<p>I shop at Costco once a week but I can’t buy the milk there because they come in those ridiculous square plastic gallons with the flat tops that nobody can pour without spilling. On the other thand, the grocery store has a sale on gallon or half gallons of milk every other week so that’s when I buy. And running out of milks IS an emergency.</p>
<p>I couldn’t cut out meet without a revolt in our house, but I can make casseroles which use less meat. They prefer that anyway.</p>
<p>eliminating meat will never happen in my house…no one likes beans ( except for green haricots and jelly beans ) my husband gets grumpy when chicken is served too often, which is our # 1 protein.
Greenhouse gases will not go down and it is all because of my household’s carniverous ways…but at least I wasn’t responsible for filling up landfills with disposable diapers.</p>
<p>We do not eat meat (well, H will occasionally eat it at a restaurant). I have never been to a Trader Joe’s. Is it similar to Whole Foods? We make a 90 minute trek to Whole Foods about once a month and I know Trader Joe’s are in the same area (Chicagoland). Is it cheaper than Whole Foods?</p>
<p>My daughter recently became a vegetarian because she deplores the amount of fossil fuel used to grow meat. Since I think she has a point, I have tried to go to only one meat meal a day (instead of two or three) and not much meat at that. I’ve noticed that the resulting meals have become cheaper.</p>
<p>Some of the resulting meals:
Black bean chili made with lots of beans and not much meat (I made an enormous pot and froze servings)
Peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat bread with a glass of milk and an apple
Lentil soup
Risotto “seasoned” with chicken (half a breast for my husband and me instead of a whole one for each of us)
Oatmeal (made with milk) for breakfast instead of processed cereal</p>
<p>I have been paying much more attention to what’s in season at the grocery store. I heard the word “locavore” recently–people who buy locally grown products–and I like the concept because it means I’m not paying so much for shipping. So I buy the locally grown chicken and look for local veggies. Apples are in season here right now so I’m making lots of recipes with apples (pork chops with apples, chicken and apple salad, chicken livers with apples, just plain apples…). Potatoes are grown around here as well.</p>
<p>A friend told me she’s now shopping the outer perimeter of the store and doing more cooking. </p>
<p>I like to buy a rotisserie chicken: after I strip off all the meat, I use the bones and debris to make broth–just simmer everything (water to cover) with some carrots and sometimes onion for about three hours. That can be the base for soup or sometimes I use it to make the dogs a vegetable soup (if I didn’t use the onion).</p>
<p>I belonged to Costco for a year about 10 years ago. I stopped going for several reasons. First, I could not resist the non-food bargains in the middle of the store - books, CDs, toys, clothes, all sorts of things that I did not need and would not have bought had they not been staring me in the face at good prices. I also had a problem with the large portions, and could not buy things like meat there. I probably could now that S1 is almost 16, eating huge quantities, and demanding meat. The other reason I stopped going is that it took about 2.5 hours to shop there and then stand in the long lines at checkout. I couldn’t stand it. </p>
<p>bbkitty, Trader Joe’s is significantly cheaper than Whole Foods, and they carry some of the same products. </p>
<p>One way to save both money and time is to make meals out of leftovers. For example, on the first day you can cook a whole chicken and serve it with mashed potatoes, gravy, and vegetables. On the second day, pull all the remaining chicken off the carcass and put it and leftover vegs (works best with carrots, corn, green beans, onions) and gravy in a large pie dish. Cover with mashed potatoes and bake for a while, you will have a sort of Shepherd’s Pie.</p>
<p>Yes, Trader Joe’s can be much cheaper than Whole Foods, but the biggest savings there are on packaged foods.</p>
<p>Ooooh…thank you for the info about Trader Joe’s. We will certianly be checking it out.</p>
<p>Lowered my animal protein consumption as much a practical for the health benefit, the $$ savings are an added bonus. After a few weeks meat is not missed, and after a few months I just don’t want any meat. Eliminating dairy is tricky as it is so interwoven into our diets. I think milk consumption must be a huge contributor to obesity. No other mammals on the planet consume milk after weaning, why should humans? And drinking the mother’s milk of another species… what’ up with that?</p>
