Now that money is tight, many people are spending less money on everything, including food.  Eating out in restaurants, and buying take-out food is no longer affordable for many of us.  At the same time we’re working harder and time is short and getting shorter.  The good news is that there is a happy medium between spending less for food and taking the time to shop and cook.  It just requires some conscious planning and a little variation in activity.

Look to foods that are nutritious and inexpensive, instead of high-calorie/high-cost fast food or prepared foods.  Use frozen or canned foods, which often have higher nutritional value than fresh ones.  Take a few minutes to cook a pasta dish with a frozen vegetable medley, for example.  Or try a casserole with rice, beans, low-fat cheese, and tomatoes that you have made ahead of time, and extended for a couple of meals.

Instead of hamburgers and French-fries via a drive-through, pick-up some frozen low-fat potatoes and turkey-patties and heat them up.  That way, you’re not eating fried foods or high-fat saturated beef.  It takes only a few minutes more, and even less if you have taken time at the beginning of your week to make a shopping list and bought them in bulk at the store.

There’s a great article by Jane Brody of the New York Times that talks about this, and provides some good ideas.  Take a look here.

There are many more healthier foods that are fast and less costly if you take a little time at home:  salads, cabbage, soups, stews, chili, rice, pasta, tortilla wraps, burritos are just a few ideas.

We’d love to hear your creative ideas for lower-cost easy-to-make foods.  Please post them below.

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