Cheap Eats: Eat Deliciously (and Nutritiously) for Less

With the holidays fast approaching, many people are trying to buckle down and save money for presents, entertaining and special events. For me, one of the easiest and most effective areas where I can save money is food. By eating at home more often, packing lunches for work and trimming down my grocery bill, I find that I not only save money, but I eat better--and even more deliciously! It's a win-win situation. Fortunately, with a few tips, saving money on food can be pretty simple and can even save time in the long run! Here are my top money-saving methods:

Inexpensive Meal Planning Example

[caption id="attachment_1170777" align="aligncenter" width="770"] Planning out just one week of meals can make a huge difference![/caption]

 Meal Planning

Meal planning is great for two reasons: one, you can choose ingredients to use in several meals (say goodbye to wasted cilantro!) and two, when you head to the grocery store with a list and a plan, you're less likely to grab a bunch of impulse purchases. Planning can be as simple or as complicated as you like. When I'm really on the ball, I create a month-long spreadsheet of breakfasts, lunches and dinners as well as weekly grocery lists--I try to purchase all of the month's non-perishables in one fell swoop at my cheapest local grocery store, and then pick up each week's dairy and produce when needed. However, just making a plan for a single week can be effective!

Shop Your Kitchen

This goes along with making a meal plan. As you make your list, make sure to check your pantry, shelves and freezer to see what you already have and can use for your dishes.

Coupons and Store Deals

Wanna know why the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year? Thanksgiving is when grocery stores start putting delicious staples like butter, baking supplies, eggs, butter, chocolate chips, butter, and party must-haves like crackers on sale. Also did you hear butter goes on sale? If you can pair these deals with store and manufacturer's coupons, you can stock up on all kinds of essentials at rock-bottom prices.

Bulk Bins

If you're a regular reader, you know I love shopping the bulk bin options. They're a great way to save money because you can buy only what you need. This is especially useful for expensive items like spices--why buy a whole jar if you only need a tablespoon or two?

DIY and Alternatives for Pantry Essentials

Broth is a popular item, but it can be expensive! I combat this in two different ways: one, I save my chicken bones and vegetable scraps to make and freeze my own. But two, I also keep bouillon cubes or concentrate on hand in a pinch. This is especially helpful if I only need a small amount. There are many different types of bouillon on the market: do a little research to find the best one for you.

Concentrate on Beans and Grains

When I'm trying to save money, I try to use meat as a flavoring instead of the main dish. But my family needs protein! Lower-cost items like dried beans and whole grains provide nutritious protein, filling fiber and beneficial nutrients at a fraction of the cost of meat.

Our Favorite Cheap Eats Recipes

I've picked some of my favorite products here at Bob's Red Mill--ranging from $.15 to .55 per serving, according to the prices on our website--and selected some great lower-cost recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and even dessert! You'll enjoy variety, incredible flavor and excellent quality, without breaking the bank. Is there anything better than good Old Fashioned Oatmeal? One serving of our Regular Rolled Oats provides 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber! All you need is water and a pinch of salt, but the possibilities are endless: add brown sugar and cinnamon, or go savory with green onions, hot sauce and a fried egg. Of course our Gluten Free Cornbread Mix makes fantastic corn muffins, but there are dozens of possibilities in just one bag! We like making Cornbread Pancakes (aka Hoecakes) that are fluffy, delicious and gluten free. Our Medium Grind Cornmeal is an excellent source of fiber and contains protein and iron. We love it in these Scrambled Egg Muffins by Savor This. Mix our whole grain cornmeal with eggs, ham (or whatever leftover meat you have on hand), corn, cheese and chilies for a savory breakfast you can enjoy on the go. Omit the pricey maple syrup if you don't have any on hand. Hulled Millet is a delicious, slightly sweet grain that contains fiber, protein, magnesium, iron, folate, vitamin B6 and zinc! Use it to create this incredible Sweet Millet Congee, a porridge popular in Taiwan that includes sweet potatoes, apple, fragrant spices and crispy bacon. Socca is the latest trend we're digging here at the mill: a versatile, gluten free flatbread popular in France. Using our creamy Garbanzo Bean Flour and a few simple ingredients, you can create appetizers, pizza or whatever your heart desires. Lentils are practically a superfood: not only are they an excellent source of fiber, iron and zinc, but they're packed with protein, folate, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. All this and they take just 20 minutes to cook, with no pre-soaking! Our Brown Lentils are excellent in this simple Lentil Soup, loaded with vegetables and flavorful spices. All of our soup mixes are delicious and economical, but I think our Vegi Soup Mix is my favorite, and I'll admit why right here: it's the alphabet noodles. They are so charming! But I also appreciate the combination of green split peas, yellow split peas, barley and lentils. The basic recipe for this soup only calls for water, but I especially love our Creamed Vegi Soup variation with veggies and milk, although I do not puree it, again because of the alphabet noodles. I love them! You may not think you can eat organic on a budget, but our Organic Medium Grain Brown Rice is versatile and wallet friendly! You can of course use this delicious brown rice in any recipe that calls for rice (or use it as the basis of any grain bowl) but I especially enjoy this Brown Rice Bowl with Lentils, Caramelized Onions & Fried Egg from Kitchn. Rice and beans are a classic food budget dish, and our creamy, flavorful Pinto Beans are the perfect choice for your pantry. Not only can you have this dish as a lunch or dinner, but you can also serve up large portions of this affordable meal to your hungry family! They're high in fiber, protein and iron, although you will want to plan ahead and pre-soak these beans before cooking (or boil them longer). Use them in this Easy Enchilada Casserole by Fountain Avenue Kitchen. Confession time: my personal favorite Bob's Red Mill product is our Corn Grits/Polenta. Grits are the ultimate comfort food! You can just cook them up with water and salt, but I especially enjoy this Spicy Stewed Beef with Creamy Cheddar Grits, which utilizes chuck roast, a relatively inexpensive cut of meat that becomes rich and fall-apart tender with long, slow braising. Everyone loves popcorn (which is pretty inexpensive itself), but have you tried Popped Sorghum? Use our Gluten Free Sorghum Grain and pop it on the stovetop or in the microwave (note: follow the directions carefully) to enjoy these tiny, fluffy grains! Our Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix makes superior pizza that's way cheaper than delivery, but did you know it also makes excellent Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls? Just spread the dough with butter, cinnamon and sugar, roll and slice! And finally, our Gluten Free Vanilla Yellow Cake Mix can be the basis for dozens of delightful gluten free desserts, but one of my favorites is my simple adaptation of my Great-Grandma Potter's Snack Cake: just follow the Basic Preparation and bake in a 9 x 13-inch pan. Then spread with salted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar while the cake is still warm. Slice and serve! What are your favorite ways and recipes to eat on the cheap and save money on groceries? Post them below!