Saving money and eating well

by Mia
(Nogales, Az)

I have always amazed friends with the table I sat for my family on the limited budget of a single mom. I am able to feed myself and my family well for the following reasons.

One I do use a “budget”. I found I was able to stay within my Food Budget by first learning how to cook, learning about nutrition, and learning about food additives found in processed food.

I found that processed food contains dyes that can inhibit growth, and they are very fattening, full of sugars and salt and so “processed” nutrition went up in stream in the microwave. So I always cooked every meal from almost scratch.

I was not afraid to choose a “Prepared Meal” once a week to give myself the moments we all need. Rest! Yet I tried to choose a meal low in fat and with some balance of sanity for a son who enjoyed “Bagel Bites” and “Hot Pockets”.

In this era of increased incidence of diabetes I feel it’s important to cook deserts at home in order to avoid high sugar/salt content. A fruit pie is so much better than “oil” laden products made at the bakery.

I learned how to cook reading books, at the community college which also offers Floral Arrangement to enhance your families table at little or no cost.

I liked making the viewing of Cooking Shows on television a family occasion so we could learn together and find new taste sensations. Don’t forget to learn about different types of meat and cuts.

I also utilized making a menu for the week or pay period. First review the Grocery Ads and find what is on sell. For two to three days of a week I stuck with familiar family standbys. Dishes my family enjoyed, and dishes that fit my time schedule, and budget.

I never went wrong serving spaghetti once a week, or making a roast, or turkey breast on Sundays. Each was well received and provided leftovers for the following days. Remember when creating your families menu to keep in mind each family members favorite and provide it when you can. I found that sandwiches are very expensive even when peanut butter and jelly.

Yet on a Saturday evening Grilled Cheese sandwiches and Soup were a perfect meal to take to the TV for the movie rented. I always purchased Tortilla Chips as snacks as they are lower in salt and higher in nutrition while being less expensive.

In planning my families’ budget I took into consideration that after school snacks would need to come from leftovers and bought and cooked accordingly.

To make it easy I purchased covered, divided plastic dishes that could be micro waved, the homemade TV dinner.

By buying only what is on sale, using coupons only for family favorites, or treats, and utilizing the freezer section of my fridge I was able to buy the most expensive items, meat, poultry, and fish on sale and divide it into “serving sizes”.

The “stores” in the freezer must be taken into account when menu planning. To ensure success at freezing your food 1) Buy fresh! 2) Divide your portions on a clean, sanitized surface, be familiar with freezing temperatures, and 3)

Use storage bags and don’t forget to label and date. I found it less expensive and easier on my back to grow a few fresh vegetables or buy canned or frozen favorites on sale. Bread is an expensive item and it to can be bought on sale and frozen.

Yet it is cheaper and better for your family to not serve it every day. In Mexico it is the corn tortilla that is inexpensive and so very good for you. Would your family send back a taco dinner, or a Quesa Dia. Remember sodas, chips, will eat your budget, while enlarging your family.