Finally, we are seeing articles about how to cut food bills again. This is information that seniors understand because they have been there and done that, but our kids, not so much.
At this stage of life, it is hard to get enthused about cooking, but opting for prepared expensive food items is not the way to do it. Think back; did you get to have store bought bread, soda pop, and snack foods when you were a kid? You may have felt deprived, but it didn’t stunt your growth and you didn’t “die” from humiliation because you had to brown-bag your lunch.
What happened to the world of living frugally. I have a hard time worrying about food prices when I see cars lined up around the block for designer coffees.
We can’t have it all. I for one am happy to see articles on shopping frugally again. You shouldn’t need experts to tell you to stick to your shopping lists, shop the aisles systematically, buy generic products, and stock up on sale items.
Generic cans and boxes may not be as attractively packaged, and they may not be as prominently displayed, but they are just as good. Frozen fruits and vegetables may not be as appealing, but they last longer, and the nutritional value is perfectly fine.
What happened to using coupons, shopping for sale items, and eating leftovers to cut down on grocery bills?
I know seniors tend to wax nostalgic, but seriously, our mothers could feed entire (often large) families without breaking the food bank. Nothing was thrown away.
I probably shouldn’t mention the “clean your plate” and the “starving children” mantra as diet gurus have convinced us that cleaning your plate is the cause of all weight and health problems. I doubt it and so should you.
Cooking frugally isn’t just about using leftovers, but it is a start. It is about turning cheaper ingredients into good food. Families can survive the cost-of-living crisis by shopping and cooking sensibly again. Ask your mother and grandmother for their recipes. I’ve rarely had a restaurant meal that equals home cooking.
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