Need Serious Food Help

$400/month is that all for groceries for 2.5 people? If so that is a lot. My wife and I eat very healthy and spend under $300/month for 2 of us. Try buying fruit and veggies that are in season, as well as whole wheat pastas. Lentils and beans are very good for you and cheap. Buy them in a bag dehydrated and you just have to soak them for a short-time prior to cooking. Brown rice can also be fairly cheap as is couscous. Buy meat in bulk and eat less of it with each meal that you eat it.

I'm not sure where you buy but I find eating healthy, unless you are buying organic everything, much cheaper than eating pre-packaged crap. Re-evaluate what you buy and you should be able to find at least 20% savings of stuff you don't need or have cheaper alternatives (instead of minute rice you can buy 3 times as much regular rice, as an example)

I'm SO sorry to hear what has happened to you. I sincerely hope and pray that it is a mistake. Don't be afraid to confront the powers that be.

Secondly, you get kudos for going after your dream of being a writer. Too many of us dream and never do.

As to help and ideas: this is harder, of course. But a few I can think of immediately --

Beans are an excellent protein source, as well as being high-fiber. You can't go wrong with a dinner of red beans and rice, or mexican food made with beans instead of meat.

Sometimes grocery stores will mark down produce that is starting to go bad--bananas that are turning brown, tomatoes with a bruise that can be cut off, and you can take them home and either eat them immediately or cook something that can be frozen. The grocery store I shop at also marks down milk and meat (1/2 off!) on the sell-by date, and again, you can freeze them. (Skim milk freezes nicely--milk with fat in it separates and you need to shake it up.) You have to haunt the aisles every day, but it can keep you in produce and meat.

I have a prayer list that I keep up and I am going to put you on it. I sincerely hope you find the cut has been a mistake.

Hello,

There are tons of things you can buy for cheap that are healthy:
1) Oatmeal
2) Dried beans and other legumes
3) Whole wheat pasta
4) Large containers of plain yogurt
5) Eggs
6) Tofu
7) Buy chicken and other meat when it goes on sale and freeze it

As for fresh produce, it is so cheap to buy! I slashed my grocery bill by 40% since I stopped buying crap like Skillet Sensations. The trick to to look at the flyer and buy what's on sale. Some fruits and veggies always tend to be cheap:

1) Apples
2) Bananas
3) Buy frozen when it is on sale
4) Celery
5) Bean sprouts
6) Eggplant and zucchini
7) Spinach in a cello

Also, look at portion size. I used to eat a whole chicken breast and now cut it down to about 1/3 or 1/2 cup and that is sufficinet and filling.

As for other things, flax seeds or meal tend to be cheap for omega 3's.

Things to avoid: granola and protein bars; make your own with oatmeal, supplements (whey, maca, etc.), "organic" cookies (they are still full of sugar).

Maybe you could make your diary public so users can look at it and give your pointers on where you could save by changing things up.

If you have some dirt, try planting a garden. It doesn't have to be the worlds largest garden either.
In our little community, we've started a co-op too. Where we all put in $X and then dig/grow a little plot.
Just a few tomatoes, green beens, various herbs, peppers, egg plants and whatever else we argue about and decide to grow.
And we just go out a grab it when we feel the need - to supplement our own stashes. It's great and cheap (and did you say fresh ?)

If I had my own plot of land, I'd definately be doing this, but add potatoes, corn, peas, etc.

My wife and I also order a box of veges (and meat) from a local co-op of farmers. All the local farmers put together a box of stuff (like kale, boc choy, potatoes, tomatoes, beans ... just whatever is in season) and then every thursday, we go and pick it up from the local delivery spot. You can pay a little more to get what you want, or, just see what happens. It is not expensive by any stretch of the imagination, in fact, I think it may be a little cheaper then publix etc. The meat is definately cheaper ...... it's like "whole paycheck" oops, I meant "whole foods" quality at or better than the "kroger/publix" price

I have a house hold of 5-6 people (14yr old, 10yr old, 7yr old, my brother and I, and usually kids friends, and my best friend and her kids eat with us several times a week) and and I feed everyone for around $400-500 a month, usually less but I've had a tiny bit extra the last 2 months (this month is a WHOLE different story though). I always have lots of fruits and veggies around here. I start in the produce section and buy what is cheapest and then kind of plan the weeks meals around what I can find cheaply in the produce department. I hit up the bulk bins for rice, beans, pasta and any other dry goods and spices that I need. Then its off to see what I can find meat/protein wise that is fairly cheep. I rarely buy anything processed, and no junk. I also don't buy food for lunch..I just make large batches of dinner so we have left overs for that, that saves me a bit of money as well. I do buy cereal for the kids for breakfast, but they don't get to snack on that all day.

It works out pretty well, but takes a lot of work. I try to go shopping early in the morning so I don't have a lot of people to fight around the aisles with. It makes it much easier for me to concentrate on what to buy. I take a calculator, and a paper. Sometimes I start with a menu of meals, and then take it with me so I can adjust my menu and list to fit what is cheaper. I also only go shopping once a week, sometimes once every 2 weeks if I find good deals on meat and vegs, but I have an extra freezer in my storage room on my back porch...was the best purchase I ever made. lol

Good luck, and just keep at it...it is doable!!

Literally just opened Yahoo! and saw this article. Hope it helps!

http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/408/12-things-college-students-dont-need/

Hopefully it was a mistake.

I might get negative feedback for this, but people who are having problems with money should look at their priorities.
Necessities and luxury's

Internet, cell phone, cable, are not necessities, but a luxury.
Having 2 dogs cost money. That money is food taken away from you, your OH and child's mouth.

If you want to have the luxury's and pets, you should get a part time job. if you can't get the money, then take a luxury until you can afford it.

Not sure where you live...check out farmer's markets or food cooperatives or community garden projects. Try localharvest.org to find resources in your area! Good luck...you can do it! Buying in bulk and making more of your own meals vs. buying processed and prepackaged food saves and is healthier!
http://www.localharvest.org/