I need menu help please.

[Guest guest]

I have a big problem most of the recipes call for spices that I don't

have and are not in my budget to purchase at anytime really. we have a

bent and dent store I will check to see if they have it at a way lower

price. First off to let you know that I am on a strict budget of

100.00 a month to feed a family of four. I want us to all eat healther

and with no animal procuts best that we can but kids will be kids so

they want certain things and I will do so in maderation. The only

spices that I keep on hand are pepper, salt, garlic dried in clove,

bell pepper, either white or yellow onions which ever on sale,

cinnomon, oregno that is dried and poultry seasoning. I need help to

figure out mainly supper menu for us. Can you please help or give some

suggestions. i will try to get some other things what are the main

things I need to get a far as spices. It will take time for me to do

so a little at a time. If this is a probem then thanks so much and I

will do wht I can.

[Guest guest]

I can hear you about the grocery bill I dont know where you live but that is

amazing you can eat for $100 a month. When we started eating healthy we used to

spend for a family of 4 $80 a week now that we are vegetarians we are spending

nearly $120 a week and there is no junk food I am talking just healthy food. It

is a big stressor in my family. I depend a lot on the healh food stores that

sell in bulk that way I dont have to pay a lot for spices I dont use much. I

look forward to learning from others how they save money on food. The thing is

we need the nutrients especially iron and B's. My kids look so unhealthy and

pale when I dont spend the time to balance the meals and we eat a lot of

processed foods like mac n cheese. Money is tight here and honestly many weeks

we have used our credit card. when we were meat eaters our grocery bills were so

low. Anyhow I think the health benifits outweigh the negative.

Steph

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

If I come across a recipe and I don't have the spice I just don't use it. I do

find a basic seasoning salt nice, garlic powder or salt, salt, pepper, and some

of the Mrs. Dash varieties are nice. Of course for baking you do need a few

things, but really in our daily meals I don't use much more than what I listed,

and if I do its really rare.

And applaud you for feeding your family on $100 a month, that is amazing.

 

 

 

) Rachel ~ http://www.thelucastribe.com

 

~ KUSTOMIZED KIDS ~ http://www.cafepress.com/kustomizedkids

Baby & Kids, Pregnancy, Natural Parenting, Wedding, & Personalized Clothing

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-

cry_7_24

Friday, January 05, 2007 10:38 AM

I need menu help please.

 

 

I have a big problem most of the recipes call for spices that I don't

have and are not in my budget to purchase at anytime really. we have a

bent and dent store I will check to see if they have it at a way lower

price. First off to let you know that I am on a strict budget of

100.00 a month to feed a family of four. I want us to all eat healther

and with no animal procuts best that we can but kids will be kids so

they want certain things and I will do so in maderation. The only

spices that I keep on hand are pepper, salt, garlic dried in clove,

bell pepper, either white or yellow onions which ever on sale,

cinnomon, oregno that is dried and poultry seasoning. I need help to

figure out mainly supper menu for us. Can you please help or give some

suggestions. i will try to get some other things what are the main

things I need to get a far as spices. It will take time for me to do

so a little at a time. If this is a probem then thanks so much and I

will do wht I can.

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Several thoughts. The first is that if you live in the US, there are food stamp

programs, commodity programs and private church and non church programs you need

to research. Been there, sweetie, done all of it. Including trying to feed 7

kids on what you have budgeted now. (It was easier then, I know that. Food

prices have gone insane.) If you can/freeze and live in a rural area, check

into farmers who will let you glean their fields. You would not believe how

many hundreds of bushels of vegetables are left to rot in fields because

mechanical pickers miss them or the farmer couldn't afford pickers.

 

Dry beans and rice can be cooked and combined in many different ways. Do you

serve/eat cheese and or eggs? Soup and grilled cheese goes a good way. Cook

intentional leftovers. Pasta dishes can be varied with different vegetables

added, even beans. Mac and cheese with veggie side dishes and applesauce is

also inexpensive.

 

Spices, herbs: If you belong to something like Sam's club, (or have a friend who

will pick them up for you), buy the big things of spices and store in a cool,

dry place. I paid under $4 for a large, over 1 pound container of " taco "

seasoning that I use when I need a generic " Tex-Mex " sort of seasoning. Though

fresh is better, it isn't always cheapest. In addition to the taco seasoning, I

keep onion powder, dried minced onions, dried garlic powder, parsley, oregano or

Italian seasoning, chives, cinnamon, and others on hand.

 

If you have kids, be sure to cover your butt nutritionally. We have friends who

were visited by children's services because their family was vegan and their

sons were " skinny. " (Healthy and with very slender parents. Trust me, those

kids ate well and were not neglected just because their parents didn't feed them

hot dogs and garbage.)

 

Hope this helps. Hang in there. Jeanne in GA

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

On Fri, 2007-01-05 at 15:38 +0000, cry_7_24 wrote:

> I have a big problem most of the recipes call for spices that I don't

> have and are not in my budget to purchase at anytime really.

 

I completely understand having to shop on a budget. I echo what Rachel

said - if a recipe calls for a spice and you don't have it, skip it. Or,

substitute a different spice that you think will taste good. If there is

a health food store near you, try to buy bulk foods (rice, grains,

pastas) as well as bulk spices as often as you can. You do get a

healthier food for less that way. Some grocery store chains also have

bulk sections. Similarly, buying 'no name' items instead of brand names

will often give you the very same food item for much less. I'd also like

to recommend shopping ethnic markets if you have one near by. We live

close to a large asian market and I'm constantly amazed at how much less

items cost there, particularly produce and spice type items, not to

mention canned beans, instant noodles, and the like.

 

peace and blessings,

ben

[Guest guest]

I would find an ethnic store & buy as much as you can bulk. Even spices are

cheaper. this was advice I received a bazillion years ago it seems: buy every

shape, size & color bean/legume available. Mix & match to make endless recipes.

Bought bulk, you pay less for packaging. I hoarded large glass jars for storage

& they line the top shelf. At a warehouse store, you can get pasta, spices,

peanut butter & all sorts of stuff for less because you're paying less for

packaging. I think frozen veggies are better than canned & cheaper, too. (If

I'm wrong, anybody can smack me.) Do you have a bread machine? that might be a

worthwhile investment because you can get big bags of flour at the wholesale

store & make fresh bread every few days. Much cheaper than buying it. I hope

this isn't repetitious.

Beth

 

cry_7_24 <cry_7_24 wrote:

First off to let you know that I am on a strict budget of

100.00 a month to feed a family of four.

 

 

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