Comments on: Nearly Impossible: Cheap & Healthy

By: Eating In Season : Domestic Cents

Eating In Season : Domestic Cents — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 11:28:58 +0000

[...] talked before about the challenge of finding/making food that is both cheap and healthy. I feel like I’ve been making some headway and I’ve been able to incorporate more and [...]

By: Homemade Granola And Granola Bars : Domestic Cents

Homemade Granola And Granola Bars : Domestic Cents — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:48:17 +0000

[...] while back I wrote about how difficult it is to purchase and prepare food that is cheap and healthy. It takes creativity, shopping around and usually some extra work. I think it’s [...]

By: Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:45:25 +0000

Great list. I don’t usually grocery shop to be frugal but I do make most things from scratch. I don’t buy many things from a can because most of those things can be done in a less processed way. Beans, for example. A giant bag of dried beans is way cheaper than the canned beans and has more nutrients in tact.

And sure, a store bought lasagna may be cheaper (maybe) than making your own, but it is full of ingredients you don’t need in your body. Though I usually make about 4 lasagnas at once and I think the total cost is way lower than buying 4 frozen.

There are some things I always pay a higher price for. I don’t buy vegetable fat (margarine, shortening) except for a little bit of vegetable/canola oil to use in baking (because as much as I’d like to, I can’t stop making brownies). And we all know butter and coconut oil is way more expensive than the alternatives. Even though vegetable fats are cheaper they are nasty for your body so that is one place I try not to compromise. I also refuse to buy any processed meats with nitrates/nitrites or any foods with MSG (very well disguised in most ingredient sections as “seasoning”).

I think skipping the “filler” is a huge way to save money. I also find salad to be very frugal!
Andrea´s last blog ..The cutest question ever

By: Kelli M

Kelli M — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:44:53 +0000

Hmmmm…I’ll see what I can find too and we’ll compare notes.
Kelli M´s last blog ..Christmas Card Information

By: Nicki

Nicki — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:28:52 +0000

@jennifer888 – I don’t think that a vegetarian diet is healthier either but I do think there are vegetarian forms of protein that are less expensive than the meat I ordinarily use.

By: Nicki

Nicki — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:27:03 +0000

@Kelly M – I don’t churn my own butter but I’d be interested in learning too. I’ll see what I can dig up for you

By: Cheapskate Sandy

Cheapskate Sandy — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:43:28 +0000

You have a great list here. Another thing that I try to do when I buy my staple items is stack sales with coupons so I can get things as cheaply or close to free as possible. I try to wait for when my local store doubles or triples coupons.

Also, for fresh veggies I shop at my local green grocer. They move a ton more of this stuff so it’s always fresh and I have found it to be much cheaper than the supermarket. The same goes for the fish monger. Of course, these stores are all in a straight line do I’m not wasting money on gas while trying to save as well.
Cheapskate Sandy´s last blog ..Festival of Frugality #199 – Damn, No Bonus Edition

By: Kelli M

Kelli M — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:01:12 +0000

I’ve GOT to know how you church your own butter! Margarine freaks me out, but real butter is hard to spread, so I try to stick with the margarine that is make with a healthier oil like canola or olive but still…I’m sure there’s a lot of junk in there. Maybe your next post…:) OR you email me!
Kelli M´s last blog ..Christmas Card Information

By: jennifer888 @ Negotiation Board

jennifer888 @ Negotiation Board — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:37:07 +0000

Thanks for this list! It is pretty much all-inclusive—the only thing that I can think to add is that sometimes buying the prepacked item is cheaper. For example homemade lasagna can be quite expensive if you have to buy all the ingredients first. Sometimes the cheaper (and faster) option is to buy it frozen.

P.S.—I have been a vegetarian for 15 years and it is NOT healthier. It is much harder to get adequate protein sources that are inexpensive and healthy.
jennifer888 @ Negotiation Board´s last blog ..Supporting Your Argument: Negotiation Preparation Part VI