Tips & Tricks
From my kitchen, to yours
Here are a few of my tips and tricks to help me stay on budget and still eat what I want! Hope you find these helpful :)
Tip #1- Buy What is in Season!
Tip #1- Buy What is in Season!
Eating healthy is hard, I get it. But what makes it even harder is how expensive healthy items are. However, I found a great cheat sheet for you guys! Produce that is 'in season' is always cheaper then when it is out of season. Sure you see most of these fruits and veggies in the grocery store year round, but have you noticed the difference in price? For example, in the summer I can buy zuchnini for $0.99 a pound. In the winter, this price sky-rockets to up to $3.99. What a difference! Follow this guide to help save more money. Try sticking to only buying food that is in season, and watch your grocery bill go down!
Tip #2- Cut Down Big Recipies
You found a recipe that you really want to make. The only problem is, is that you are only cooking for one person, and your freezer is jammed packed already. What do you do? Cut it in half, of course! This chart come in great when cooking for one; it is especially helpful when cutting down fractions (i.e. 1/3 of a cup).
Tip #3- Portion Control
It is hard when living and eating on your own, may it be the first time not. We have all heard of the "freshman 15", the elusvie folks tale that you gain fifteen pounds while away at school. To avoid this ocurring while cooking for yourself, make sure to portion correctly. It is easy to add (and eat) more rice to your plate than needed, but everytime you do this you leave less room to the good stuff! Stick to the chart above. Of course, everyone is different, but if you need to eat more than what is mentioned above, make sure it is still in proportion to whatever else is on your plate. For example, if you need more than a fist full of rice/pasta and vegtables for dinner, make sure youadd more protein as well.
Tip #4- Know Storage Times
One of the greatest gifts to students on a budget is the freezer. You can cook a big meal and eat for months later, or you could buy a whole bunch of meat on sale and freeze that! I suggest doing both :). One of my favourite things to do with meat I just bought is to season it before I freeze it in individual portions. I do this with about half of my meat (usually chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or pork chops), and then leave the other half plain to potentially include in recipes. The benefit of seasoning your meat before you freeze is that the flavour of the marinade/spices are so much stronger since they have been together for so long. Another way I like to stretch my meat out, is that if I buy chicken breasts I usually slice it in half (length wise); I am not a huge fan of leftover meat, so this way I can ensure that I am not putting any to waste! Use the chart above to ensure that your meat is still safe to consume.