Frugal with food

I cook a lot. Its a trade off I made about a year or 2 ago. I want lots of kiddos and food was and still is our main expense. You would think it would be the house payment, but nope. These kids can eat. With number 4 on the way it is even more imperative that I keep the food bill under control. I try really hard to eat at home every single day. There are the occasions when Taco Bell or Burger King calls my name. Even then I try to be frugal. Its a new concept for me, but I'd like to share with you a few tips that I have picked up as far as food goes.

1. You have to cook at home. Its way better to make stuff from scratch. We have a rule around here that if it comes in a box or bag its probably bad for you. Now that's not to say we don't buy packaged foods sometimes, but I need to emphasize sometimes. The internet has recipes for homemade sides and tons of slow cooker meals that will save you big bucks. It just takes a little more time to prepare, but saves you a lot of money in the end. Don't be afraid to try new recipes. Some of them will suck, but some you will love and you will be so proud of yourself for being all Betty Crocker.

2. You have to plan. You just have to. Some people make detailed shopping lists and plan meals for weeks at a time. That is great if you have the discipline to stick to it, but I am a bit more erratic. I make a list of at least 6 meals that I would like to make that week and scope out the fridge and pantry to make sure I have the makings. If you keep your pantry well stocked with staples this should be fairly easy. I look at the list each afternoon and decide what I want to make that evening. It couldn't be easier. It also keeps my grocery store trips cheaper because I am usually only picking up odds and ends.

3. You are not a chef......unless you actually are. There is no need to wow your family and friends with over the top fancy food. If you have small kids like I do then you know they won't eat anything with any kind of flavor. The more bland the better. Make things that are simple and easy. You don't have to keep changing it up constantly either. I have about 4 or 5 lunches that my kids eat and I rotate through them. We have about 20-30 different dinners I like to make depending on how I feel that week. As for breakfast, we rotate between cold cereal, eggs, and pancakes that my husband makes on the weekend and freezes. If I am in a baking mood I will make muffins or cinnamon rolls, but those are occasional treats. If you have a bread machine it will save you even more time making quick breads and doughs. And its not hard!

I am always learning and scouring blogs and websites for different ways to save a buck. So far these few things have made a drastic difference in our budget. I hope you adopt some of these tips or this encourages you to search for ways to be more frugal in your own life. Contentment is the key. If we can learn that then we have won half the battle.