If You Had to Be VERY Careful Money-wise….

13

Replies

  • Kamikazeflutterby
    Kamikazeflutterby Posts: 770 Member
    One thing that helps me is weekly meal planning. Some meals just naturally cycle into other meals. For example, if I have a lot of chicken thighs, I'll make a lot of roast chicken thighs with a side of beans or corn and rice on Monday, and on Tuesday I shred the leftover chicken and combine it with the beans in a burrito.

    I write down a couple of alternate meal ideas for some days of the week, when I have a group of ingredients that could make multiple dishes. I also try to consider what my schedule is for cook time, and put the quick, easy meals on days when I know I'm busy.

    I really don't know if this is doable or desirable for a single person who has had issues with ED, but it really helps with my family budget and my sanity in general.

    Good luck, and thanks for the topic. I'm stealing at least two ideas from here for next week.
  • oedipa_maas
    oedipa_maas Posts: 577 Member
    You said you do not have a crock pot. I recently bought a cheap rice cooker and I find it ideal for a single person to turn out easy and healthy meals. I buy a big bag of brown rice. and then I buy frozen chicken breasts and turkey patties and use either frozen or fresh vegetables.
    All I do is cook some brown rice for ten minutes (brown rice takes long) in the rice cooker , then I add the chicken and the vegetables in the steamer dish on top of it. I season the chicken and the vegetables and after another ten minutes or so I have a fresh and healthy meal. Especially now in summer it is ideal because I do not have to watch anything over a hot stove. I just switch on the rice cooker and that is all. Easy clean up and you can refine it by adding some yogurt or tomato paste.
    \

    Hey, I have a rice cooker! That is really a clever idea. Thanks!
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member



    Ok, so, avoid the market on clement, I forget the name but it's the big one near the fish monger. I got so sick from pork there. I'd head to the mission for pork.

    I'd cut the CSA, and just do my vegetable buying at the farmer's market at Civic Center. It's the same vendors as the embarcadero one for the most part, and majorly lower prices.

    I could get out of that market for $15 and have at least a week and a half of vege handled, including some splurges like mushrooms.

    Oh I know just the market you mean! Ha! There is a smaller one, just a tiny butcher shop down the street that hasn't steered me wrong (so far). But I'll take your advice on New May Wah.

    Sometimes a farmer's market has been coming to the Richmond. I should check it, and the Civic Center one, out. Thanks!

    Hah, yeah, that's the one, New May Wah. ;) It was great for everything except meat. Fish was fine, although I bought some extremely unfortunate conch there, I think it had already been dead for a couple days and smelled like a durian.

    A farmer's market in the Richmond? That's cool! Just ignore the Embarcadero one, it's ridiculous, and totally not worth it. I used to splurge and buy meat from Drewe's bros., but then I moved on to here:
    http://www.yelp.com/biz/lucky-pork-market-san-francisco

    If you can do the trip, it's an excellent place for decently priced meat, although it wasn't a good option for stuff like new york steak, or ribeye. which frankly, I was not eating when I was shopping there. ;) If I wanted that, i'd hit the Safeway on Market, because sometimes they'd have excellent food prices.

    If you hit the Civic Center one out at the right time, there is an excellent little liege waffle vendor.

    Oh, and I'll peek back in if I can remember the market that was a god send down around 20th and Irving.
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
    Here's a PDF to a cookbook (free) that was designed for people on SNAP, but of course can be used by anyone.
    The photos are really nice, and other than being heavily vegetarian the meals look pretty good too.

    https://8e81c55f4ebf03323905b57bf395473796067508.googledrive.com/host/0B2A2SnkA9YgxaHdzbEhGSmJOZDg/good-and-cheap.pdf
  • Rockstar_sister
    Rockstar_sister Posts: 65 Member
    check out my blog here on MFP. I blog the majority of my recipes I try, with the calorie count and serving size. This could help you add a variety.... and the majority of them are WONDERFUL!!!! My kids even like the stuff that I fix!!!!
  • KandGRanch
    KandGRanch Posts: 131 Member
    We have about $30/month for groceries. We grow or raise our own food. This morning I had eggs, biscuits, jelly, and cheese-all homemade. Noms.
  • _funrungirl
    _funrungirl Posts: 145 Member
    I just saw this blog linked from LifeHacker.com "$35 Dollars a Week" http://erikaugust.com/thoughts/category/thirty-five-dollars-a-week/
  • Ehecatl915
    Ehecatl915 Posts: 30
    Don't know if it is spelled right but it is an Italian combination I would make for my ex husband. He is Italian. They call it jambaught. And you get some zucchini and potatoes and you cut them up and throw them in a crock pot with some spaghetti sauce and you add some water to thin the sauce out and you cook it all day and then let it cool for 30 minutes and dump some over some pasta. Tastes good. I am going to make it without potatoes and try it with other vegetables, I am trying to stay away from potatoes for awhile.
  • Topsking2010
    Topsking2010 Posts: 2,245 Member
    Bump
  • roxywho42
    roxywho42 Posts: 165 Member
    Once you have a crock put, one of my favorites is to put frozen chicken breast, dry lentils, crushed tomato, and either italian or spanish seasonings in the pot, add water if needed. When it is finished I add some plain greek yogurt to make it creamy.
  • oedipa_maas
    oedipa_maas Posts: 577 Member

