How to Feed a Family of 4 on a Budget
Start with the basics: home grown vegetables and herbs., Try to keep breakfast to a basic level but vary it at least twice a week., Next, make sure you eat only seasonal fruit and vegetables and try to see what is on special or at the local markets...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Start with the basics: home grown vegetables and herbs.
You don't have to grow a wide range but some staples such as parsley, chives, rosemary, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, spring onions etc all help.
To buy herbs can cost $2-$3 a bunch and that is more than it costs to buy the seedlings.
Put them on your windowsill, in pots, on the desk. -
Step 2: Try to keep breakfast to a basic level but vary it at least twice a week.
Even if it's just oats you can roast them in the oven with a little honey and juice to change the flavour. ,,,, If you are hungry on the way home, you will be more tempted to buy that chocolate bar and blow the budget , If left after this period, they have a tendency not to be used at all and sit in the back of the fridge until the next clean out. , You never know when quick and simple recipes come in handy.
Store a few lovely recipes in mind from a cookbook. , Get the whole family involved.
Try to have two vegetarian dishes a week. ,, It doesn't save money driving from one store to another to only save a couple of dollars which it cost more in petrol to get to. ,, Is there something you could have done cheaper for the same effect? -
Step 3: make sure you eat only seasonal fruit and vegetables and try to see what is on special or at the local markets as these will often be cheaper.
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Step 4: Take into consideration that you will need two servings of fruit per person per day (yes you can use tinned in natural juices) and five servings of vegetables before you go any further so add them to your shopping list.
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Step 5: Buy a large tub of yogurt instead of individual pots and you can use a small container to fill with the yogurt for lunches.
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Step 6: Whenever possible
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Step 7: take your lunch and snacks to school or work and pack a little extra if you are not planning on being home in time.
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Step 8: Pack your lunch with leftovers so that they don't go to waste or re-use within a day or so.
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Step 9: Have a few good recipes on hand.
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Step 10: Take time out once a week or fortnight to plan your meals and I mean all meals breakfast
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Step 11: dinner and snacks.
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Step 12: Write up a shopping list
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Step 13: then go to your pantry and check what you need and what you already have and cross it off the list.
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Step 14: Now check which supermarket has the specials for the majority of your items and shop there.
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Step 15: Lastly
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Step 16: don't shop on an empty stomach and stick to your shopping list.
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Step 17: Keep each week's menu plan and shopping list and revise when you are next ready to try that week's meals again.
Detailed Guide
You don't have to grow a wide range but some staples such as parsley, chives, rosemary, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, spring onions etc all help.
To buy herbs can cost $2-$3 a bunch and that is more than it costs to buy the seedlings.
Put them on your windowsill, in pots, on the desk.
Even if it's just oats you can roast them in the oven with a little honey and juice to change the flavour. ,,,, If you are hungry on the way home, you will be more tempted to buy that chocolate bar and blow the budget , If left after this period, they have a tendency not to be used at all and sit in the back of the fridge until the next clean out. , You never know when quick and simple recipes come in handy.
Store a few lovely recipes in mind from a cookbook. , Get the whole family involved.
Try to have two vegetarian dishes a week. ,, It doesn't save money driving from one store to another to only save a couple of dollars which it cost more in petrol to get to. ,, Is there something you could have done cheaper for the same effect?
About the Author
Jonathan Rodriguez
Enthusiastic about teaching cooking techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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