You may have noticed that times are tough.
USA Today surveyed more than a thousand of its readers to find out how higher grocery prices are treating them. Not too well, it turns out: 46 percent of those polled said that the higher cost of food is creating a financial hardship.
For some profiled in the article, belt-tightening consists of trading in their average dinners of grilled chicken with balsamic glaze and mushroom risotto for hamburger casseroles. For another family it means planting a garden. And what a garden: “This spring, they took their gardening to new heights, planting 235 potato plants, more than 1,000 stalks of sweet corn—each with a pea or bean plant as a companion to climb the stalks—and dozens of winter squash, tomatoes, peppers and carrots.”
Then there are those on a fixed income, like retirees, who are really in a no-joke bind. One senior observes that, even after giving up fresh produce in favor of canned and cutting most meat out of her diet, “I guess we’ll be eating dog food next.”
Sobering. And while quickie lists aren’t going to fix our broken economy or out-of-whack food system, the DivineCaroline website has just posted “The 20 Healthiest Foods for Under $1.” Some of the choices are certainly quibble-able (when was the last time you saw a bunch of kale for $1?), but for the most part, the list features solid, nutritious choices that will help you make it through until the next administration takes office.
It has forced me to look at recipes that use less protein and more veggies. I cook more dried beans and rice. I cook more one pot meals. I eat leftovers until they are gone and I don’t eat out anymore.
Lots less prepared foods and forget fast food, a little judicious shopping and MacDonalds for two can cost more than New York strip for two and chicken paella can cost less than a Big Mac.
When I was growing up in a large family, there were days when there was no meat. When it got close to payday, sometimes there just wasn’t enough money to buy meat.
My Mom would make a delicious chicken stock using onions, celery, and garlic, and chicken backs and necks, which made a delicious broth. She then added added noodles, potatoes and carrots and made a pan of biscuits.
I remember big pots of fresh green beans with onions and potatoes cooked in a stock made from ham hocks. That was the only meat, and she made a big pan of cornbread.
Same thing with a big head of cabbage cooked with stock made from ham hocks and onions with potatoes and carrots sliced thin. Cornbread was served here, too.
We are just going to have to eat differently if we’re used to having the usual meat, starch, vegetable dinner. There were no finicky eaters in my family. We ate what she cooked. No options if you didn’t like what was being served.
Friends can pool their money and form food co-ops and shop at the warehouse districts in large cities or stores where food can be purchased in quantity. The price of food is not going down. We have to look for ways to survive. We have to be more resourceful.
wild rice doesnt cost much more than white rice?? wild rice is about $8 a pound here.
Toni6921 has the right idea. Creativity and resourcefulness wins everytime. Sounds tasty too!
Toni6921 has the right idea. Creativity and resourcefulness wins everytime. Sounds tasty too!