    Hah, yeah, that's the one, New May Wah. ;) It was great for everything except meat. Fish was fine, although I bought some extremely unfortunate conch there, I think it had already been dead for a couple days and smelled like a durian.

    A farmer's market in the Richmond? That's cool! Just ignore the Embarcadero one, it's ridiculous, and totally not worth it. I used to splurge and buy meat from Drewe's bros., but then I moved on to here:
    http://www.yelp.com/biz/lucky-pork-market-san-francisco

    If you can do the trip, it's an excellent place for decently priced meat, although it wasn't a good option for stuff like new york steak, or ribeye. which frankly, I was not eating when I was shopping there. ;) If I wanted that, i'd hit the Safeway on Market, because sometimes they'd have excellent food prices.

    If you hit the Civic Center one out at the right time, there is an excellent little liege waffle vendor.

    Oh, and I'll peek back in if I can remember the market that was a god send down around 20th and Irving.

    Unfortunate Conch is a GREAT name for a band.

    Thank you for all the rec's!
  • oedipa_maas
    oedipa_maas Posts: 577 Member
    Here's a PDF to a cookbook (free) that was designed for people on SNAP, but of course can be used by anyone.
    The photos are really nice, and other than being heavily vegetarian the meals look pretty good too.

    https://8e81c55f4ebf03323905b57bf395473796067508.googledrive.com/host/0B2A2SnkA9YgxaHdzbEhGSmJOZDg/good-and-cheap.pdf

    Hey, thanks much!
  • oedipa_maas
    oedipa_maas Posts: 577 Member
    check out my blog here on MFP. I blog the majority of my recipes I try, with the calorie count and serving size. This could help you add a variety.... and the majority of them are WONDERFUL!!!! My kids even like the stuff that I fix!!!!

    Wow, that's great. I definitely will. Thanks!
  • oedipa_maas
    oedipa_maas Posts: 577 Member
    We have about $30/month for groceries. We grow or raise our own food. This morning I had eggs, biscuits, jelly, and cheese-all homemade. Noms.

    That's incredible. I wish I could do the same, at least a little bit. I live in an apartment with no property/land I can use (my landlord wouldn't let me, basically). I was thinking of doing a window box herb garden. Your breakfast sounds incredible!
  • oedipa_maas
    oedipa_maas Posts: 577 Member
    I just saw this blog linked from LifeHacker.com "$35 Dollars a Week" http://erikaugust.com/thoughts/category/thirty-five-dollars-a-week/

    This is *perfect*. I love Lifehacker; don't know how I missed it!
  • oedipa_maas
    oedipa_maas Posts: 577 Member
    Once you have a crock put, one of my favorites is to put frozen chicken breast, dry lentils, crushed tomato, and either italian or spanish seasonings in the pot, add water if needed. When it is finished I add some plain greek yogurt to make it creamy.

    Thanks!
  • oedipa_maas
    oedipa_maas Posts: 577 Member
    One thing that helps me is weekly meal planning. Some meals just naturally cycle into other meals. For example, if I have a lot of chicken thighs, I'll make a lot of roast chicken thighs with a side of beans or corn and rice on Monday, and on Tuesday I shred the leftover chicken and combine it with the beans in a burrito.

    I write down a couple of alternate meal ideas for some days of the week, when I have a group of ingredients that could make multiple dishes. I also try to consider what my schedule is for cook time, and put the quick, easy meals on days when I know I'm busy.

    I really don't know if this is doable or desirable for a single person who has had issues with ED, but it really helps with my family budget and my sanity in general.

    Good luck, and thanks for the topic. I'm stealing at least two ideas from here for next week.

