Whether you are completely unemployed, severely underemployed, or worried that your job may go away soon, you want to eat well yet you also want to afford it.
At the recent Family Farmed Expo in Chicago (see video above), a panel of experts combined for a few choice picks on how to eat well and for less money.
"Much rather pay a farmer than a doctor"
-- an oft-repeated phrase during the expo
That is a lot easier to do because farmers don't require co-pays, and you don't need food insurance. But you still want to spend less money to do so.
-- One of the silliest thoughts was very practical. Use the food you buy up. If you have it, use it. Given the hundreds of pounds we throw away each year, use what you have.
-- The more minimally processed, the better. Work away from the pre-packaged baby carrots and grab the actual carrot. Cut up your own carrot sticks; you save money and work out some aggression on the produce. Don't worry, your vegetables can take it.
-- Buy direct. Want to buy organic on the cheap? You might not find the best deal in the grocery store. This does depend on the item, but it's worth a shot.
-- If you don't want to spend time worrying about prices, focus on the six things you buy most frequently, and know the best price for those items.
-- And for the herbs, grow a windowsill garden. A few plants can add a lot of flavor for pennies.
-- Buy raw beans and soak them instead of buying canned beans.
-- If your city has a co-op grocery store, and you are a member, you can get an extra discount by volunteering to stack shelves. Being a hands on owner (HOO) allows you to be more a part of the food experience, and save money.
A statistic that was thrown into the mix notes that we have halved the percentage of our budget devoted to food — from 1950 to 2010. The percentage has grown from 20% to 10%. So it would seem that spending 12% wouldn't seem too bad.
Smarter moves and some common sense can help lower your food bill, yet still eat well.
Comments