Feeding your family on a tight budget

Scenario:  It’s the last week of the month.  Your food budget is looking a little skimpy.  Don’t panic, I will give you some tips on how to s-t-r-e-t-c-h those last few food dollars!

Some people may look at meal planning on a budget as a chore.  I prefer to look at it as a challenge.  

I could suggest that you eat ramen noodles if you are running low on cash, but that would be irresponsible and flat-out bad advice.  Instead, I will offer up some common sense ideas that should help you learn how to fill your belly without breaking the bank.

The first and most important thing to do when planning your meals is to find out what is on sale. 
For instance, let’s say your local market has chicken on sale for .99 a pound.  With a typical meat portion per person of 6 to 7 ounces, you can get a few meals planned for very little money.

Here is an example:

Buy a family pack of the chicken.  Let’s say it is a 5 lb package.  You will need 2 lbs. to feed 4 people.

For the first meal, bake 2 lbs. of the chicken in the oven with a little lemon pepper or your favorite spices.  Serve with baked or mashed potatoes.  You can usually buy a 10 lb. bag on sale for 2.99 or less.  Add 2 cans of vegetables which should cost about 60 cents each.  Throw in some Macaroni & cheese for 69 cents and you have just fed your family for $4.64!

Now, you still have 3 lbs of chicken to work with.  Take the remaining 3 lbs. and boil it.  Pull the chicken off the bones and set aside about 1 lb. for later.  Now you have this nice boneless chicken meat to use for another dish.  Here are some inexpensive hot chicken dishes you can make:

• Chicken & dumplings
• Chicken noodle soup
• Chicken Tacos
• Chicken pot pie
• Chicken ala king
• Chicken casserole

All of the dishes above can be made by only adding a few inexpensive ingredients.

Use the other pound of chicken to make chicken salad.  Keep this in the refrigerator for sandwiches or spread it on crackers for a healthy after-school snack.

Tip: If you are not going to use the chicken stock right away, pour it in an air-tight container or zipper bag and freeze it.  You can also freeze the stock in ice cube trays for smaller portions to add to vegetables or other dishes.  Canned chicken stock is expensive!

Here are some ways to stretch ground beef:

Buy a 3 lb. package of ground beef.  This will probably run you about 8 dollars.  If you check the meat manager’s special rack, you can probably get it for less.

Use 1 lb. to make a pot of chili.  You will need 2 cans of chili beans at around .89 each, ¼ of a medium size onion (25 cents) and 1 lg. can of tomatoes at around 1.00.  Serve with crackers for a hearty meal that only costs about 5 or 6 dollars.

Take another lb. of the ground beef and make 4 hamburger patties.  Fry them in a pan, drain off the grease and add 1 can of mushroom soup and sprinkle with salt and pepper to make a wonderful mushroom gravy.  Simmer for about ½ hour and serve with mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls or bread.  Another meal under 6 bucks!

Add the last lb. to a jar of spaghetti sauce and serve with salad and garlic bread.

Have soup night at least once a week.  You can make the soup, or use canned soup.  Either way, soup is an inexpensive and nutritious meal.

When planning your meals, include foods that are going to stick to your family’s ribs.  Be sure to serve potatoes, pasta, beans and/or bread with every meal.  These foods help to fill you up and are inexpensive.  When eaten in moderate amounts, these foods provide energy and are an essential part of the food pyramid.

Just because you are low on funds, doesn’t mean you have to starve!  These are just a few examples of how to stretch your food dollars.  Everyone has different tastes, so keep an eye out for sales on foods that your family enjoys.

Remember, being a penny-pincher is not magic.  It takes time, effort and determination.  With a little practice, you should see your grocery bill getting smaller in no time!