You can Thrive in America with bounty all around, with stores competing for your food purchasing dollar and the government providing with a generous helping hand. Nutritious, health food is right around the corner ... no one in America needs to go to bed hungry
The objective of this study is to determine if: 1. Is it possible to eat well on a maximum budget of $88 a month? 2. What is the minimum monthly food budget to eat healthy and contented? My first excursion into the budget food biz took me to the 99c Only Stores and then on to Ralph’s for some great day old fare. My first days catch set me back $12.28 and can be seen along with my other purchases: where? Keep tabs on my progress ... at least, my financial progress. You will also see pictures of all my purchases so you can use your imagination in combining them to your own tastes.
Costco is a dangerous place when you're on a budget but their $5 chicken is irresistible. So if you go, be careful.
By June 5th., I am overflowing with food so I better start planning how I'm going to use what I have and forego buying any more until I've used up my current supply. I've come to realize that I like to go out and buy food without any kind of plan for how I'm going to use it. Time to change this. Why?
It is really easy to eat unhealthy food … it is everywhere. I think the secret is to buy on a budget because it forces you to plan and when you do that you actually think about what food goes into your diet on a daily basis. Fried Chicken – I just thought I would throw out there a great fried chicken recipe who’s reviews were superlative … found at
I didn’t use all aspects of the receipt, because I had Costco roast chicken which didn’t require a long cooking time, but I will try this exact recipe next time. P.S. Frying Costco roast chicken is fast and easy and produces a pretty good fried chicken.
It is really hard to buy for just one person and for just one time period. I have found that a purchase, of beans for example, can last a long time and require intense focus to ‘use’ it up in a recipe. Planning is critical when you are a single eater and budgeting simultaneously.
In this process, I realized that I am really spoiled in that I normally just ‘graze’ through the day … snaking here and there without any plan or concern of missing nutrition. I am blessed and know that anyone living on a minimum is not so free in approaching their eating.
Going out to dinner can be really expensive when you’re on a limited budget. I went out with a friend today and spent $14.45. That’s 20% of my entire budget for the first half of the month … when you’re on a restricted budget …. Avoid going out to eat.
A great waffle recipe is here:
Also, I am going to have excess waffle mix so I put in a water bottle to hold until tomorrow. Then I just pour it out and voila instant waffles. Others may use the water bottle trick, but I just arrived at it.
Disclaimer: At the end of the month, I realized that I never purchased Spaghetti but used some that I had previously purchased ... So I traded myself pasta for my remaining brown rice. After the month was done, I had spent $72.87 or about $2.43 per say and I believe that I was able to eat a very well balanced and nutritious diet. During the month I gained 2 lbs. One can Thrive in America for $75 dollars per month and live to tell the tale. |
Thrive in America
June 1, 2012 … I start My first meal is two pieces of French toast. I used two eggs and two pieces of bread, but unfortunately I had forgotten to buy oil (for cooking), milk and syrup. My first meal was ok, but a bit dry and I did miss the syrup. I’m on my way today to buy milk, jam (instead of syrup), oil and some peanut butter for later on. Lunch is ½ bagel with plenty of Philly Cream Cheese spread and one apple and eight almonds I got a little hungry about ???? Dinner … well my first deviation comes soon with my Daughter taking me out to dinner for my birthday tonight. June 2, 2012 Great breakfast … one egg mushroom omelet or I guess it should be called a frittata just to be precise. Regardless it was great. I completed more purchases today of the foods that I was missing yesterday. The olive oil I bought could be considered a luxury, but I am somewhat health conscious and olive oil is one of those ‘healthy oils’ and besides I like the taste. I also skipped jam in favor of honey. I think it may be healthier and more versatile in the cooking I plan to do. peanut butter, of course, is the great protein supplier. Lunch at a friend’s retirement party today certainly stretched my grocery budget. I should state that ‘You’ll never starve in America” if you have great friends that feed you now and then. Dinner was also out; we went to Fresca’s Mexican Restaurant in Brea and I had a fabulous taco with a draft beer paid for from my grocery money. June 3, 2012 I had a bowl of cereal for breakfast on the run. Lunch was a quick bagel with cream cheese and an apple and then off to a golf game. I didn’t get hungry until the 17th hole and I vowed to make something good for dinner. I felt that had to start using my eggplant, even though they last for quite a while. I toasted a slice of bread (over and over) and used the crumbs to coat the eggplant with egg, mushrooms, and olives before frying them … they were excellent and I added this recipe to my good list. June 4, 2012 Monday morning! Toast with peanut butter and honey for breakfast and apple and almonds for lunch. By dinnertime I was ready to eat so I made a huge salad. I also had an orange and apple and topped it off with peanut butter and honey toast to satisfy my sweet tooth. I think I have arrived at my standard dessert--good, tasty, and nutritious. I am soaking my black beans overnight and will use