Question

Does anyone have any good "cheap food" tips. I am in my 3rd year, I have struggled to stay on track since christmas and while I always have lots of fresh fruit and veggies in, I also feel I waste a lot of food as I am generally on my own due to my husband working away. I seem to throw a lot away especially fresh salad items. I make batch meals and freeze but just wondered if there are any really smart money saving tips for buying healthy? E. g. I buy a whole head of Cauliflower but I only get through half and just dont get time to stand a blanch it before freezing so it ends up in the garbage having turned bad.

Answer 1

Do you have a friend that you can split the cost and amount of fruit and veggies

Comments

@fawkes not really no but a great thought.  

Answer 2

Maybe cut up mixed bags, eg broccoli, cauliflower. A bag of small apples instead of picking the larger ones. Freeze grapes.  

Answer 3

Use frozen veggies

Answer 4

One idea for your veggies, if you’re eating them cooked. I buy bags of cauliflower, broccoli, California blend, stir fry veggies at Dollar Tree. That’s $1 bag for 4 servings. I dump out the amount I want in a microwave covered dish and cook a couple minutes. Fast and no waste. Cheap too.  

Answer 5

Store vegies and fruit (dry well) in mason jars. they last over a week

Answer 6

Dedicate a half hour or so after you get home from the store to prep the food. Wash fruits and vegetables, and prepare the lettuce, spinach into salad. Store it in a paper towel lined airtight container, then it is already to eat. Change out the paper towel every few days. Then it is ready to put on a plate and dig in.  

Answer 7

I work an every-changing schedule so I grocery shop according to my schedule. I go on the morning of my day off- then shop for my days off and the next set of days I work (usually just 2 or 3 since I work 4-10s mostly). I have found that this way I am able to better judge exactly what I need and do it more purposefully around my meals planned. Yes, I am at the store more often, but they are smaller trips.  

Answer 8

I buy Thanksson frozen grilled chicken so I can just cook what I need. Trader Joe’s has frozen grilled asparagus I cook what I need as well. I sautéed mushrooms onions spinach and cherry tomatoes in big batches then use in eggs or sautéed with chicken then melt fat free mozzarella

Answer 9

I buy romaine hearts instead of bagged salads. They last so much longer, and I just wash and cut them myself when I need lettuce for salad. Can you just buy smaller amounts of fresh items, such as produce, and pick up more as needed? If not, maybe rely more on frozen produce than fresh? Egg dishes (crustless quiche, frittatas, etc), souls and stews are good ways to use up veggies that are starting to turn.  

Answer 10

Maybe if you know you are eating on your own, pick up some precut items from the grocery store salad bar. Just get the amount you need. You probably will end up spending less in the long run.  

Answer 11

Look on YouTube. Lots of people with great tips.  

Answer 12

Absolutely! All good advice here. I buy two heads of cauliflower when it's good price and grate and cook all at once. This is enough "rice" for me for two weeks easy, depending how much asian style food I am making. And yes, it does freeze well. I also precook spinach and mushrooms and fridge up to a week for my scrambles and soups, or freeze also.  

Answer 13

I find that a fresh head of cauliflower will last much longer in the refrigerator if you wrap it in paper towels and store in a plastic bag with all the air “squished” out. I’ve had them last 2-3 weeks. Also do this with squash and cucumbers. They last much longer.  

Answer 14

When u buy veggies u can get more “life” out of them by storing them differently. for example, a head of lettuce . unwrap it from the store, wrap it in Saran Wrap tightly and store it in a zip lock bag For cauliflower. same thing or at least break it up into pieces and store in a ziplock Or invest in a vacuum sealer & some bags (mine is cheap. $20 from Walmart) they r great for keeping things fresh (great for freezing foods)