Farmers markets and co-ops are great alternatives to grocery stores.
Getting the most mileage from your food budget takes planning and creativity. Making changes in what you buy and when you buy it will help you create meals that are budget-friendly. Replacing processed foods for fresh, in-season vegetables and making your own staples, such as breads and other baked goods, requires more work in the kitchen but saves money in the long run. Purchasing fewer high-quality treats to replace junk food is another way to make room in your overall food budget. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Breakfast can be much less expensive when you eliminate costly boxed cereals from the equation. Purchasing plain, whole oats is much less expensive than choosing the individually wrapped single serve packets; a half-cup of prepared whole, rolled oats costs about 30 cents. Adding fruit and nuts adds nutrients in the form of fiber, vitamins and minerals, protein, and heart-healthy oils to the meal. Plain rolled oats can be purchased prepackaged in canisters or in the bulk section of your grocery store.
Lunch: Peanut Butter Sandwich
Peanut butter isn't just budget-friendly, it's nutrient-rich. Peanut butter contains unsaturated fat that fights heart disease, folate and niacin, which work to increase "healthy" (LDL) cholesterol, and, of course, protein. For lunch a peanut butter and fresh-fruit sandwich on wheat bread is healthy and helps your budget by eliminating the need to purchase processed jelly or jam.
Dinner: Bean Chili
Canned and dried beans are inexpensive and can be substituted for a meat-based protein in a variety of dishes. Replacing the meat in chili with beans increases the fiber content and reduces the fat content in addition to reducing the overall cost of the dish. Making an extra-large batch will also provide leftovers that can be used for other meals during the week.
Tags: food budget, less expensive, much less, much less expensive, Peanut butter, rolled oats