Grocery shopping dilemma, any sujestions?

Question

I have to do the grocery shopping today for my family of 4. Myhusband, myslef and my 4 & 2 year old. We are on a tight budget and it seems like we only get and eat the same things all the time. Any sujestions of what you would buy that is still healthy and includes all or most of the food groups and can make complete meal ideas? As far as the budget, pretend you are poor lol. Meal ideas themselves would work just as well. Thanks for your imput, hope you can help!

Answer 1

I eat lots of beans, they are healthy, cheap and filling. You can make bean burritos (like tacos -meat), bean dip, whatever you can think of.

I like making chicken parmesean with frozen chicken patties, pasta, pasta sauce and cheese. Maybe with a salad?

Salsa can go far, I put it on everything. I love turkey, cheese, salsa, and spinach sandwiches toasted in the oven.

Sandwiches are good. You can go with turkey, peanut butter and jelly or egg salad. Eggs are cheap and diverse. You can make egg salad, deviled eggs, scrambled eggs.

So if you buy eggs and beans for protein, it's cheap, good, and healthy versus other animal meat.

If all else fails, go ramen. Good luck!

Answer 2

There is a book out called "The Dinner Doctor" made by the same lady who did "Cake Mix Doctor," if you've heard of that. She gives ideas on how to spice up bland canned & frozen foods. You didn't mention what kinds of foods you currently buy, but here are some of my cheap faves:

Dinty Moore Beef Stew over a bowl of rice: the medium can and soem $2 rice, and you've got a meal for 4 for under $4.

Chili over a baked potato

Chili-Mac: regular macaroni, a can of Hormel chili, and grated cheddar on top. Some people use Kraft mac-n- cheese, but in this case I think it's nasty.

Home-made mac-n-cheese; it's a little more expensive but doesn't take any longer to make and tastes SO much better!

Kraft mac-n-cheese with cut up hot dogs

Chili dogs with Hormel chili

In the dry beans aisle you can get a package of 7 or 10 bean soup mix. Follow the instructions on how to make it, then add a peice of bacon, some sauted chickens, an onion and some celery and it could last through next day's lunch.

Also go to www.allrecipes.com for a ton of other ideas from other people.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I agree with the person who reccomended allrecipes.com site. I use it very often. I have a family of 6 to cook for and I steer away from processed foods as much as I can. I shop at Costco and do a lot of bulk meats and fishes. People might laugh but Sunday dinner is great for leftovers. I always cook big on Sunday's..like a ham, beef tenderloin, turkey. This provides for lunch during the school week. I am getting bored with winter foods though. Next month I am pulling out the BBQ and grilling! Keeps the kitchen cleaner too! Take care and good luck.

Answer 4

Using pasta or rice always is fairly cheap. My family, especially my kids like macaroni and cheese, with adding spam or hot dogs in it, with a can of corn mixed in too. Fairly cheap, and if you want it a little cheesier use 2 packs of the cheese per box and used the left over noodles for another night with some tomato soup on them with a little ground beef or turkey.

The rice is good with just a small cut up chicken breast, a can of cream of chicken soup, and stewed tomatoes all mixed together. Be creative, kids will eat most anything they are introduced to at those ages. for very little cost.

Answer 5

the back of the minute rice box has a wonderful chicken and rice bake, there are carrots and peas and cheese in it as well. my family loves it.
try the au gratin potatoe boxes, they have good recipes on them as well.
spaghetti is always a hit. pork chops with stuffing and green beans. pork tenderlion with pasta and corn. you can always make a pot pie from scratch, they are healthy.
when buying soups and canned or frozen veggies, or anything you need, you can use the store brand, they usually taste the same and they are always cheaper. i try to save as much money as possible.
hope this helped.

Chicken Pot Pie
INGREDIENTS
2 (9 inch) deep dish frozen pie crusts, thawed
1 (15 ounce) can mixed vegetables, drained
2 cups cooked, diced chicken breast
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a bowl combine the mixed vegetables, chicken, cream of chicken soup and milk. Pour mixture into one of the pie crusts. Turn the other crust over and pop out of the tin onto the top of the filled pie. Seal the edges and poke holes in top crust.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Answer 6

Figure out what is on sale at your market and build your meals around those items. There are always things on sale in the produce and meat departments. As for other ideas try to use things that are always inexpensive such as rice and pasta or canned goods such as tomatoes and beans. Also there are usually "manager special" sections that are extremely cheap but you must use them within a couple days. There are always printable coupons online if you want to use those too.
Obviously I undertand where you are coming from haha but with planning its easy! Good luck

Answer 7

if you don't have much money then go to the food banks but you have to keep it up and save your money and then what you don't have at home you can get at the store
I don't know you budget you can make you own chicken soup broth celery carrots what ever else you want to put in and you can buy those big cans at the very bottom of the shelf for big family's that will help you if you can't find them ask the manager be creative make your own dishes rice w/meat and tomato sauce

Answer 8

www.kraft.ca has a great meal planning section that will feed your family and it even gives you the grocery list to print out and take with you. i have used this meal plan to cut the cost of feeding 4 adults and my grocery bill for every 2 weeks has dropped considerably. also a bonus for you is the meals basically take 10 minutes to prep and then you can walk away and relax while it cooks. i hope this helps you since it has helped me alot!

Answer 9

What I do is treat them to things that they can't have to often because of the cost, meaning my children love pizza but anymore the price of pizza is outrageous so I buy Two medium frozen Pizzas then I get just enough of the extra toppings that hey like on it, if it is green peppers get one Large pepper dice it up and put half in the freezer for the next time, If they like mushrooms I get the canned, I always get extra cheese to put on it. It is in expensive and its a treat that allows them not to be on a budget for a minute. ( I don't call it poor anymore with my children)

Answer 10

Do not buy frozen entrees or dinners, no junk foods or sodas. Buy 100%juices , dilute with water, healthier and goes further. Buy meat, chicken on sale, use frozen, no sauce veg. on sale, can mix with noodles and crem soup to stretch. Iceberg is cheapest lettuce, use storebrand dressings. do not skimp on milk. Make meatloaf, with oatmeal as filler % some frozen veggies mixed in too. Some cheese is always on sale. Use tuna and onsale deli for lunches. Do not buy single portion items. Canned fruits in juices are good and can go over oatmeal. Buy for health first & teach kids to eat healthy, no junk as is waste of $$$ too.