How can I eat very healthy on a budget?!
How can I eat very healthy on a budget?
ok so here's the thing. Due to my age, my food stamps are still put on my moms account, but if I work to pay for more grocery $ they will cut her off because she has to report income for everyone in the house over 18. She only shops once a month, which leaves me either shopping once a month at the same time as she does(with MAJOR complaints about why Im buying things "separate") or crossing my fingers that there will be enough left over to do weekly shopping after she uses the total amount on the card for whatever everyone else needs. I cant grow that much where I live except tomatoes & a few vines out front because we're out in the desert where its very difficult to have a garden, plus we have a rabbit who would eat what would grow. Ive been trying ssooo hard to eat very healthy & vegan/not all the crap Im used to my mom buying, but the thing is...there's only food stamps on the card for 4 out of 7 of us because the others get ssi(which goes to rent), but my mom uses all of the food
Additional Details2 weeks ago
stamps that she does use(which is usually most or all of what's on there) in one trip to the store, which is supposed to feed the whole house for the whole month. I do appreciate her effort and I know it must be very hard to shop on such a limited budget for so many people, but she buys, well, crap. Tv dinners, jelly, mayo, soda, crackers, cheez wiz, cake mixes, corn dogs, etc. Ive tried SSSSSOOOOOO HARD to get her to buy healthier things, but she wont listen to me no matter what Ive said and when I eat the healthy stuff she does happen to toss in there every so often I get *itched at for "taking away from the others". The thing is, even by shopping by the 80/20 rule & getting generics rather than name brands, it STILL is WAY too expensive and once again Im left with the crap she bought for everyone else.
HOW do I get this to be affordable without compromising my commitment to healthy eating?
PLEASE dont tell me "move out", "get a job", or "sit her down and have a heartfelt chat"
2 weeks ago
So ASIDE from being rude or pointless, if you could help it'd be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much. (=
Answers:
2 weeks ago
stamps that she does use(which is usually most or all of what's on there) in one trip to the store, which is supposed to feed the whole house for the whole month. I do appreciate her effort and I know it must be very hard to shop on such a limited budget for so many people, but she buys, well, crap. Tv dinners, jelly, mayo, soda, crackers, cheez wiz, cake mixes, corn dogs, etc. Ive tried SSSSSOOOOOO HARD to get her to buy healthier things, but she wont listen to me no matter what Ive said and when I eat the healthy stuff she does happen to toss in there every so often I get *itched at for "taking away from the others". The thing is, even by shopping by the 80/20 rule & getting generics rather than name brands, it STILL is WAY too expensive and once again Im left with the crap she bought for everyone else.
HOW do I get this to be affordable without compromising my commitment to healthy eating?
PLEASE dont tell me "move out", "get a job", or "sit her down and have a heartfelt chat"
2 weeks ago
So ASIDE from being rude or pointless, if you could help it'd be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much. (=
The funny thing most people do not realize - Eating healthy can actually be much more economical than buying heavily processed / heavily advertised foods.
This is what I usually see: The cart in front of me is full - Liter bottles of soda, cases of Snapple, pre-packaged snacks, microwaveable meals, deli meats, pre-made salads, etc.
My cart is half full: dried beans, fresh fruits and vegetables, spring water, rice, pasta, etc.
My cart costs 30% less and will last me twice as long. I can brew my own iced tea and add as much sugar as I want. I can whip up vegetarian burritos faster than you can microwave a typical frozen dinner. Etc. Etc. Etc.
Making your own meals is cheaper and healthier.
Ahhh, I remember my government cheese days.
Easy answer? Nope. Eating healthy (for reals healthy) costs money. And if you can't get EBT, or food stamps, then you're out of luck...
You could always find a job that pays under the table... But if you're looking for an easy out, my only advice (from experience) is just deal with what you've got... or move out and get bennies of your own. But the latter isn't so easy ;-).
Here's to welfare!
1. Get a job in a veggie restaurant.
2. Sandwiches can be really healthy.
3. The healthiest person I ever met was a tri-athlete who ate only fruit. I tried it for a while but was not always easy to get depending on my location.
4. Think healthy. Sounds crazy but you may be surprised
I don't know your situation, or your age etc. but there is only so much your mom can do. (or get away with)
Your three options:
1.Get a job that pays under the table ie; handy man, packing boxes for shops, collecting cans and bottles in exchange for money.
2. compromise. Instead of going completely healthy, make sure that two meals out of your three are healthy. Pulses, soy, Fruit and Veg are cheap, but can be expensive when buying in bulk. Pasta and home made sauce goes a long way, and it's healthy and cheap. If she's cooking help out, and use less oil than she would, dry fry with water instead of oil. Don't put butter on your bread. Drink less sugar in your coffee. It might not seem alot, but it helps.
3. Wait it out. Eat what your mom provides. When you're old enough to leave home, get a job, and buy what you need. I'm not sure how old you are or what your plans are for the future (college or not) but you can do anything once you're on your own.
Good luck !
Perhaps your mom wouldn't mind what you purchased so much if you offered to cook dinner for your whole family? It would enable you (and the rest of your family) to eat more healthfully on a regular basis. There are lots of great recipe websites out there, and I really believe that if a person can read and understand a recipe, they can cook. Also, with a little practice, it's not too hard to make up your own recipes.
These are a few things that you could buy:
Frozen vegetables ($1 - $3 per bag)
Cans of beans and tomatoes ($0.50 - $1.50 each)
Dried beans/lentils ($1-2 per bag)
Brown rice ($2-4 per bag)
Whole wheat pasta ($1.50-2.50 per box)
Vegetable Boullion or Broth ($2-4)
Dried Herbs and Spices ($1-4 each)
I find that grocery stores often have sales on canned goods, so you could watch the fliers and go when there is a sale. Most grains and pastas have cooking directions right on the package, so that makes it a little easier.
Grain/Pasta + Beans + Vegetables + Spices = dinner :)
Some variations...
Rice + Beans + Mixed Vegetables (with tomatoes) + Cilantro + Cumin + Garlic = Mexican-style beans and rice with veggies
Pasta + Beans + Tomato Sauce/Diced Tomatoes + Basil, Oregano and garlic = Pasta with "red sauce" and beans
Rice + Beans + Mixed Vegetables + Ginger, Soy Sauce, and onions = Asian-style Rice and Beans
Best of luck to you!!