Family Cooking on a Budget

Cooking for a family can be expensive. With the price of gas getting more and more outrageous, the stores and trucking companies have now passed this on to consumers. Feeding a family is more expensive than ever before, but with a few helpful hints, it doesn't have to break the bank. There are many ways to save money at the grocery store.

1. Grow your own fruits and vegetables. Growing a garden is an excellent way to save money. A packet of seeds usually costs around a dollar, and you can grow more than enough for the entire season. It is also an excellent way to spend time with the family. The best part is that you can trade your excess with other gardeners at you place of work or others in your neighborhood. We often trade tomatoes for squash, cucumbers, peppers, and peaches. I know it isn't always possible to grow a garden, but roadside stands and farmers markets will provide the same homegrown taste without the supermarket prices. These vegetables can be made into salads, sauces, and a number of fresh products; however, there are a number of things you can can as well. Homemade salsa, sauces, and stewed vegetables can be canned very easily. Not only that, but they also make great gifts.

2. Buy off brands. I will accede that there are certain items that just can't be compared to name brands. However, canned vegetables, canned fruit, peanut butter, and much more has the same flavor for up to half the price. The trick is to find out what will and what won't work for you. I can't eat off brand cheese, but I prefer the off brand lunch meats.

3. A meal doesn't have to mean meat. You don't have to eat meat every time you sit at the table. My family loves meatless meals, especially in the summer. We will cook pintos, navy beans, purple hull peas, or black eyed peas with an assortment of fresh picked veggies and some cornbread. Sometimes we will pair them up with rice or macaroni and cheese.

4. Milk is one of the most delicious beverages around, but the price is very high right now. A trick to saving money is powdered milk. While I wouldn't drink the stuff if I didn't have to, it is great for cooking. Prepare it according to the package directions and then use in place of regular milk. You can also use a mixture of half prepared powdered milk and half regular milk to give to your children. It is cheaper, and it doesn't taste half as bad.