I'm always ashamed at how much food waste I sometimes produce as a single person. My goal is to buy smaller and eat at home more, and FOOD PREP weekly. I find that as I notice prices so high I worry about others in my community who will go without. I live in a gritty area and many people are below the poverty line. I don't have the right to worry about myself but I do worry a LOT about those who have lower paying jobs that have nothing to stretch or cut back on. Many are already at the mercy of food deserts as it is. Something needs to give for our world. Can't sustain this. Even in our wealthy country like the USA. We've GOT TO turn out and VOTE IN those that will make substantial changes to make our world better...NOT political parties stronger. Okay...I'll get off my soapbox now. Just sayin'
Expanded the garden by at least 100 percent. We just harvested 20 lbs of purple and yellow potatoes two days ago! Admittedly, the first thing I cooked was homemade potato chips. =) We already replanted the area with a dozen seedlings, mostly varieties of peppers. Also, growing tomatoes and many more others. As of April, began keeping quails and we are getting four eggs daily with a small flock. Counting our blessings and reading books of lost herbal remedies and edibles. Our surplus will be able to be canned or sold or traded for other essentials. There’s five of us and food prices are no joke at all, I’m out there too.
Oh boy-- this is the topic for me. Truth is, I work 7 days a week because on the weekend I'm one of those sample ladies in the grocery store. I work at many chains in and around Chicago and up to Milwaukee. I am seeing people totally traumatized by the cost of what is in their carts and I realize how ill-equipped many of us are to make it through trying times. The cost of labor in a country where so many have decided they do not need to work full time/at all and the cost of gas sailing upwards has created the perfect storm. So, what do I personally do? Dried beans can buy a couple meals a week. Pasta can buy a couple more. Stores gearing themselves toward ethnic groups are running good specials on canned fish such as tuna and salmon. Even at $3.50 a dozen, eggs are less than .30 a piece and can really make a difference. Store bakery french bread can turn into pizza for a small can of sauce and not too much cheese. We can do this, people :)
One of my favorite restaurants is a neighborhood Greek restaurant. They have a gyro salad on the menu, which I love. But I have discovered that if I order the plain Greek salad and have the chef add gyro meat to it, I have the same salad and save more than a third of the cost. I write books on how to lose weight by eating out. E.S. Abramson, author "From Fat to Fabulous".
Have noted prices going up , but being retired and low income , I get SNAP which helps. I do cut back where possible and have never been one to dine out , but do get takeout several times a year as a treat. Live alone and do all of my own cooking. Not possible here for a garden as city lots are tiny.
We stopped going to restaurants during Covid but doing takeout on Friday’s to support our local restaurants. The prices have gone up, as they have around the world. So not much to do there. But the opportunity is still there. Leftovers are now being given a new face rather than zapped again. Last nights leftover gazpacho is today’s cioppino.
Jul 7, 2022·edited Jul 7, 2022Liked by Andrew Zimmern
We're staying home now and eating out way less. I'm trying to get very creative as well but am still spending an outrageous $200 a week on groceries for 3 people! It's insane! Some of my strategies are:
1. let no leftover go into the trash if possible - get creative to eliminate as much waste as you can
2. adding beans and other grains to stretch proteins (think taco meat with bread crumbs and black beans added)
3. we bought a chest freezer in the Spring so I can stock up on generic frozen veggies and fruits when they are on sale
4. shopping for fresh produce at discount stores like Aldi or Farmer's Markets
5. I also expanded our garden so we can grow more of our own food and will freeze and can as much of it as I'm able.
6. Buy in bulk when you can - I get the frozen mahi mahi filets from Costco. If you butterfly them and serve plenty of veg on the sides you can feed 3 people at least 4 separate times from one bag of fish.
7. Meal plan so you can repurpose items into something new, for example if you cook the fried fish one night, use the leftovers for fish tacos the next day, etc
It's rising gas prices that have hit us, because we hunt, fish and gather so much food. We got our money's worth in morels and porcini this year, but I'm pretty reluctant to make forays if we can't get solid intel - an $85 tank of gas for maybe seeing some mushrooms is a non-starter.
I'm even more concerned about the cost of gas combined with ammo shortages, because it means I'm spending less time at the range keeping my skills sharp. That will not be good come fall, unfortunately - it will mean more missing.
