags of any kind of veggies about $1.50--5 bags divided $7.50 ten meals of veggies Bread--$1 a loaf--our Dollar Tree carries Nature's Own, Sunbeam and sometimes Mrs Baird's $3 Peanut Butter-$4 Pasta--$3 5lbs of spaghetti Make your own sauce--tomato sauce 6 cans $3.60 Beans $1 Rice $1 Potatoes $4 3lbs ground beef-$8-$10 Tuna--.88/can 4 cans $3.50 Cheese $3 Yogurt $3 Juice--frozen juice 4 cans $4 Do her kids drink juice? Snacks for kids crackers, etc Walmart has $1 snack items on the cookie/cracker aisle $2 Flour $2 Sugar $2 Butter $3 Cornmeal $2 If I added correctly $98 $5.50 for two gallons of milk? I wish that was the price here. It's $4.20 at the moment and has been as high as $4.50 a gallon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Ground turkey can work well in things like soup, tacos, spaghetti sauce, etc in place of hamburger, and I usually find it to be a better deal. Yes, the Texas prices do look rather low compared to what I see around here for a number of things unless they are on a loss leader sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRG Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 $5.50 for two gallons of milk? I wish that was the price here. It's $4.20 at the moment and has been as high as $4.50 a gallon. Our Kroger's milk prices are $2.68/gallon. At least once a month they are on sale 2/$5 Walmart is higher and it's $3.32/gallon--I rarely buy milk there unless I don't want to make 2 stops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymonster Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I noticed that you said the littles need almond milk. Tell her to make it. Really. It's relatively simple and easy. A good recipe: http://ohsheglows.com/2013/01/24/my-favourite-homemade-almond-milk-step-by-step-photos/ It's **so** much less expensive to DIY. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I don't eat meat on a bone either, so I get it. I would buy (for $100 in our area, I could buy all of this, not huge quantities or organic, but enough to last for 10 days): Serve one at each meal rice bag of potatoes beans box pancake mix eggs peanut butter loaf of bread jelly or jam honey (if kids are old enough for honey) pasta sauce box pasta ground turkey or beef frozen chicken breasts soft tortilla shells cheese An Asian sauce or sauce mix (we like sweet & sour) taco sauce carrot chips lettuce frozen veggies tea bags or coffee lemons/limes Meals: chicken and rice with Asian sauce veggies on the side (we shred the chicken and serve on top of the rice) tacos with beans and rice pasta with sauce and veggies on the side peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with carrot chips chicken and potatoes eggs and potatoes for breakfast (or dinner) If she has a blender make lemon lime slushies blueberry pancakes (with fresh blueberries) snacks: carrots blueberries peanut butter and honey (ds practically lived on this during a certain stage of food issues) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 KRG--where do you live? Those are UNHEARD OF grocery prices here. I would faint for joy if we could eat so inexpensively here. If she already has rice and beans sufficient to resolve hunger, then I would add in things to make that more enjoyable: lettuce tomato cheese fresh peppers---green peppers are in season now and one (at .65 goes a long way to changing the flavor profile of a meal) chicken--curry sauce (or ingredients to make it); chinese seasonings (teriyaki chicken, sweet and sour--all inexpensive to make) frozen veggies: broccoli (goes well with the chinese meals) green beans whatever they will eat oatmeal apples peanut butter bananas carrots--the big 5# bag they peel themselves eggs--4 to 6 dozen potatoes big bag of unpopped popcorn kernels Everyone has their own list. I think the key is sitting down and planning.it.out. At $100, you don't have much room to spare (although we do it fairly often with our family of 6). But you need to have a plan for every single meal. The kids are going to be hungry and want snacks. Appetite fatigue is a big deal. Plan variety. Plan a fun food splurge for Friday night, like a box of icecream or stuff to make cookies. It makes it easier to eat rice and beans repeatedly. We go through 2 boxes of almond milk a week, using it sparingly. That's $6 right there. I'd plan around the must-haves, and then go from there. Beef is $5/lb. here for the cheap stuff. Beef wouldn't be on my list of stuff to buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 There are all kinds of flavorings to use for popcorn to make it more varied as a snack (google "popcorn seasonings"). This time of year, watermelon is my go-to fruit, since I can usually get a large whole one for about $4 at Aldi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRG Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 KRG--where do you live? Those are UNHEARD OF grocery prices here. I would faint for joy if we could eat so inexpensively here. I live in smallish town in Texas. I lived in Austin 4 years and dh travels to the DFW area on a regular basis so I am familiar with the grocery prices there and and we are by far cheaper than those areas. I about die when I walk into a grocery store in those areas now. We have a superwalmart and a couple other grocery stores, no warehouse style shopping and no aldi or specialty shops. Median income in low for the state--prices simply cannot be as high as some of you post because no one would able to buy anything. I don't know of anyone that could afford $5/gallon milk--I think Borden and organic milk sells for that or more but it's not exactly flying off the shelves. Anyway I do still spend quite a bit on groceries and this thread has inspired me to really cut back. I hope that OP's children are ok and that they will be able to get the food that they need! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymonster Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 ... A 2.5 cup container of almonds costs $5.79. That yields enough to make 9 cups of milk based on the recipe. For the same amount of ready made almond milk I priced it at $3.60 in my local store. And I have not even taken into account the cost of the other ingredients listed. It's surprising how different prices are in various regions. For me, almonds are less (3.5 cups for about $5.00 in bulk) and almond milk is more. You can also use the leftover meal for baking, oatmeal and whatnot. Lesson being, I guess, that you've got to price things out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Grocery prices vary by geography as well as individual tastes. I'm in the fortunate position where I can buy seasonal produce directly from farmers for less than grocery store prices. Additionally, produce from the farm does not spoil like the grocery store stuff does. For me, eating seasonally is budget smart. Granted, we may not always have our first choice this way. Blueberry season has passed here for example; my farmer now has figs. My son heard my mantra growing up: You get what you get. I suggest looking at the Budget Bytes website. There are some nice healthy recipes there that won't burst the budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 If they go to Sam's, I would use $20 or so to buy 10 pounds of ground beef. 1 pound of ground beef per meal…..10 dinners. I'd buy a big container peanut butter ($10) and hopefully they have jam or could make some. Bread…two loves… $5, should cover sandwiches. 3 dozen eggs at Sam's is about 5 dollars.. Can make egg salad, use it for scrambled eggs, etc. Eggs for dinner can e nice. Pasta and canned tomato sauce. Can get pasta for $1 box at a dollar store. Canned tomato sauce, can either buy a case at Sam's for around $7 or buy 2 cans. Use to make tomato sauce for spaghetti, and in other recipes. Assume $10. Buy a large container of drink mix, Kool-Aid, Tang, Crystal Light. $6. Buy 3 gallons/milk at Sam's for about $10. With the rest, buy fruits/veggies etc. Can get a nice flat of peaches/nectarines right now at Sam's for $7. Cherries here are $5 for 2 pounds at Sam's. Bananas are always 3 pounds for $1.50 or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldberry Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 It's not the children that have a problem with the bones - it's my daughter. She probably has no idea how to even cook a whole bird, or chicken with bones. Just saying I totally get this. I get freaked even on boneless chicken. A whole chicken? Not only would I not know what to do with it, I wouldn't be able to look at it long enough to cook it. If I had to do bones, I would rather go beans and rice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Ok, umsami, I need to know where you live too. Our Sam's club carries beef at $3.50-4/lb when you buy the 10# chub. Thanks for chiming back in KRG. I had been in DFW and Austin over spring break on my way south, and had gone to StuffMart and HEB and the prices there were only slightly less than they are here. A 5# bag of flour makes 7 loaves of bread. If she can bake, it'd be cheaper to buy the eggs, oil, yeast, and flour than it would be to buy a few loaves of bread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkyandtheBrains. Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 We buy Dry beans Rice Onions In season veggies Apple Bananas Baking ingredients if needed Oatmeal Flaxseed for egg substitute Whole chicken when on sale, this I make multiple meals from and broth for other meals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 It really depends. For me, if I have to do a short term frugal stint Due to unexpected costs I will look at what I have in the pantry or freezer, plan some meals around that and whatever is seasonal or on sale and only buy small quantities of what we need. If I need to seriously cut the bills for a longer stint I will look at bulk buying cheaper foods, like rice, bread flour, beans etc. The chicken is really good - a large roast chicken does two if not three meals - roast one night, wraps or sandwiches the next, and then soup. Adding red lentils to mince is a great stretcher though my kids won't eat it sadly. Then I look seasonal so I would be thinking apples and pumpkin for us as it's winter but in summer it would be whole watermelon. Toasted pumpkin seeds are a great snack. Also you can use a whole celery in soup not just the sticks. Baking bread costs me around $1 loaf compared to $3 to buy plus being a larger loaf. Once you can bake bread you can learn to make scrolls etc with cinnamon or herbs for a cheaper gift to take around. Pasta is a cheap alternative for lunches too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Milk at Sam's is $3.20 here in FL. If I buy a gallon of milk at Publix (normal grocery store), it's $4.and something, I think $4.20. Costco I think is $3.19. Might have been a little cheap on the current ground beef prices. They have large packages with many pounds, for around $18.00. I guess it's maybe 6 pounds vs. 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artichoke Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I'm in the southeast. Our milk is usually $2.99 non-organic. Eggs have taken a jump lately, and the cheapest are now $1.89 a dozen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artichoke Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Strange double post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsRobinson Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I make a batch of chilli with 2 pounds ground beef. 1st meal is traditional chilli with cornbread muffins. 2nd meal, I cook elbow macaroni and serve the chilli and some parm on top for chilli mac. The 3rd night, I use the last of the chilli over baked potatoes with sour cream or cheese. Another 4 day beef option is beef stew, Russian borscht, beef with gravy, steamed cabbage and carrots over baked potatoes, and chilli or chilli mac. One of my favorite cheap meatless dishes is fried brown rice with an over easy egg, scallions and soy sauce on top! Yummy! And the kids love it too! Another is spaghetti with grape or cherry tomatoes, edamame or beans, and feta tossed in Italian dressing served warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 There's the Hillbilly Housewife's cheap menu which might help. http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/40dollarmenu.htm Also, the cheap recipe book that was linked to on NPR a few days ago. https://8b862ca0073972f0472b704e2c0c21d0480f50d3.googledrive.com/host/0Bxd6wdCBD_2tdUdtM0d4WTJmclU/good-and-cheap.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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