Home
Top Recipes
Appetizers
Main Dishes
Desserts
Recipe Box
Menu Planner
Add Recipe
Chefs
Groups
Themes & Guides
News
MENU
Sign Up
Login
Stretching Your Grocery Store Budget {Indiana Family of Farmers}
by
Krista Marshall
You might also like
Do You Have to Buy Quicken Every Year?
Current rating: 4.0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Touch Hearts to Rate
1 vote
| 353 views
0 reviews
|
0 comments
Pin It
Add to Menu Planner
Go to Menu Planner
Add the recipe to which day?
«
Today - Jun 09
»
Today - Jun 09
M
T
W
Th
F
S
Su
June 10 - 16
M
T
W
Th
F
S
Su
June 17 - 23
M
T
W
Th
F
S
Su
June 24 - 30
M
T
W
Th
F
S
Su
Please select a day
or
Cancel
Adding to Planner
Add to Shopping List
Add to Recipe Box
Print Recipe
Cook View
Recipe
Reviews/Comments
Close this frame
Adding to Planner
Adding to Planner
Adding to Planner
,%20the%20U.S.%20leads%20affordability%20with%20only%206.6%25%20of%20American%20incomes%20going%20toward%20the%20grocery%20bill.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI'm%20not%20going%20to%20lie.%20When%20I%20found%20out%20those%20statistics,%20and%20looked%20at%20the%20chart%20above,%20I%20was%20shocked.%20I%20guess%20you%20don't%20realize%20just%20how%20good%20you've%20got%20it,%20until%20you%20learn%20what%20others%20in%20this%20world%20are%20dealing%20with.%20Just%20another%20example%20of%20%22the%20grass%20is%20always%20greener%20on%20the%20other%20side%22%20until%20you%20learn%20it's%20not;%20and%20you%20just%20need%20to%20be%20thankful%20for%20the%20resources%20available%20to%20us.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ENow,%20while%20it's%20a%20fact%20America%20has%20one%20of%20the%20most%20affordable%20food%20supplies%20in%20the%20world,%20that%20doesn't%20mean%20your%20budget%20isn't%20any%20less%20strained.%20And%20making%20a%20food%20budget%20work%20in%20today's%20economy%20is%20something%20we%20can%20all%20agree%20is%20a%20challenge.%20So,%20in%20that%20spirit,%20my%20good%20friends%20at%20Indiana%20Family%20of%20Farmers%20have%20come%20up%20with%20a%204%20part%20blog%20series,%20Affordable%20Food%20Options%20For%20Your%20Family,%20From%20Ours.%20During%20this%20series,%20bloggers%20like%20myself%20will%20be%20sharing%20our%20tips,%20ideas%20and%20options%20for%20your%20family.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EOur%20first%20challenge?%20How%20many%20meals%20can%20we%20make%20for%20$50?%20The%20guidelines?%20Every%20meal%20must%20have%20some%20form%20of%20meat%20protein.%20The%20plans%20can%20include%20breakfast,%20lunch%20and/or%20dinner%20options%20or%20all%20the%20same%20type%20of%20meal.%20Cost%20of%20pantry%20staples%20(flour,%20sugar,%20spices,%20etc.)%20do%20not%20have%20to%20be%20included%20in%20the%20$50%20budget.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%20was%20happy%20to%20step%20up%20to%20the%20challenge.%20Below%20you%20will%20find%20my%20meal%20plan%20for%20$50%20(for%20me,%20this%20means%203%20dinner%20options),%20links%20to%20recipes%20I%20already%20have%20online,%20tips%20as%20to%20why%20I%20chose%20each%20one,%20and%20a%20brand%20new%20recipe%20I%20think%20you'll%20be%20very%20excited%20about!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E$50%20Budget%20Meal%20Plan%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EMeal%20%231%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EMeal%20%23%202%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EToast%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EMeal%20%233%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EOlive%20Garden%20Salad%20(see%20recipe%20below)%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EMy%20Tips%20for%20Stretching%20a%20Grocery%20Budget%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E1.%20Sale%20Prices:%20When%20you%20saw%20a%20chicken%20dish%20on%20the%20menu,%20did%20you%20think%20I%20was%20crazy?%20Chicken%20can%20be%20one%20of%20the%20most%20expensive%20items%20at%20the%20grocery%20store.%20But%20for%20me%20it's%20simple.%20I%20don't%20buy%20it,%20unless%20it's%20on%20sale.%20Wait%20for%20those%20great%20deals.%20Usually%20at%20least%20one%20store%20around%20us%20has%20it%20on%20sale%20every%20week.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E2.