<p>I am one of the original customers of the first Trader Joes here in Pasadena, but I havent been there for over a six months since I started shopping at Fresh and Easy. I have a tough time resisting some of the packaged premade delicacies at Trader Joes. We are real carnivores and members of PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals) but we tend to use fish and animal protein as a side dish (no more than 4oz) rather than the main course and at least 50% of our meals have no animal protein whatsoever. I worked as a sous-chef to pay for grad school and my prep skills are pretty solid, so I have no problem buying
an 18 lb beef flank at Smart and Final for $1.96/Lb and breaking it down for the freezer.</p>
<p>My experiences with BJ’s were the same as NYMof2 described. I’d end up buying tons of stuff I never intended to buy (mostly CDs and books) and really wasn’t saving any money. Plus, I like particular brands (earth-friendly cleaning products) and often BJ’s didn’t carry them. Even with a family of five there were lots of times when we couldn’t eat the huge quantities or everyone got tired of Special K cereal all the time. </p>
<p>I find that the best way for me to save money on food/household products is to: 1) stay out of the grocery store, until I need lots of items and 2) buy as few prepared foods as possible and 3) make my own cleaning products (using baking soda and vinegar). When I do that, even shopping primarily at Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and a local green grocer, I spend less on food/household products.</p>
<p>Food is one of those budget items on which I don’t choose to skimp.</p>
<p>" Food is one of those budget items on which I don’t choose to skimp"</p>
<pre><code>Ah choice! That was a luxury I only had when H had a job 18 months ago! But skimping and saving are two different things. I save but I dont skimp. H commented that since we have forsworn some of our old food shopping habits we are healthier and happier. I make more trips to the store rather than fewer and its generally to take advantage of fresh produce. It is tough budgeting for just two and takes a bit of strategizing.
</code></pre>
<p>A few products–High grade parmesan, good olive oil, fresh produce-- I will not give up. I lived in Italy for a time and learned most of my cooking skills from ladies who shopped everyday for what they needed and couldnt imagine why anyone would ever need a shopping cart, when all one needs is a little shopping busta tucked under the arm. Ive gone back to this way of shopping–just buying what is needed for the task at hand and I find it quite effective. ( that task might be cooking enough for several meals going into the freezer!)</p>
<p>Thanks for startting this thread, since we have actually hijacked the economic situation thread 
I am in for the food challenge week but, like others have said, I also have a lot of meats frozen - could easily go with minimal shopping for 2-3 weeks. Maybe it would work if we agree not to use what we already have at home (I am not talking ketchup and spices )???
I tend to disagree with those who say eating less meat will lower your grocery bills. It might work for a while, but after all how many times a week can you eat pinto beans?
I have two growing kids at home, they need meat and my son craves meat, but I serve it no more than 2-3 times a week. Agree with MiamiDad (?) that we all eat too much, hence the health problems.
I use Costco a lot, agree that impulse buys are a problem there, you just have to be very disciplined. They carry the cheapest gas in our town, yesterday I paid $2.09 for regular - can’t wait till it is less than $2 !
Like musicamusica I tend to shop for food the european way - daily. This way what you are putting on the table is really of the best quality/freshness. Veggies stored are losing their vitamins and minerals quickly. I am talking about greenery here, not onions and potatoes :). I buy my potatoes on sale, usually $5 for 20 lb.
Since I do not buy a whole lot of meat, my produce budget has really increased. Like I have said earlier, can’t imagine eating beans every day of the month. I try to cook variety of vegetables. I will be making an okra dish today, fresh okra was $3.99 lb and I needed a little more than a pound. That is like the cost of meat!
This week I will probably cook a lot of squash, which is cheap, but all the other things needed for the dishes will add up! I do not buy canned veggies, only tomatoes, and try really, really hard to buy fesh before I will resort to the frozen foods section. I think that the only processed food that we consume here is cereal, but I also tend to make oatmeal and cream of wheat for breakfast. Other than that we are not big on milk, a gallon usually last a week. I buy milk from a local dairy - it is healthier and with more vitamins since it has not been transported for miles upon miles. My veggies and fruits are also local, if at all possible.
