Frugal Cooking

Frugal cooking is very important now because it's costing more and more to just exist in these days of the rising cost of living. It's getting to be a real problem, especially for those on a fixed income or public assistance.

One way to help keep food costs down is to buy in bulk. I'm talking about canned goods and packaged foods that have a long shelf life. You don't want to buy things like fruits and vegetables in bulk because they will likely spoil before you get a chance to use them all. You can also buy foods in bulk that freeze well, such as meats and poultry. Also, watch for bags of frozen vegetables to go on sale. These will keep for quite a while in a good freezer, especially if they are "double" bagged inside another zip-lock bag.

Think about packaged foods. These foods are low in nutrition and high in....who knows? You won't even recognize some of the ingredients if you read the label. If you're tempted to buy Hamburger Helper because you think it's cheaper than fixing it yourself, think again.

Generic or "store brand" foods are generally less expensive than the more popular brands. Quality is sometimes a bit lower but when you use them in casseroles or mixed with other foods, you won't be able to tell the difference. Some generic brands are actually better tasting than brand name foods. You can try different generic brands to see which ones you like the best.

I normally go to discount stores to buy canned and packaged goods. The quality is the same but slight dents in the cans will lower the cost, sometimes considerably. The only difference is the name on the can and the color of the label. Why pay full price for something that is just as good elsewhere? You can also buy flour, baking powder, baking soda and sugar at discount stores cheaper than at regular grocery stores. Do watch the expiration dates on these items. Baking powder that is too old won't work as it should and you'll be wasting your money.

Always shop with a shopping list. And, ONLY buy items that are on your list. Impulse buying is a real temptation in a store with shelves lined with goodies. Why do you think the grocery stores put the most expensive, least nutrious foods right at eye level? Enough said!

Along with having a shopping list, comes planning the meals. Go through your local newsletter and look for foods that are on sale and build your weekly meal plan around those items. You will not only eat more nutritious meals, but it will cost you a lot less.

Go to the "Dollar" stores in your area to buy spices such as oregano, thyme, Italian seasoning and basil. You can buy more than one jar if you want to. The spices will keep just fine as long as you don't open them.

Join a "membership" store such as Costco. You may think that the membership fee isn't worth it, but trust me...I've saved a LOT of money there. You don't always find exactly everything you want but you can get great deals on cases of canned goods, paper products and pet foods. Even though Fido has to eat, he doesn't have to have "Pet Store" food! You can also get great buys on meats and poultry at membership stores. They bulk package so you'll have to divide them into appropriate meal-sized portions before freezing.

Freeze your leftovers if you're not going to eat them within a couple days. I know most people just hate leftovers, but if you're on a budget, it doesn't pay to waste food. Purchase a good supply of different sized freezer bags. They don't have to be the top brand, fancy ones. Sometimes it's better to get the cheaper ones even if you have to double bag. You can always wash them out and use them at another time.