| When feeding a family, it can sometimes be | | | | calories and 34 grams of fat! Sure, there are lower |
| challenging to balance cost, nutrition and simplicity. | | | | calorie options, but the nutritional value is still lacking. |
| Foods that are convenient are often expensive and | | | | But can you REALLY eat nutritious foods for $1.11 per |
| not all that nutritious. They are often loaded with | | | | person per meal? |
| MSG (which is cleverly disguised as many things | | | | One of our favorite meals is Tagliotti and it is very |
| including "natural flavors") and high fructose corn syrup, | | | | affordable, even with fresh sourdough bread on the |
| both of which are harmful to our bodies. | | | | side. Even baked salmon with broccoli and rice is an |
| But nutritious foods take longer to cook and they are | | | | affordable dinner and it is full of good nutrition. |
| also expensive...or are they? | | | | Here are some tips for balancing convenience, cost |
| Not long ago, I was watching a documentary where a | | | | and nutrition for your family. |
| family of four stated that it was "too expensive" to eat | | | | 1. Watch for sales! I only look at the front and back |
| healthy, nutritious food. They claimed that eating from | | | | of the ad flyer since that is where the healthiest foods |
| the "dollar menu" was less expensive than cooking for | | | | are found. We've been able to find wild-caught |
| themselves. I'll admit that I used to think that cooking | | | | salmon for $8.95 for 2 1/2 pounds. Buy as much as |
| healthy food for my family was going to mean | | | | you can afford when you find it at that price and |
| spending more money on groceries, but I've been | | | | freeze it so you'll have plenty of food options. |
| pleasantly surprised! | | | | 2. Build your menu around what's on sale. There |
| It has been said that the food budget for the "typical" | | | | are several great recipe sites where you can enter |
| American family is about $100 per month for each | | | | the ingredients you have on hand and it will provide |
| family member. So, for my family of 7, my food | | | | you with recipes that use those ingredients. All |
| budget would be about $700. | | | | Recipes is one of my favorite sites. |
| Let's compare fast food against cooking your own | | | | 3. Always have some staples on hand. We always |
| meals. | | | | have whole grain/whole wheat pasta, brown rice, |
| A monthly budget of a hundred dollars per person | | | | whole grain breads, tomato sauce, soy milk, |
| breaks down to about $1.11 per meal. An item off the | | | | homemade "refried" beans (recipe on my site) and |
| "dollar menu" is less, but honestly, who eats just one | | | | tortillas in the pantry. |
| thing off the dollar menu? The family I saw on the | | | | 4. Experiment and have fun! Don't be afraid to try |
| food documentary was eating a meal which contained | | | | new things. We've made some great meals and our |
| 3 items per person, a "burger", fries and a drink. | | | | kids think we're the best cooks in the world! |
| That's $3 per person. If you did that for every meal, | | | | Not only are we eating healthier, we're having fun and |
| you'd spend about $270 per person, per month...almost | | | | we're actually saving money. As an added bonus, |
| TRIPLE the typical budget. | | | | we don't generate as much trash (haven't quite figured |
| Sure, it's convenient, but it's also expensive! And the | | | | that one out yet!). |
| nutritional value of that food? OH MY! If you were | | | | For us, it really boils down to a commitment to feed |
| to buy a double cheeseburger, fries and a small drink | | | | our family more nutritious meals. |
| (all from the dollar menu), you'd be consuming 820 | | | | |