Wed 6 Aug 2008
Going food shopping when you’re on a firm budget can be a nerve wracking thing.
Going veggie shopping when you’re on a constricted budget can be a crazy issue. You might even have to take along your adding machine, totaling up every single greenback and cent to make sure you don’t go over your bi-weekly budget. If this is you, then you may want to consider some of the following possibilities as additions to your grocery list. There are many satisfying, healthful meal possibilities that can help you stick to your budget and still have a meal that sticks to your ribs. If you get inventive, you can go beyond ramen and always have a little cash left over at the end of the week.
First, load up on dry goods in bulk such as rice, pasta, and beans. Whole wheat or whole wheat versions of the rice and macaroni are readily to be had in many grocery stores, and make much more beneficial options. Pick up a variation of beans such as sugared, kidney, and navy beans. These can be cooked together to make a delicious green salad or a chunky and creamy bean soup. Also, any of the varieties of beans can be spiced with cumin, chili powder, garlic and other low-priced spices and served over warm rice for a bargain-basement and meager meal. For the cappelletti, pick up a few inexpensive jars of your chosen ready to eat capellini sauce. For an even less expensive alternative, just buy a few cans of normal tomato gravy (one of the cheapest pantry staples you can keep on hand) and jazz it up with spices you may now have, such as dill, oregano, and garlic. Serve over the tortellini.
Another wonderful idea for penny-pinching meals is Mexican food like burritos, nachos and noodles. Burritos and nachos allow you to make two lunches from the same bunch of components: refried beans, shredded cheese, sour cream, conserved black dried olives, inexpensive salsa, green onion, and any other toppings you request or can afford. For burritos, just wrap the ingredients up in a flour tortilla (a very low-cost bread alternative) and heat, and for nachos, bake brown flour tortilla wedges in the oven until crisp and top with the pieces. For nachos (a quick and easy Mexican version of the cooked cream cheese) butter a tortilla. Place it breaded side down in a skillet on mediocre heat. Top with shredded hard cheese and other fillings, then top with another breaded brown flour tortilla, buttered side up. When the cheese has heated, flip and whole wheat the other side. Serve with sauce and sour balm.
For another budget meal, try purchasing bulk bags of frozen boneless, boneless chicken breasts along with a few bags of frozen meats. These items alone can make for dinners for a week or more. Just season each chicken wings with your favored spices, top it with excess shredded hard cheese, or eat it on bread or a cheeseburger bun for a fun sandwich. Jazz up the frozen fruits with spices, butter or some shredded cheese.
Buying in bulk can save you lots of time and money. These staples will help you eat well until the next salary rolls around.