Food on $5/day!

[Hippiechk]

Hi everyone...

I mentioned in another thread that I eat on $5/day & Queen suggested a thread on that. There are a bunch of threads along this line but nothing specific so I thought what the heck pitch out a new one.

And, since there was particular interest in doing this without yet another suggestion of beans...let's keep this to no beans. 

Myself I have refrigeration & cooking, I always did even in my minivan days. Eating decently is a priority for me... most days anyway. *smile*

This is my brunch today & it will fit well into that budget.



Let me break that down:

2 slices wheat bread...   20¢
Salad greens...                 50¢
Full can tuna...                  88¢
Parmesan...                         5¢
Olives...                                7¢
Yogurt...                               5¢
Mayo...                                 5¢
Salad dressing...                5¢
---------------------------------------------
Total...                            $1.85

That leaves me $3.15 for my supper & a snack. I calculated the cost of some chinese beef/veg/rice I made the other day for supper & it came in around $2 a plentiful serving. I included my tiny Timex in my food budget. Her portion for dog rations is 25¢ but she usually eats my food as its generally healthy stuff.

I hope others want to play, I could always use ideas!?!

 

[skyl4rk]

I made this soup yesterday, it is enough for about 5 lunches:

Parsnip and Sweet Potato Pea Soup

   1 onion
   2 Tbs olive oil
   3 cloves garlic
   2 parsnips, sliced
   1 sweet potato, cubed
   1 carrot, sliced
   2 stalks celery, sliced
   half pound of split peas
   bullion cube
   1/2 tsp marjoram
   a dozen turns of ground black pepper (1/8 tsp?)
   1/2 tsp salt

   Simmer onions in olive oil
   Add garlic, simmer a bit
   Add remaining vegetables and split peas
   Add bullion cube and spices
   Add water to almost cover vegetables (3 or 4 cups)
   Stir and bring to a simmer
   Simmer until peas are soft and vegetables are as you like them
   Season to taste with salt and pepper

I used a pressure cooker, 8 minutes under pressure.

The vegetables were all about $0.99 a pound, and I am guessing a total of 3 lbs used in the soup.  The peas were 1.59 a pound, of which I used half.
With spices I would guess this soup cost under $5 to make, for 5 servings.

 

[Queen]

This is great, thanks for starting it, Hippiechk!

My contribution: Tuna noodle "casserole". I use plain macaroni because I find boxed mac and cheese nasty. Also, I don't give measurements because I fix either what I have, or what I need for the number of people.

- Boil half box of elbow macaroni, drain and add in...
- Some butter (or EVOO if you prefer), a little milk if you have it
- A little cheese, I like inexpensive shredded cheddar, or just parm
- Some thawed frozen peas
- And a package or can of tuna
- The thing that makes it for me is a lot of fresh ground pepper

If I use fresh cheese it comes to around $1.45 a serving

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

My girlfriend and I spend a small fortune on food, so def gonna follow this post.

 

[Rugster]

Oh, this is nice, I'll be using these recipes My favorite meal uses beans (black beans) but probably comes in well under the $5 tag.

 

[Queen]

Oh, this is nice, I'll be using these recipes My favorite meal uses beans (black beans) but probably comes in well under the $5 tag.

Same here, we eat beans almost every day, great protein source and delicious!

 

[Hippiechk]

Rally Hash Browns, desert & more about me than you want to know about my life! *laugh*

Okayyyy, so to round out that $5/day I ate like shit, really!! I pretended I was young again or was actually kinda' at a rally...any kind...hot dogs happen! This one skillet dish is an ode to rally dogs.

1 ½ cups chopped potatoes (these were frozen)          1 large chopped onion 
4 thinly sliced hot dogs (all beef for me)
75g old cheddar
relish
mustard
mayo
pizza sauce (I hate ketchup AND you can not get a pizza high with a half loaf of bread a few toppings, melted cheese & *gak* ketchup!)

Fry the first 3, top with cheese & melt that then add your poisons!

It works out to be a ⅔ - ⅓ split on the dogs, onions potatoes & cheese part. The ⅓ will get beaten eggs dumped on & recooked tomorrow... true (in my camp) rally food.