    I think that's a fantastic way of planning things. It seems to me that would be idea for the way I live; I can freeze whatever I don't eat and take it to work to use in the micro. Thanks!!
  • cheesevixen_staci
    cheesevixen_staci Posts: 153 Member
    that's awesome. I spent about 400 on a family of 4. this is what we eat mostly

    snack: apples, 1-2 oz hard cheese, 90 calories pudding or yogurt
    breakfast: a healthy cereal and a banana
    lunch: veggies sandwiches, pb&j's, soup
    dinner: lean ground beef spaghetti, baked tilapia with rice, grilled chicken and rice or pasta. I throw frozen or canned veggies as sides on my dinner. Broccoli is a favorite.
  • Swiftlet66
    Swiftlet66 Posts: 729 Member
    I eat maybe around 30 dollars a week from groceries. It's a lot of curries, stews, and one pot vegetable stuff. Basic filler foods--carrots, potatoes, beans, rice, and pasta (rarely pasta for me though). Barely any snacks. Fruits are my dessert and I only eat out for special occasions. I still do eat pretty well though by just by cooking just from scratch... Definitely take advantage of freezing leftovers.
  • dlionsmane
    dlionsmane Posts: 674 Member
    How about salsa chicken you can make in the oven

    Chicken, rub with taco seasoning, cover with favorite salsa, bake, shred and put over rice or in a tortilla, top with sour cream and grilled onions and peppers..

    I love this idea. I make my own burrito bowls so similar to this, I make my own salsa. and then put the chicken on top of a brown rice/black bean mix and add home made guac (if I have avocado), lettuce and cheese. A better version of the Chipotle offering.
  • Cindyloo01
    Cindyloo01 Posts: 94 Member
    Tons of great ideas and links! I like using the microwave to kick start a baked potato or baked sweet potato. I just put it in the microwave for a few minutes, then about ten minutes in the oven and it's perfect!
  • FitFroglet
    FitFroglet Posts: 219 Member
    Hi there

    I've found this blog useful from time to time.
    It's written by a mum who used to feed herself and her son with £10 per week. The recipes are normally healthy as her focus was providing her growing son with nutritious food. (They're also very tasty!)
    She sold almost everything she owned to make ends meet so there's no fancy equipment used either.

    http://agirlcalledjack.com/category/recipes-food/

    hope it helps
  • RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle
    RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle Posts: 1,349 Member
    It is 9:00am and I'm assembling sloppy joes in my crock pot already. Great thread op! My suggestion is to google OAMC. There are some great recipes and ideas on those kinds of websites.
  • carolinadaltton
    carolinadaltton Posts: 7 Member
    1 can of kidney beans, 1 small onion in cubes ,1 tomato in cubes, and sheered carrots I put this in a pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil until they are all cook I put 1 tablespoon of ketchup, cayenne, salt and garlic powder, I put this in a bowl and like toppings I added shredded lettuce, 1/2 avocado in cubes and 1 tablespoon of sour cream
    Is absolutely delicious I assure you actually that's my favorite food, sometimes i make white rice and eat a little portion with this.
    You can added grounded meat too but without meat is better.

    You can also make Brochette chicken in cubes with onions in cubes, mushrooms, and yellow green or red bell peppers, very easy and very tasty.
  • ksolksol
    ksolksol Posts: 194 Member
    Those veggie joe's sound heavenly. I'm not vegetarian, but I really like a lot of vegetarian foods.

    In college, I lived on lentil soup -- just broth, rice, brown lentils and chopped onion, cooked together until the lentils are soft.
  • Missbuttercupp
    Missbuttercupp Posts: 3 Member
    If you live near an Aldi I'd go there and you will be fine. They have a lot of healthy options in their fit and active product line and they are way cheaper than any grocery store. I go there once a month and spend $50 and I'm eating really well for a few weeks on that.
  • amos481
    amos481 Posts: 92 Member
    bump - great ideas and recipes
  • dklibert
    dklibert Posts: 1,196 Member
    Thanks for asking this question. We can all use these great ideas and resources.
  • SamLD88
    SamLD88 Posts: 111 Member
    Didn't read other posts, but what about Leanne Brown's cookbooks for vegetarian and for SNAP food (food stamps)? They're both free:

    http://www.leannebrown.ca/cookbooks/
  • lessbounce
    lessbounce Posts: 250 Member
    If you have access to a freezer you can bulk cook and freeze - I still do it now because I'm tight :wink: also if you are prepared to or have any friends who hunt or fish they can be a great source of free protein. Look up foraging there is lots of free food out there

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