Our trip to the grocery store...outrageous amount of money spent on food! We had to change some things. I admit I am not a professional couponer...now I know that can really save you a big chunk of money, but I am not willing to spend more time seeking the deals from all area sale ads and stores. We live a few minutes away from our nearest grocery store to begin with, and our minds and bodies are away from home too much already. So, we do use some sales and coupons, but for the most part, we have changed the way we eat, cook and organize. Here are a few things we have done in our pantry:
-Purchase grains, oats, olive oil, pasta, sugars and honey in bulk. Get some food-safe storage containers based on the amount of room you have, and pour each dry good into a container. I pre-break spaghetti noodles into smaller segments for easy eating. This will have to be adjusted based on your family's needs, of course.
-Avoid ALL pre-packaged meals! I know this may take time to move away from, but those items are really driving up your costs. It just so happens, this new mindset in the kitchen is much healthier for your family also. Here is a good example: Instead of a box of Spanish rice, use your bulk rice and add cumin, salt, diced tomato, pepper and onion. You have homemade Spanish rice! Look for recipes to give you ideas how to cook with your bulk items. This will encourage you to cook more and maybe include your family in the kitchen too!
-To ensure we have easy access to the bulk items, I make time to organize things after the purchase. One thing I have done is pick up some $1 shoebox-size plastic containers for the first shelf of the pantry. I use my daughter's small baby bowls with lids and add 1/4 cup oats and 1 Tablespoon brown sugar. I make six of these at a time, so all we do for oatmeal is pull out those containers, dump into a microwave safe bowl, add 3/4 cup water and cook for 2 minutes. Then we can add fruit too, if we have it on hand. (This helps us avoid some extra preservatives in pre-packaged single-serve oats.) These go in a box. We eat almonds, walnuts, and other nuts on a daily basis, so I have made a container for those too. This also helps to keep them fresher longer.
So, there are a few tips for getting started making things more time-efficient, budget-friendly and healthier in your kitchen! I hope this gets you opening your pantry doors and thinking of things you can do for your family at meal-time. Small changes can make big differences in the long run. Have fun and get excited about the lifestyle you are promoting for your family! You can do it!
