Over the past decade, we've watched food prices climb. From 2020 to 2021, food costs jumped 5.3%; from 2022 to 2023, they rose 9.9%. So, I've called in my expert, Kathy Edwards, from Nashville, TN, to help us do better, and here is why.
The Frugal Catholic--"Kathy, you and I grew up in WV together. You married your high school sweetheart, and in 1968, both of you began living on next to nothing. For example, the two of you ate off $10 a week, or $5 per person. In 1968, the average food cost per person was $25; thus, you and your spouse were eating off of one-fifth of what others paid. Give my readers your secrets then and now.
Kathy-- These are Money-saving ideas for food in 1968. Outside of the usual, using coupons, buying in bulk and season, and stealing apples from a neighbor's tree, here are a few things I did to save.
Trick #1—We started drinking nonfat reconstituted milk. (Well, my husband needed to lose weight anyway!) I determined that if you got the milk cold enough and added a little vanilla extract, it was palatable. I started the first week drinking one part whole milk and one part dry reconstituted. Each week, I would decrease the proportion of whole milk until, after about six weeks, we were drinking 100% dry nonfat reconstituted milk. It saved a lot of money and was convenient.
Trick #2--Another trick I used was to buy only grocery store brands. In high school, my brother worked at the A and P Grocery Store, and he advised me that the house brands in stores were REALLY name brands with an A and P label. I assumed that's the way it was for all grocery chains.
Trick #3--You could usually get by with only half of the meat the recipe called for in casseroles. For a lasagna calling for 1 pound of ground meat, I could only put in 1/2 pound of ground meat. Little did I know that that was also the healthier way to go!
Trick #4--I would not throw away any food. Leftover veggies would be made into a soup or salad on the weekends.
Trick #5--I made my yogurt, which saved us a TON of money. We probably ate a gallon a week. Those were the days when we thought yogurt promised longevity, and yes, you guessed it, I used my nonfat milk to make it. In the first week, I had made up the cost of my new yogurt maker.
Money-Savings Techniques for Food Nowadays
Trick #6--I am sorry and a little ashamed to say that now I am not nearly so frugal as I once was, BUT with grocery prices soaring, I AM BECOMING MORE CAREFUL. I no longer make my food or drink milk from dry, but I still use LESS MEAT, and we still use STORE BRANDS and TRY NOT TO THROW OUT FOOD. My frugality is now more centered on time. It is a commodity more valuable than money. So now when I make a casserole, or soup, I make lots of it to put it away in the freezer. It is such a time saver for future meals,
Trick #7—My top picks to enjoy CHEAPO EATS are these: It may be cliche but eat more peas and beans. Not only are they high in protein, but they are full of fiber. Soybeans and lentils are two of the highest protein beans. (See following recipe.)
Trick #8--Eat Less Meat--Not only is it a healthier way to chow down, but meat is usually the biggest drain in your grocery bill.
Trick #9--EGGS--Eggs are not just for breakfast. Most people don't regularly have eggs for breakfast. There are many ways to make eggs for brunch, lunch, or supper--remarkably layered casseroles or quiches. Just sprinkling two or three pieces of crisp, crumbled bacon on an egg casserole makes it very satisfying for 8 to 10 people.
Trick #10-My Dad's Trick--My Father used to say, generally, the longer it takes to eat a dish, the better it is for you." So, fuel up a big plate with lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, or tomatillos, celery, garbanzo beans or edamame, flavorful feta cheese crumbles, a few walnuts, dried apples, and /or blueberries. It is a meal fit for a king--fresh, satisfying, healthy, and CHEAP.
Trick #11--Frugal Dessert Trick--Try blending or mashing a ripe banana or berries with a 1/2 cup of vanilla ice cream. Sprinkle with a few nuts and a dollop of whipped cream. You'll have a dessert no one can replace for about 65 cents per person.
Trick #12--Use Lots of FRESH Herbs-- They provide flavor and nutrition, are beautiful, and are cheap if you grow your own. Here is a great frugal recipe called
MASHED PEA RISOTTO with ONION AND LEMON VINAIGRETTE
3 cups frozen or fresh peas
Salt and pepper to taste
2 T olive oil
2-3 t chicken or vegetable stock if needed
5 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1/4 cup white wine
8 T butter, divided
1/2 cup milk or half and half
1 cup grated Parmesan plus rind
extra olive oil for onion
3 T honey
fresh or dried thyme
2 cups arborio rice
2 large onions
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup olive oil
1 clove minced garlic
1 T Dijon mustard
Preparation:
Cook the peas in boiling salted water for 3 minutes. Please remove and immerse them in cold water to prevent them from cooking and retain their bright green color. Pat the peas dry with paper towels.
2. Blend 2 1/2 cups of peas, oil, salt, and pepper; add a few teaspoons of stock if it becomes too thick.
Melt 4 T butter over medium heat. Stir in rice, stirring to toast rice. This will take a few minutes.
Add wine and Parmesan rind and scrape the pan. Slowly add warm stock, one cup at a time, stirring as needed.
Continue to stir in broth until a creamy consistency is reached. This will take about 25 minutes.
Stir in 4 T butter until melted. Add cheese.
Stir in pea puree and taste.
Garnish with the remaining 1/2 cup of peas.
To Make Lemon Vinaigrette
Put lemon juice, garlic, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and whisk. Then add olive oil, whisking continually. Stir in thyme and season.
Slice onions into 1/4-inch slices after peeling.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Cook the onion while stirring until golden brown and soft.
Stir in salt to taste just before removing from the pan.
Spread onion over mashed pea risotto.
Pour lemon vinaigrette over ALL to taste.
In conclusion, food costs seem out of our control. However, we can influence our food budget and learn to do more from home. Plus, as Kathy points out, great tips for careful shopping can also help our prices drop. Cheapo Eats are possible with sound wisdom.
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Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
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Martha Wild King, M.Ed., Author
The Frugal Catholic: Learn to live on less to give and save more.
Frugality gave us wealth, BUT The Catholic Church made us rich.
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