This part worked out to $1.60 for that pan & after half I am giving it up so supper was 80¢!

Desert is a classic in this rig...

Fruit, any kind you want, fresh or canned...this is canned pineapple tidbits, simmered with dates until the dates are falling apart, use most of the juice (I had a couple sips) & a cup of good granola dumped on poked a bit then turn off the heat, cover & walk away. I stir it while it's still good & hit then leave it covered to eat either warm or cold. I say good as a granola with flakes or other soggy bits won't work here. I will serve this with yogurt bringing it to $1.35 for a huge serving that I am sure I will want later as its early. It comes to about $2 for the pan so half that & add 35¢ for yogurt or $1.35.



Add in a can of soda for 25¢ (which I cut into a full liter of water as I find it too sweet, all my kids could "mix me a drink" very young much to others consternation!) & that 25¢ in dog food & our day came in at $4.50!!

 

[Queen]

We try really hard not to eat "bad" stuff, stuff packed with salt and fat, but eat more fresh whole foods if possible.

I make "Egg Mess" a lot, to finish up whatever is needing to be eaten before it goes off. It's basically scrambled eggs with everything throw in, wrinkly peppers, pieces of tomato, leftover bits of onion... Some surprisingly good extras are cream cheese (adds a creamy kick), broccoli, any kind of cheese, garlic, etc.

Heat any leftover meat or make some toast and it's a very satisfying meal.

 

[Hippiechk]

These hot dogs were my annual pack!

The leftovers this morning were great & it looks like I will be having "egg mess" made from the rest for supper!

Thanks for that new food name Queen! *smile*

 

[Queen]

   Any time!  I tend to use (and create) mess any time I cook.  LOL

 

[ZoNiE]

Tin foil cooking. Great for backpacking or whatever. Did this in Boy Scouts and still do sometimes when camping.

One 1/4 lb Hamburger Patties (On sale @ 2.77/lb) $0.75
Quarter can of veg-all: $0.29
Quarter can of Cream of Mushroom soup: $0.38
Tin foil: $0.10
Total: 1.52 including tax.

Pre-cook the patties on the grill or a frying pan.
Put one patty, half a can of soup and half a can of veg-all in tin foil, wrap in a tent, and put over campfire (or in a pan with a little water. Heat until warm. (About 5 min). Open foil, eat out of the foil.

Double if want a more hearty meal. $3.02. I eat two.



You can substitute fresh veggies. Just precook them a bit.

With Pre-cooked patties, these will keep a couple of days in the cooler.

Four of these will cost $6.07 including tax, assuming the foil is $0.10 per serving, but it is probably less.

Thats two meals for me, but probably 3-4 for some folks.

 

[ZoNiE]

We also make a "breakfast thing" which basically is a piece of frozen sprouted grain bread toasted, with a fried egg and some quac or avocado. Probably about a buck each, depending in avocado prices. Really tasty. just the right amount of protein, carbs, and good fat in the morning.

Since the bread is frozen, it keeps a long time.

 

[ice_maiden]

One 1/4 lb Hamburger Patties (On sale @ 2.77/lb)  $0.75
Quarter can of veg-all: $0.29
Quarter  can of Cream of Mushroom soup: $0.38
Tin foil: $0.10
Total: 1.52 including tax.

Ok Zonie I am not picking on you but.... .... Unless I wanted to eat this multiple times (which I wouldn't of anything)  I would have to throw away the remainder of those cans away.  There are actually better solutions to this recipe for those only cooking for one or two.  First off use dehydrated veggies.  Use the amount you want.  As for the soup... there is a recipe for Cream of anything soup mix HERE, again use the amount & flavor you choose. I use Nido in this recipe for a richer taste, but if you are skipping the dairy and/or fat, she has other alternatives listed. You will have to add water accordingly. Another thing changing the ingredients would do, is reduce the salt by a lot.

I generally eat for less than $5 a day but it's because, as hippiechk can testify, I back stock food. When I find it on sale or clearance, I buy as much as I can.  I found pickles the other day on clearance at Walmart for 50 cents a jar.... I bought 12 jars. 