%20Casseroles%20So,%20you've%20bought%20the%20chicken%20on%20sale,%20but%20there%20isn't%20enough%20in%20one%20package%20to%20feed%20your%20whole%20family.%20But%20wait.%20What%20if%20you%20stretch%20that%20amount%20by%20adding%20other%20ingredients%20and%20make%20a%20casserole?%20It's%20a%20great%20way%20to%20make%20a%20smaller%20amount%20of%20protein%20feed%20a%20large%20number%20of%20people.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E3.%20Make%20Your%20Own%20vs.%20Bottled%20That%20salsa%20recipe?%20It%20can%20be%20made%20for%20pennies%20on%20the%20dollar%20compared%20to%20buying%20the%20already%20jarred.%20Sure,%20it's%20going%20to%20take%20a%20few%20extra%20minutes,%20but%20not%20only%20does%20it%20taste%20better,%20it%20goes%20further%20for%20less%20money.%20Don't%20get%20me%20wrong,%20I'm%20all%20about%20paying%20a%20few%20extra%20pennies%20for%20convenience,%20but%20in%20this%20case,%20making%20my%20own%20is%20a%20win%20win.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E4.%20Breakfast%20for%20Supper%20In%20this%20house,%20traditional%20breakfast%20foods%20for%20dinner%20are%20a%20huge%20treat.%20And%20I%20know%20many%20families%20that%20agree%20with%20us.%20But%20besides%20just%20being%20delicious,%20it's%20a%20great%20way%20to%20save%20some%20money%20too.%20Foods%20you%20typically%20eat%20in%20the%20morning%20tend%20to%20be%20a%20little%20less%20pricey%20than%20dinner%20foods.%20Sausage%20vs.%20steak%20for%20example.%20Potatoes.%20Bread.%20All%20things%20that%20can%20be%20economical%20and%20easily%20feed%20a%20crowd.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E5.%20Freezer%20Beef%20For%20our%20family%20one%20of%20the%20biggest%20ways%20we%20save%20money%20is%20by%20always%20having%20a%20surplus%20of%20beef%20in%20our%20chest%20freezer.%20Sure,%20the%20initial%20cost%20of%20a%201/4%20or%201/2%20beef%20may%20be%20a%20little%20salty,%20but%20in%20the%20end%20I%20can%20tell%20you%20from%20first%20hand%20experience%20just%20how%20much%20money%20it%20saves%20you.%20Having%20beef%20(or%20other%20proteins)%20on%20hand%20reduces%20your%20weekly%20budget%20while%20still%20including%20your%20favorite%20meats%20in%20your%20diet.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E6.%20Buying%20in%20Season%20Produce%20can%20be%20one%20of%20the%20things%20you%20spend%20the%20most%20money%20on%20every%20week.%20Sometimes%20I%20can't%20believe%20the%20cost%20of%20our%20favorite%20fruits%20and%20veggies.%20But%20if%20I%20try%20really%20hard%20to%20buy%20at%20the%20peak%20of%20the%20season,%20not%20only%20do%20I%20get%20the%20freshest%20choices,%20but%20also%20the%20most%20economical.%20And%20when%20things%20are%20in%20season,%20you%20can%20also%20take%20advantage%20of%20buying%20from%20your%20local%20farmer%20or%20farmer's%20market,%20saving%20you%20even%20more%20money!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ESo%20there%20you%20have%20it,%20my%20best%20tips%20on%20making%20that%20grocery%20budget%20stretch%20a%20little%20bit%20more.%20I%20hope%20something%20stands%20out%20as%20one%20you%20want%20to%20try%20and%20you%20can%20keep%20a%20few%20extra%20pennies%20in%20your%20wallet.%20But%20remember,%20no%20matter%20what%20we%20are%20spending%20each%20week%20on%20food%20in%20this%20country,%20so%20many%20around%20the%20world%20are%20spending%20so%20much%20more,%20for%20so%20much%20less,%20and%20for%20that%20we%20can%20always%20be%20grateful.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ECopycat%20Olive%20Garden%20Salad%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIn%20a%20bottle%20or%20jar,%20place%20all%20ingredients%20for%20dressing.%20Shake%20well.%20Refrigerate%20for%2024%20hours%20before%20using.%20To%20make%20salad,%20combine%20all%20ingredients%20in%20a%20large%20bowl.%20If%20not%20serving%20right%20away,%20don't%20add%20croutons.%20Add%20dressing%20a%20little%20at%20a%20time%20until%20desired%20consistency.%20Mix%20well.%20Serve%20immediately.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EDisclaimer:%20As%20part%20of%20the%20Affordable%20Food%20Options%20For%20Your%20Family,%20From%20Ours%20series,%20I%20was%20compensated%20for%20this%20post.%20All%20thoughts%20opinions%20are%20my%20own.%3C/p%3E){kind=link}