GROCERY SHOPPING: Need help with cheap, healthy food!

A great way to shop cheap and cook easy is to use a crock pot.

cheap, healthy food:

generic/store brand/on sale grains and cereals (especially whole grains) (e.g., oats, rice, pasta)

generic/store brand/on sale dried beans

generic/store brand/on sale frozen veggies

fresh produce in season, on sale

eggs

bulk packages of lean meat and poultry on sale (not deli meat -- meat as it comes off the carcass) -- if it's more than you'll need for a meal, divide into meal sized amounts for your family or individual amounts if you don't all eat together, and freeze (I wrap them in wax paper to separate the portions and put them all in the same freezer bag, labeled and dated. If you eat cereal that comes in waxed paper bags inside the cereal box, you can rinse those off and reuse them for separating the meat servings in the freezer bag

canned tuna or salmon on sale

peanut butter on sale (athough mine is never really cheap, as I only like the kind that is made from just peanuts and salt, especially Smucker's Natural, but I stock up when it goes sale; about once a year I'll find it $2.50 for a 1 lb jar)

plain yogurt in large containers (when buying Greek yogurt I stay away from the kind thickened with additives, rather than thickened by straining) (if you find that your yogurt or sour cream tends to grow unwelcome cultures before you use them up, cut a piece of wax paper to fit the surface of the yogurt -- it will stay fresh longer.)

milk or plant-based "milk" of your choice -- not exactly cheap, but healthy, and when you work out the price per serving, it's pretty reasonable

In general, if you want to save money, don't pay for convenience. Buy whole foods and cook from scratch.
I mostly just cook for myself, which gives me freedom to do whatever I want. I generally just start with some perishable ingredient and decide what I'm in the mood to do with it. Tonight I wanted to use up a carton of egg whites that had been open for a while, so I used up all that was left (just over 3/4 cup) with a teaspoon of heavy cream that I'm also looking to use up, after needing only half a container for a recipe. I scrambled the egg whites with the cream, salt, and pepper in a little olive oil and butter, and added some canned asparagus and grated parmesan. Very yummy, and lots of protein.

During the week I like quick things -- stir fries, pastas with veggies, savory oatmeal with steamed veggies and maybe a poached egg, big salads with hearty add-ins like chick peas, or reheated leftovers from soups, stews, and casseroles I made on the weekend. If I'm not starving when I get home, I might stick a winter squash in the oven to bake; it doesn't take any attention or work, but you have to be willing to wait to eat. Or I might stick the squash in the oven and let it cook while I make that night's dinner, and plan to reheat the squash the next night. If you plan to have some of your frozen meat for dinner, move it from the freezer to the refrigerator the evening before.

Are you on Pinterest at all? I have found so many great healthy recipes on there. I think soups are the cheapest thing to make. You can also freeze soup and have great meals ready. I like turkey chili which is about $10.00 to make (Ground Turkey $6.00, Zunchini $1.00, Onion $.69, Garlic, can chopped tomatoes $2.00, black beans $1.00) This also freezes well. I always just buy whatever meat is on sale then look for recipes using that meat. I buy my Brown Rice in bulk at Whole Foods (I can get as little or as much as I need for the week) and Quinoa at Costco (BIG bag is $11.00 -I Think?).

I don't know if you have a farmers market close but I find their prices are much less than the grocery store.

I learned a lot from the show 10 Dollar Dinners. She has a lot of great tips in her book too.

Oh! And buying in season and having a great selection of recipes sites where I can look things up by that ingredient/season (foodwishes, skinnytaste, gluten free girl and the chef, a girl defloured for gluten free me!) are a great way to save some money.

I am probably not the person to ask. I am a back filler with a very large pantry, not a forward shopper. I also live in a pretty rural area with limited access to large grocery stores. I don't hunt, or fish, and no longer play golf as frequently, so cooking is my hobby. Buy what you can at wholesale stores, farmer's market, and Trader Joe's has good prices, you just need to read the labels.

A great way to shop cheap and cook easy is to use a crock pot.

We have a mini one in our apartment. Have any favorite recipes you like to put in them?

