We are now living in a new age, our old habit of eating poor food is dying fast. We need to examine new approaches to become more positive, healthy and if we can have it be more economical so be it. First thing you need to do with any type of food budget is to establish the amount you will be using. Always start with a plan or list but be sure that you are open to any special offers or deals.
The easy way to plan your budget is to start with a menu and a shopping list. You need to have this list in hand with you if you go to the store. This means keeping your car or in your briefcase or purse so if you are in the store that may have some items you possibly need on sale you have your list handy to double-check or cross reference to.
Another part of the plan is to use coupons. When coupons are included in your budget this will help with savings. Remember coordinate your coupons with your list. If you have a coupon for something not on the list doesn’t use it until it is something you need on your menu lists.
When looking at a food budget include the foods your family enjoys. It is okay to try one new meal a week, every day should not be a new a dilemma. It’s okay to be adventurous once in a while.
The meat question, should you be serving it or not? Well most of the pleasing qualities of meat such as tenderness and marbling are directly tied to the fat content of the meat. If you replace these cuts of beef and pork with lean cuts you are going a long way to increasing health of your family. Just cutting back on this bit of fat greatly reduces the amount of cholesterol in your diet.
Learn how to cook stews, soups for cold times. Break out the old pot roast or slow cooker, and get back into making some stews or soups .those pot roasts and veal and Lamb are delicious.
You can braise your meat, which is healthy. Some people try BBQ sauce as a braising liquid, there are many flavors out on the market. These are great to do first thing in the morning as you head out the door for work. It will sit and cook throughout the day requiring little or no attention.
Learn how to tenderize your meats with dry rubs and marinades. This will allow you to use a less fatty piece of meat to acquire the tenderness and moisture you are looking for. There are some natural tenderizers and flavor enhancers like wine vinegar, lemons, you can use these on chicken steak and jobs.
You can use these tips the save money, but remember you must first cook what your family enjoys. Save leftovers, they can be frozen for up to three months before you bring them back out on the table. You can also look at fresh vegetables that are in season. Be sure to buy only vegetables that are fresh and are currently in season. It usually good idea if you check the farmers market you can find the best deals on fresh produce and vegetables there. One the other ideas you may want to do or try, is stock up in your grocers freezer.
Some frozen vegetables and fish are flash frozen on the spot when they are harvested. This allows them to be sold in the off-season, and as a consumer allows you the pricing of in season. This means you can have off-season fish at in season prices. Same goes for that hard-to-find vegetable that you may not have it may be available in your grocer’s freezer.
Source:
http://mcs.ca/vitalspark/2010_conciousness/202ea02.html