I have always cooked daily from scratch which has always saved us money. We are now empty nesters which has lowered food bills but presented a new challenge: I need to learn to cook in smaller quantities! Aside from that, I have often shopped at ethnic food stores, Indian grocers in particular, which definitely saves money. In addition to produce, lentils/dried beans, spices (MUCH cheaper at Indian stores), and rice, I have begun to purchase other staples there (like a bag of sugar). Rising prices also have spurred me to take the time to make my own bread and yogurt more often than in the past. They are much cheaper when made at home. Finally, I break down chickens myself and I save the back bone when spatchcocking a bird. Those extra bits and pieces would be great in soup, and around here they go into chicken curry which benefits from bony pieces.
I've been going out more than ever as part of my mental health therapy while going through a stressful divorce...I'll have to put off being sensible for a couple more months.
Buying off the weekly circulars, ck'g prices from 3 different supermarkets & going on senior day-10% off total bill. Also using food from my freezer. Full time job !!! Eating out - lunch specials @ 2-3 PM
then smaller dinner @ home - & leftovers.
Debbie ( FYI- we love Family Dinner show on Sunday/Magnolia channel - we celebrate diversity ).
Cooking more at home. My wife's a chef and I once tried to be. What we're doing is eating less protein, less eating out, working harder to get an IT job and increase our income. We live in an apartment so we don't have the ability to grow a garden plus Wake County is in a drought. We will likely visit the NC State Farmers Market more, buy more beans, and learn to cook smaller more likely to be used up meals.
Something worth thinking about for those who buy chicken at the store: Buy the whole bird and learn how to break it down. Buying the whole animal is the most economical way to eat meat. Breaking down is satisfying (you'll suck at it at first, but a few jagged cuts really don't matter in the grand scheme of things).
On really fat animals, you can render fat for use later (who doesn't love schmaltz???). And you can always make stock/broth from the bones. Both fat-rendering and stock-making will make your home smell incredible.
Expanded the garden quite a bit this year, and the chickens I got last year are producing in full force this year. We also joined a CSA. We try to cook with what we have and avoid going to restaurants.
Haven't really changed much in how much we buy but I am looking at prices more. Also found myself getting more food items from Costco. With my daughters back from college for the summer we are not going out as much and receiving free bagels and ice cream from their workplaces so that's a bonus to both my wallet and waistline. Summer has also kept the impact down as we cook much lighter meals. One area that I have improved on (pretty good beforehand) is food waste, both during prep and leftovers.
I'm always ashamed at how much food waste I sometimes produce as a single person. My goal is to buy smaller and eat at home more, and FOOD PREP weekly. I find that as I notice prices so high I worry about others in my community who will go without. I live in a gritty area and many people are below the poverty line. I don't have the right to worry about myself but I do worry a LOT about those who have lower paying jobs that have nothing to stretch or cut back on. Many are already at the mercy of food deserts as it is. Something needs to give for our world. Can't sustain this. Even in our wealthy country like the USA. We've GOT TO turn out and VOTE IN those that will make substantial changes to make our world better...NOT political parties stronger. Okay...I'll get off my soapbox now. Just sayin'
YES!!!!!
Expanded the garden by at least 100 percent. We just harvested 20 lbs of purple and yellow potatoes two days ago! Admittedly, the first thing I cooked was homemade potato chips. =) We already replanted the area with a dozen seedlings, mostly varieties of peppers. Also, growing tomatoes and many more others. As of April, began keeping quails and we are getting four eggs daily with a small flock. Counting our blessings and reading books of lost herbal remedies and edibles. Our surplus will be able to be canned or sold or traded for other essentials. There’s five of us and food prices are no joke at all, I’m out there too.
Oh boy-- this is the topic for me. Truth is, I work 7 days a week because on the weekend I'm one of those sample ladies in the grocery store. I work at many chains in and around Chicago and up to Milwaukee. I am seeing people totally traumatized by the cost of what is in their carts and I realize how ill-equipped many of us are to make it through trying times. The cost of labor in a country where so many have decided they do not need to work full time/at all and the cost of gas sailing upwards has created the perfect storm. So, what do I personally do? Dried beans can buy a couple meals a week. Pasta can buy a couple more. Stores gearing themselves toward ethnic groups are running good specials on canned fish such as tuna and salmon. Even at $3.50 a dozen, eggs are less than .30 a piece and can really make a difference. Store bakery french bread can turn into pizza for a small can of sauce and not too much cheese. We can do this, people :)
One of my favorite restaurants is a neighborhood Greek restaurant. They have a gyro salad on the menu, which I love. But I have discovered that if I order the plain Greek salad and have the chef add gyro meat to it, I have the same salad and save more than a third of the cost. I write books on how to lose weight by eating out. E.S. Abramson, author "From Fat to Fabulous".
