She Said: Absolutely you can eat on $175 a month AND eat healthy!
I felt compelled to post some of the comments from one of my readers regarding yesterday’s post – Can you eat on $175 a month? She shared some good tips about eating healthy on a limited food budget and what you can buy for under $200/month. It was such a heartfelt response and so honest that I thought others could benefit from her suggestions. Now you may not agree with everything she suggests and that’s okay! If you are so compelled, pass the information on. Thank you Dorothy!!
There is no reason to not buy fresh fruits and vegetables when you are on a limited food budget, but they should be selected carefully for cost and storage. For instance, you can buy root veggies like potatoes, onions, and carrots to use all during the month; just keep them in a cool, dry place. Remember that apples and oranges last longer than bananas, Bartlett pears, and peaches. Frozen strawberries and blueberries will last indefinitely. Ditto with canned peaches, pears, applesauce and pineapple.
Here are some other tips:
- Use store brands. Use store brands. Use HEALTHY store brands!!!
- Find out which days are best for store specials, especially meats. Freeze or use right away.
- Use coupons for brand names that you prefer.
- Use powdered milk and canned milk in your cooking, or make up powdered milk for drinking, instant store brand puddings, a cocoa mix and cereal.
- Wrap fresh celery (not more expensive celery hearts) in a paper towel, then aluminum foil to remain fresh longer or buy packages of frozen celery and onions or green peppers and onions to flavor soups, casseroles, or meat loaf
- Purchase dried beans, pasta, and rice, store brand
- Eat more vegetarian meals. Dried beans, eggs, cheese, and peanut butter are other good sources of protein.
- (If you are a meat eater) Use a minimum amount of hamburger in chili beans and spaghetti sauce (canned, store brand). Chuckeye steaks are just as tender and cheaper than rib eyes. Round steak is good for your Swiss Steak recipe.
- (If you are a meat eater) Purchase chicken thighs and drumsticks instead of whole chickens or breasts for chicken ‘n dumplings, chicken casserole, or chicken soup. Purchase in bulk and divide for several meals. Fried or baked chicken livers are delicious with rice and canned green beans.
- Freeze and save leftover chicken or beef stock for soups and casseroles.
-Cook soups and casseroles to make food go further—chili beans, cream of potato soup, corned beef hash, chicken casserole, Hamburger Helper type meals, 15-bean soup, vegetarian vegetable soup, salmon patties, chicken or tuna salad, chipped cream beef w/toast
- Purchase canned meats whenever possible—corned beef, dried beef, canned chicken, canned tuna, canned salmon
- Bake your own bread. Buy self-rising flour and corn meal to make biscuits and corn bread. Use leftover breads to make that chicken casserole. Or purchase bread products at bakery outlets.
- Grow your own fresh spinach or lettuce, chives or scallions, and herbs, in window boxes and tomatoes and peppers in planter pots.
There is no reason to not eat healthy meals and snacks on a limited income. A single adult can easily live on $176.00 worth of food per month.
