Making food dollars stretch

Food. We all need it. Some of us struggle more than others to afford it. Some people talk about whether  or not they can afford to eat organic food, while other people are just trying to eat.

Here are some tips about how to make your food money go a little bit further.

Cook your own food.
Ingredients for making your own meals are less expensive than buying pre-made meals from the store or restaurant.  For those of us who may only have a couple of dollars to try to feed ourselves, or even a family, every penny counts. For example, a box of plain spaghetti costs less than a box of noodles with a sauce packet in it.  Plus, those boxes usually need other foods to be prepared - mac & cheese needs milk and butter.  It's cheaper - and often tastier - to make your own plain noodles with a sauce you make yourself out of butter, milk, flour, and a couple of seasonings.

Buy ingredients you can use for many different meals.
Rice, pasta, potatoes, and bread are all inexpensive, filling options that can be used for all sorts of different meals.  They also stay good for a long time, so this week you might buy some rice, next week some noodles - check to see what's on sale and use that as a way to stock up on some of these staples. Some cheese, butter, veggies, and a little imagination go a long way to making these staples tasty.

Buy from the bulk food areas.
Most grocery stores have bulk food areas where you can buy foods from a bin instead of already packaged foods. Foods such as oatmeal and rice taste just as good from those bins as they do from more expensive packaged options.

Know how much you can spend, and stick to it.
For some people, the best way to make sure they stick to a budget is to shop with cash. For some people, the best way is to shop with a calculator. Whatever it might be that works for you, know how much you can spend at the store.
Allow yourself something fun once in a while - your budget will determine how often that can be. You're more likely to stick with your budget if you have a small amount set aside for treats such as chocolate or ice cream. You'll know how much you can get, how long it needs to last, and you'll be less likely to accidentally spend more than you want.

Don't let your food go to waste.
For most people, produce and leftovers are the most likely foods to go to waste in the fridge. Keep track of what you have in your cupboard and fridge, and make sure those foods get used instead of going into the trash because of being forgotten.
When you buy produce, try to wash it and if appropriate, chop it, right when you get home with it. That makes it much easier to use when you're tired and hungry.

Involve the family.
Making food as a family is a good way to spend time together as well as teach your children how to cook. Even fussy eaters are more likely to enjoy food they've had a hand in preparing.

Raise your own food when you can.
The Gardening Matters initiative on the East Side of St Paul exists to help East Siders move away from being a food desert. Advice and supplies are available to help residents grow their own produce. Raise food you will eat, and consider freezing extra produce so that you have your veggies into the winter months.

Visit the ESPC website for more details, or do some Internet research on urban gardening and container gardening.

Please share in the comments below your own advice and experiences with making the most of your food dollars.