I have a problem with eating regular chicken, I believe that this meat is the worst you can actually put in your mouth, so I try hard to purchase chicken meat that was raised without hormones and antibiotics. That meat is twice as much as regular chicken, but I do not buy a lot.
Olive oil only, quality cheeses, no cold cuts or rare cold cuts, unless there is no nitrates, lots of mushrooms and berries - eating healthy is expensive. There is this saying - you have to be a king to eat like a peasant - or something similar, which I totally agree with. Can’t even imagine eating like we do if I were forced to work full time!</p>
<p>Another tidbit - I “splurge” on bread products. Artisian bread here - just look at the list of ingredients in your regular bread ! I also like to buy dark rye breads from WF frozen section. Can’t really imagine saving money here, but we do not eat a lot of bread.
Rice is a big bag from Costco, lasts about 6 months. Buckweat as bulk from WF - delicious and inexpensive :)</p>
<p>For me meat is not a big problem, you can buy it on sale and in bulk. My big expense is fish, which I prefer for health and taste reasons. The prices get more unbelievable all the time. I live in NYC, but still, $30 bucks a pound (Swordfish is my local store yesterday)!! I tried TJs frozen but as we’re spoiled, we find it a far cry from fresh.</p>
<p>People who are interested in food challenge:</p>
<p>hmom5
Joclyn smith
Kewlona</p>
<p>My thinking is you could use food you already have as most will still heave the prices on them.</p>
<p>I’ll join in if that’s OK. I’m always up for a challenge.</p>
<p>As much as I like Trader Joe’s, Trader Joe’s doesn’t like where I live, and won’t set up shop here (and driving there takes all morning). We do have Aldi, which is owned by some of the same family as TJ’s. Aldi has its own brands, and the quality is better than you would expect. It is very inexpensive. My younger son accuses me of shopping where the “poor people” shop (sorry, he’s at the age of brand consciousness). I told him “guess what, until you and your brother finish college, we are poor people”. As I suppose we all are these days…</p>
<p>I am too disorganized to post menus/costs, but I will follow the thread with interest.</p>
<p>I agree that fish prices are a problem, hmom5. My sons like fish varieties in direct proportion to their cost, even though they don’t know their cost! Their very favorite: Chilean sea bass; next favorite: fresh tuna; next: sole; and so on. The other problem is getting fresh fish, because you can’t buy it ahead. I have been trying some TJ’s frozen varieties lately. Their frozen sea scallops (wild, Japanese) are OK. I am actually defrosting TJ’s frozen orange roughy as I type. I plan to bake it in an Asian sauce.</p>
<p>pageturner, Even if we are not actually poor, we feel poor, or at least are very worried that we might become poor. I don’t know anyone who is unaffected.</p>
<p>I like fish, too, but with all of the mercury-in-fish news I became more careful and do not serve it more than once a week. What looks healthy may not be that healthy after all.
[Fish</a> Advisories | Water Science | US EPA](<a href=“Water Topics | US EPA”>Water Topics | US EPA)</p>
<p>And I’m also concerned about overfishing :(</p>
<p>[Seafood</a> activists urge us to dine well – and low on the food chain](<a href=“http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/364756_bottomfeeder28.html]Seafood”>http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/364756_bottomfeeder28.html)</p>
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<p>" I am too disorganized to post menus/costs, but I will follow the thread with interest "</p>
<p>I’m right there with you, NY Mom !</p>
<p>In regard to Costco “2.5 hours to shop there and then stand in the long lines at checkout.” - it is not the case with our Costco. Very fast and after check out, the best ice cream in town, huge “very berry” for $1.65. However, warning about their gas - H said that they mix in ethanol which might negatively affect your engine - I do not know anything about it. Today gas is $1.859 everywhere anyway. We actually joined Costco not for good deals, but because we cannot buy certain food anywhere else. I also like some of their clothe but we stopped buying clothe all together.</p>