We made this tonight (stove top, not crock pot, but you could totally adapt it) and it was AWESOME! Definitely a keeper, and very budget friendly! Tons of leftovers, too.

http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2014/01/black-eyed-pea-chili-with-quinoa-and-corn.html

cheap, healthy food:

generic/store brand/on sale grains and cereals (especially whole grains) (e.g., oats, rice, pasta)

generic/store brand/on sale dried beans

generic/store brand/on sale frozen veggies

fresh produce in season, on sale

eggs

bulk packages of lean meat and poultry on sale (not deli meat -- meat as it comes off the carcass) -- if it's more than you'll need for a meal, divide into meal sized amounts for your family or individual amounts if you don't all eat together, and freeze (I wrap them in wax paper to separate the portions and put them all in the same freezer bag, labeled and dated. If you eat cereal that comes in waxed paper bags inside the cereal box, you can rinse those off and reuse them for separating the meat servings in the freezer bag

canned tuna or salmon on sale

peanut butter on sale (athough mine is never really cheap, as I only like the kind that is made from just peanuts and salt, especially Smucker's Natural, but I stock up when it goes sale; about once a year I'll find it $2.50 for a 1 lb jar)

plain yogurt in large containers (when buying Greek yogurt I stay away from the kind thickened with additives, rather than thickened by straining) (if you find that your yogurt or sour cream tends to grow unwelcome cultures before you use them up, cut a piece of wax paper to fit the surface of the yogurt -- it will stay fresh longer.)

milk or plant-based "milk" of your choice -- not exactly cheap, but healthy, and when you work out the price per serving, it's pretty reasonable

In general, if you want to save money, don't pay for convenience. Buy whole foods and cook from scratch.
I mostly just cook for myself, which gives me freedom to do whatever I want. I generally just start with some perishable ingredient and decide what I'm in the mood to do with it. Tonight I wanted to use up a carton of egg whites that had been open for a while, so I used up all that was left (just over 3/4 cup) with a teaspoon of heavy cream that I'm also looking to use up, after needing only half a container for a recipe. I scrambled the egg whites with the cream, salt, and pepper in a little olive oil and butter, and added some canned asparagus and grated parmesan. Very yummy, and lots of protein.

During the week I like quick things -- stir fries, pastas with veggies, savory oatmeal with steamed veggies and maybe a poached egg, big salads with hearty add-ins like chick peas, or reheated leftovers from soups, stews, and casseroles I made on the weekend. If I'm not starving when I get home, I might stick a winter squash in the oven to bake; it doesn't take any attention or work, but you have to be willing to wait to eat. Or I might stick the squash in the oven and let it cook while I make that night's dinner, and plan to reheat the squash the next night. If you plan to have some of your frozen meat for dinner, move it from the freezer to the refrigerator the evening before.

oatmeal with steamed veggies

??? What do you mean?

Hello there hun, new here but using for maintenance, so here's my 2 cents on all of this.

You are like me concerned keeping to budget, whilst enjoying clean healthy foods and knowing what to get to cook what:-)
I can help, I can't eat fats oils so none of that on your list..
Add me and I can do you my recipes:-)

Firstly I did apricot chicken (feeds 4)with rice green beans tonight
Buy:
Tin of apricot nectar
Maggi - apricot chicken sachet
Chicken-300g
Tin of kidney beans
Basmati rice cooked

Tuna mornay
Spiral pasta
Cheese
Tin black and gold (they all arent from Aus so buy cheapest)tuna (springwater)
Peas and corn frozen 2 cups
Milk
Garlic granules
Chicken stock

People have already given you some good ideas on things to buy, so some non-food tips:

The freezer is your friend and can save you a fortune in the long run. I actually cut my food bill by a third when I bought a chest freezer. If you haven't got one, it's worth the initial cost of one.

Plan meals for the week and a shopping list before you go, or shop online if you can. Knowing exactly what you want will save you money.

If you are at work all day, pre-make your lunches and avoid buying them out. Make extra for dinner and freeze the extra in individual portion sizes, then you can 'grab and go'.

Buy chicken breast, tilapia, frozen veggies, sweet potatoes, etc... and buy a lot when they are on sale