Since I live in a 36 foot 5er, I can get away with this on a limited scale.. It might not be so practical for those of you in a van but there are other things you can do.  Substitute dry for canned when possible, it last as long, weighs less, takes up less space and is portion controllable.

for those of you who are mobile you can also check out the discount and salvage grocers.  Here is a list by state.

Salvage grocers here

 

[Hippiechk]

I generally eat for less than $5 a day but it's because, as hippiechk can testify, I back stock food. When I find it on sale or clearance, I buy as much as I can.  I found pickles the other day on clearance at Walmart for 50 cents a jar.... I bought 12 jars. 

Yuppers...she is a hoarder! *laugh*

 

[ice_maiden]

BUT unless a tornado blows me and all of the groceries away.... I won't starve for a long while in the event of an emergency ~grin~

 

[VJG1977]

Even in my stick and brick I try to shop sales.  Within 3 miles I have a Walmart, Kroger, Food Lion and Publix.  Day to day Walmart has the lowest price but if one of the others has an item on sale, they will be way cheaper.  Some times I will see meat marked manager's special.  It is at the sale by date and marked way down.  Just be sure to cook it that day.  Do not try to keep it for several days.

 

[ice_maiden]

Ok Hippiechk you made me go figure out how much I spent today on food here is the break down.

I did not eat breakfast

Lunch was

.52 cents.....Deli Black forest Ham/Sharp cheddar cheese on White bread ( sry not giving that up ) Ham was reduced meats
.05..... a fresh radish
.06...... 3 baby kosher pickles
.15...... about 15 cheese puffs
.45...... about 8 large green grapes

Total 1.22

This was supper

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1.15...... 1/4# ground sirloin (97/3) ($4.40# reduced meat) topped with A-1
.11..... 1/3 can english peas (on sale 3 cans for 1.00)
.30..... fresh sweet potato with cinnamon and butter .50 a pound
.06 ..... another fresh radish
.12 ..... Fresh tomato slilces
.10 .....pickled beets

.45..... about 8 large green grapes for desert

Total 2.19

GRAND TOTAL $3.56

 

[Hippiechk]

Awwwww... ice, you used the good plates! Add 3¢ for that plate!!

Now I must find pickles...I have nothing pickled!!

 

[VanForNow]

Breakfast: Slice up a banana in a cup of 2% milk. Add a heaping tablespoon of sugar. Cost: about 90 cents.

Lunch: Beef, bean and cheese tortilla: Put two large tablespoons of Hormel's reduced sodium Chili with Beans (.60) in pot. Heat up with teaspoon of rehydrated onion (.20?) and serving of Cabot's sharp light cheddar cheese (.50) Add some artificial salt and a dash of hot sauce. Add a tablespoon of salsa (optional). Roll up in heated tortilla (.40?) and enjoy. Total cost: about $1.70.

Dinner: Usually something more elaborate.

 

[ZoNiE]

Ok Zonie I am not picking on you but.... .... Unless I wanted to eat this multiple times (which I wouldn't of anything)  I would have to throw away the remainder of those cans away.  There are actually better solutions to this recipe for those only cooking for one or two.  First off use dehydrated veggies.  Use the amount you want.  As for the soup... there is a recipe for Cream of anything soup mix HERE, again use the amount & flavor you choose. I use Nido in this recipe for a richer taste, but if you are skipping the dairy and/or fat, she has other alternatives listed. You will have to add water accordingly. Another thing changing the ingredients would do, is reduce the salt by a lot.

I generally eat for less than $5 a day but it's because, as hippiechk can testify, I back stock food. When I find it on sale or clearance, I buy as much as I can.  I found pickles the other day on clearance at Walmart for 50 cents a jar.... I bought 12 jars. 

Since I live in a 36 foot 5er, I can get away with this on a limited scale.. It might not be so practical for those of you in a van but there are other things you can do.  Substitute dry for canned when possible, it last as long, weighs less, takes up less space and is portion controllable.

for those of you who are mobile you can also check out the discount and salvage grocers.  Here is a list by state.

Salvage grocers here

Make four. Easy peasy.