Foods that Will Feed Your Family on a Budget

The recession has made it difficult for many families to plan out meals that will last longer than a week. A decade ago $100 could feed a family well into the next week but now people are forced to tighten their budgets which leave their meals scarce. It can be difficult to feed a family on a tight budget but it is not possible, below I have included some inexpensive foods that can feed a family on a budget,

Meats and Protein

Baked Chicken- Whole chickens are not too expensive. You can purchase a whole chicken at the grocery store for $6 to $9. You can bake the chicken with potatoes and carrots or you can place barbecue sauce on the chicken for barbecue chicken. You can also eat the chicken with rice. A meal of chicken and rice or potatoes can stretch for 3 days and will only cost $10 to $12 dollars.

Fish Sticks- Fish sticks do not cost much and can be served to children for lunch with ketchup on the side and a sandwich such as a grilled cheese sandwich. A nice size bag of frozen fish sticks can cost anywhere from $6 to $8 and can last a family of 3 a whole month.

Pound of hamburger- A pound of hamburger meat does not cost much. A large tray of beef or lean hamburger meat can be used to make sloppy Joes, or to place in spaghetti, or to make simple hamburgers. A pound of beef hamburger can last 3 days or so and will cost up to just $3.00, depending on where you shop. Lean hamburger is a tad more expensive and can cost anywhere from $5 to $8.

Hotdogs and Beans- Hotdogs are inexpensive to purchase and there are a variety of hot dogs such as chicken and pork. Chicken hot dogs can cost as low as .99 cents in some stores. Frank and Beans are very fulfilling and will feed a family of 3 for about 4 days at the price of $8. Hot dogs also present a choking hazard to children under 14. so be careful when you serve them.

Grains, Fruits, and Vegetables

Noodles- Maruchan Ramen Noodles are very cheap and are usually the staple food for many college students. Ramen noodles usually cost $2 for a 6 pack and $3 to $4 for a 12 pack. These noodles provide little nutritional value when eaten alone but can be fried and eaten with vegetables for lunch or dinner. A 12pack of noodles(served with fried vegetables) can last for 5-8 days for a family of 3 and will only cost $8 (including the frozen vegetables.)

Pasta& Sauce- Pasta and spaghetti sauce is also very inexpensive and whe prepared makes a considerable amount to feed a family. It is also pretty fulfilling. Prince Pasta and store brand pasta costs no more than $2 a box and spaghetti sauce can cost up to $4 a jar. Spaghetti (with a side of vegetables, or fish sticks) can make a great dinner. It will cost under $13 to feed a family of 3 on spaghetti for dinner for a week.

Brown rice (surplus size)- Brown rice or white rice in large bags can be essential to the family living on a budget. Rice can be eaten with almost any type of food and can be very fulfilling. Large bags of rice can cost up to $7.

Frozen Vegetables- Frozen vegetables will make a great side dish to the main course. Frozen vegetables are less expensive than canned vegetables and are more plentiful than canned vegetables. Frozen vegetables such as peas, carrots, string beans, okra, broccoli, mixed vegetables etc -- usually cost $2 to $4 a bag. Three bags of frozen vegetables can feed a family of 3 for a week and will only cost $6 to $12. Dry beans are also much more plentiful than frozen and canned ones and can be served with rice and can be eaten over the course of 3 days. Dry beans come in many varieties such as; black eyed peas, kidney beans, red beans, black beans, chick peas, lentils etc -- You can purchase a small bag of dry beans for under $2.

Fresh peppers, onions, oil and Seasoning- When you live on a budget you want to make sure to have oil, fresh vegetables, or seasonings to spice up your food. This is very important. You'd be surprise to find how a simple onion, pepper, or dash of seasoning can add zing to food.

Apples and Bananas- Bananas are the cheapest fruit to buy and in some stores (especially wholesale markets) apples are inexpensive. It is always great to incorporate fruits into your child's diet. You can buy one-two pounds of apples and bananas for your family a week. This will cost you a little under $8.

Breakfast (Grains)

Wheat pancakes, syrup, eggs and oil- Pancakes are great for breakfast because they are inexpensive and very filling. Aunt Jemima Pancakes usually cost around $4 a box. Aunt Jemima's pancake mix comes in a complete mix (which means you only add water) and a mix that is not complete( which means you have to add eggs and oil.) There is not much different in taste if you prepare the incomplete mix without eggs or oil. Syrup can cost anywhere from $2 to $5 depending on the brand. Vegetable oil usually costs around $3 to $4. A breakfast or dinner of pancakes for a week will cost $8 to $10.

Grits or Oatmeal- Grits and oatmeal are inexpensive, healthy, and plentiful. Grits usually cost around $2 and can feed a family of 3 for about 4 days. Dry oatmeal is also inexpensive and usually costs around $3 to $5. A container of oatmeal can last for 1-2 weeks. You want to stay away from processed, dry, boxed cereals and pre-packaged oatmeal; these processed foods are not abundant and are not the best for the body. Purchasing boxed cereal will eat a nice hole into your pocket.

Beverages

Powdered drinks such as kool-aid, lemonade, and Ice-tea, and gallons of colored juice are all inexpensive and will quench your children's thirst. If you do not like to give your children sugared drinks, you can purchase water and a mix similar to crystal light for your children to drink. Powdered drinks usually cost around $3 to $4 dollars. A gallon of juice usually cost 99 cents to 2$. A gallon of water can be purchased for $1.00 and a case of waters can cost up to $4. You don't have to purchase water from the store you can get water right from your home, chill it in a pitcher and serve.

Snacks

Pepperidge farm goldfish, animal crackers, saltines and pretzels, are pretty inexpensive and are great to give you children for snack. They cost $2-$5.

Cakes in a box, or small packages of cookies- Cakes in the box such as little Debbie can be given as a dessert after dinner. Cakes in a box usually cost $2 to $4. Little packs of cookies cost $1 to $3. You might not like feeding your children cakes and cookies for dessert and that is all right. You can purchase apple sauce and canned fruit for $2-$5 for dessert.

It is possible to feed your family with little income. Remember to purchase condiments, seasoning, oil, and sugar these will be your meal savers. There are many inexpensive ways to feed your family; you just have to think outside of the box. Once you start thinking outside of the box you will see that living by a budget is not so hard.