I used to live in downtown St. Paul, and there was a fabulous Greek restaurant a couple blocks from me that had an incredible gyro salad. I miss it!
Have noted prices going up , but being retired and low income , I get SNAP which helps. I do cut back where possible and have never been one to dine out , but do get takeout several times a year as a treat. Live alone and do all of my own cooking. Not possible here for a garden as city lots are tiny.
We stopped going to restaurants during Covid but doing takeout on Friday’s to support our local restaurants. The prices have gone up, as they have around the world. So not much to do there. But the opportunity is still there. Leftovers are now being given a new face rather than zapped again. Last nights leftover gazpacho is today’s cioppino.
We're staying home now and eating out way less. I'm trying to get very creative as well but am still spending an outrageous $200 a week on groceries for 3 people! It's insane! Some of my strategies are:
1. let no leftover go into the trash if possible - get creative to eliminate as much waste as you can
2. adding beans and other grains to stretch proteins (think taco meat with bread crumbs and black beans added)
3. we bought a chest freezer in the Spring so I can stock up on generic frozen veggies and fruits when they are on sale
4. shopping for fresh produce at discount stores like Aldi or Farmer's Markets
5. I also expanded our garden so we can grow more of our own food and will freeze and can as much of it as I'm able.
6. Buy in bulk when you can - I get the frozen mahi mahi filets from Costco. If you butterfly them and serve plenty of veg on the sides you can feed 3 people at least 4 separate times from one bag of fish.
7. Meal plan so you can repurpose items into something new, for example if you cook the fried fish one night, use the leftovers for fish tacos the next day, etc
It's rising gas prices that have hit us, because we hunt, fish and gather so much food. We got our money's worth in morels and porcini this year, but I'm pretty reluctant to make forays if we can't get solid intel - an $85 tank of gas for maybe seeing some mushrooms is a non-starter.
I'm even more concerned about the cost of gas combined with ammo shortages, because it means I'm spending less time at the range keeping my skills sharp. That will not be good come fall, unfortunately - it will mean more missing.
I have always cooked daily from scratch which has always saved us money. We are now empty nesters which has lowered food bills but presented a new challenge: I need to learn to cook in smaller quantities! Aside from that, I have often shopped at ethnic food stores, Indian grocers in particular, which definitely saves money. In addition to produce, lentils/dried beans, spices (MUCH cheaper at Indian stores), and rice, I have begun to purchase other staples there (like a bag of sugar). Rising prices also have spurred me to take the time to make my own bread and yogurt more often than in the past. They are much cheaper when made at home. Finally, I break down chickens myself and I save the back bone when spatchcocking a bird. Those extra bits and pieces would be great in soup, and around here they go into chicken curry which benefits from bony pieces.
I've been going out more than ever as part of my mental health therapy while going through a stressful divorce...I'll have to put off being sensible for a couple more months.
Buying off the weekly circulars, ck'g prices from 3 different supermarkets & going on senior day-10% off total bill. Also using food from my freezer. Full time job !!! Eating out - lunch specials @ 2-3 PM
then smaller dinner @ home - & leftovers.
Debbie ( FYI- we love Family Dinner show on Sunday/Magnolia channel - we celebrate diversity ).
Cooking more at home. My wife's a chef and I once tried to be. What we're doing is eating less protein, less eating out, working harder to get an IT job and increase our income. We live in an apartment so we don't have the ability to grow a garden plus Wake County is in a drought. We will likely visit the NC State Farmers Market more, buy more beans, and learn to cook smaller more likely to be used up meals.
Something worth thinking about for those who buy chicken at the store: Buy the whole bird and learn how to break it down. Buying the whole animal is the most economical way to eat meat. Breaking down is satisfying (you'll suck at it at first, but a few jagged cuts really don't matter in the grand scheme of things).
On really fat animals, you can render fat for use later (who doesn't love schmaltz???). And you can always make stock/broth from the bones. Both fat-rendering and stock-making will make your home smell incredible.
Expanded the garden quite a bit this year, and the chickens I got last year are producing in full force this year. We also joined a CSA. We try to cook with what we have and avoid going to restaurants.
Haven't really changed much in how much we buy but I am looking at prices more. Also found myself getting more food items from Costco. With my daughters back from college for the summer we are not going out as much and receiving free bagels and ice cream from their workplaces so that's a bonus to both my wallet and waistline. Summer has also kept the impact down as we cook much lighter meals. One area that I have improved on (pretty good beforehand) is food waste, both during prep and leftovers.
I take advantage of the many food pantries in my neighborhood. We save a lot of money on produce and canned goods.