A Guide to Feeding Your Family on a Budget

First, let's talk about the necessities: Corn and flour tortillas, pinto beans, lentils, long-grain white rice, pasta--shells, alphabets, macaroni, fideo (angel hair)--tomato sauce, chicken bouillon, potatoes, eggs, cabbage, chorizo, ground beef, cooking oil, cheese and Italian dressing.

It's all about making your dollar stretch in hard times.

Let me start by saying that some of the most creative meals I ever prepared were back in the day when it was all about survival...how to fix meals that would provide proper nutrients, when it took almost everything I made to cover the rent and utilities. And I did it for under $30.00.

Thank goodness for the 99-cent Store! And now with access to the Vallarta, Payless, Food 4 Less and Jon's Markets, anyone is able to buy some of these necessary staples at affordable prices. Many creative, hearty meals can be prepared using only the ingredients listed above.

In hard economic times, remember there is no such thing as a specific breakfast, lunch or dinner food. It's all about satisfying hunger. It is important to choose foods that stretch, have a long shelf life and are inter-changeable.

Let me add that your pockets don't have to be deep to feed your family, but you do need to allot time for preparation. I began Saturday morning by soaking my beans and letting them simmer most of the day until they were nice and tender, cooled down and ready for packaging.

Whole pinto beans, once cooked and measured out into containers to be frozen for a later date, are convenient and help to minimize your stress. This way you aren't faced with having to start a pot of beans with hungry children staring at you and asking every five minutes, "Is it done yet?"

Here are some simple meal ideas that are all great "breakfast foods" that can be served for any meal:

Chorizo and eggs served with beans and tortillas
Chilaquiles--Fried tortilla strips, scrambled with egg and served with beans or rice
Scrambled eggs served with chorizo, beans and tortillas
Home-fried potatoes scrambled with egg and served with beans and tortillas

Potato tacos were a family favorite for dinner. Just boil whole skinned potatoes and mash, not whip the potatoes. Fry up some taco shells, stuff the potato into the taco shells and garnish with shredded cabbage, squirting a little bit of Italian dressing onto it, and you have it. Serve them alone, with rice and beans, or a bowl of lentils. Yummy!

Here are some quick freezer ideas: Make up some burritos in advance and freeze them for those quick, "I'm-hungry-after-school-and-want-something-to-eat" moments. Bean and cheese or ground beef and bean fillings freeze well.

Another hearty satisfying meal is my version of "sopita." In a large pan, use a little cooking oil and lightly brown up some pasta. Add a little tomato sauce and some chicken bouillon, water, and diced potato. Let it simmer until the pasta and potatoes are cooked until tender. Serve in a bowl with tortillas. Satisfying, quick and inexpensive!

There are many variations of "sopita", using more or less liquid, serving a drier version without the potato on the plate as a side dish, but however you serve it up, it is sure to fill their stomachs and satisfy most taste buds.

Having raised children using these staples and menu ideas, I never exceeded my budget and my children never went hungry! And for the occasional treat, I made a special run to the store for a package of hot dogs, buns, a can of chili beans and a bag of chips, most of the time all for under $5.00. Keep in mind that you are not looking for name-brand labels, as those tend to be pricier. Regardless of the label, know that when your children are called to the table and find chili dogs and chips, instead of the usual home cooked meals, they will be delighted!