them tomorrow. After four days, and with my trips to the grocery stores, it looks like I will have enough food for a month, but I know that when it comes time to actually use my purchases, I will just have to have something else and I’ll be at the store again. ??? June 5, 2012 Breakfast is oatmeal with almonds and apples pieces … it was great and very filling. I wasn’t hungry for lunch but by 2:30 pm I’m ready for something to eat. A handful of almonds and a slice of my apple pumpkin bread from Polly’s is perfect … it’s just enough to tide me over until dinner. After my purchase from Costco and my overnight soaking, I’m ready for black beans, brown rice and roast chicken for dinner … and a small dinner salad. June 6, 2012 Eating well takes some thought. I realized that my diet was too overweighed in carbohydrates, so I need to adjust along the way. My breakfast wasn’t too traditional --- black bean waffles. Although that sounds strange, they were really good with honey drizzled over the top. Waffles, oranges, ( 1..2..3..?,) a few almonds and a hardboiled egg got my day off right. A chicken sandwich and an apple was all I needed for lunch … and for dinner a large chicken salad with a slice of pumpkin loaf for dessert. I am now eating better than I did when I could have eaten whatever I wanted. I am thriving in America. June 7, 2012 Breakfast … a waffle and a bowl of cereal. Lunch … a bagel with cream cheese, olives and an orange on the side. I de-boned my Costco chicken today … slicing most of it and using the rest for soup. Dinner … A chicken sandwich on the run with a handful of almonds. June 8, 2012 I had a huge bowl of cereal for breakfast with two oranges. It was late in the morning when I ate so I didn’t have any lunch, but I did go to the store and the temptation of a Sesame seed candy bar was too powerful and I succumbed. For dinner I had what I was going to have last night; fried chicken, black beans and a small salad and for dessert I toasted a slice of apple, pumpkin bread with peanut butter and honey. My wife said that the peanut butter flavor would overpower the subtle pumpkin flavor. It was great. I completely debone my chicken and ended up with a thigh, leg, two wings, at least two pounds of sliced chicken breast and a bunch of bones. I fried the thigh for dinner and threw the wings and bones into a crock-pot and started my super soup. June 9, 2012 I was egger to try my soup, so I bypassed the cereal or toast for ‘super soup’. It was really quite good … but for breakfast, I think tomorrow, I go back to regulars. I had an orange, some almonds and a piece of peanut butter toast for a late lunch We’re off to a movie tonight so I only had time to grab a chicken sandwich. June 10, 2012 Breakfast was on the run … cereal and an apple When I returned home in early afternoon I had black beans, brown rice and my super soup. It wasn’t spicy … more like savory, but good. I have a lot more so, I’ll have plenty later. For dinner I sautéed my eggplant and then put it aside. I then sautéed my mushrooms and onions together and added green beans at the end of the cooking. Combining the eggplant with the other ingredients made a great stir fry and with an apple for dessert, I had a great dinner. June 11, 2012 I had time this morning, so for breakfast, I fried up two eggs (over easy) and had them on toast with two oranges. I had a chicken sandwich for lunch and by 5pm I was pretty hungry. I took the last of my black beans and mixed them with rice and poured over some more of my chicken soup. I made a great salad and was able to use my avocado … it was just perfect in capping off my ‘soup and salad’ dinner. June 12, 2012 I remembered my oatmeal this morning and had a huge bowl along with ½ of a hard boiled egg. Lunch was the second egg half, a slice of my pumpkin loaf and some almonds. Spaghetti for dinner with the last of my mushrooms and sautéed eggplant along with a small dinner salad made for a very satisfying meal. June 13, 2012 I got up early today and headed off to visit my friend in the hospital. I grabbed a bowl of cereal on the run as I headed out. Lunch was a simple affair, I bought an apple (.50) and accepted the gracious offer of several handfuls of pretzels from another friend who was also waiting at the hospital. Thanks for friends. When I got home I took a handful of almonds and thought about dinner. About 5:00, I decided to make spaghetti again so I sautéed some green beans, cooked my pasta, and mixed the green beans with the sauce to make a great pasta sauce. It was very filling. I realized that I was a little light on protein, so two slices of chicken rounded out my dinner. June 14, 2012 Cereal again for breakfast with peanut and honey toast and with this I got a good start on the day. When I check my refrigerator I realized that I had a lot of chicken soup left … so Super Soup for dinner with green beans thrown in. June 15, 2012 A hard boiled egg and Super soup for by noontime breakfast and lunch. Boy do I have a lot of soup that has to be eaten. I am now on a mission to eat my soup. I like the soup because it has lots of flavor and lots of protein. Any one on a limited budget should make sure Costco chicken in at the top of their list. I sautéed green beans and added them to a big bowl of soup and made a dinner of it and along with my favorite peanut butter toast with honey, I had a great dinner. Well June 15 th. … I’m half way through the month and thanks to my extravagant lunch out on Thursday, I am a little behind on my budget for the month; but the good news is that I have a ton of food left for the rest of the month. A few more purchases and I’m done buying. June 16, 2012 I went out today and Polly’s Pies beaconed me. I found another ½ price pumpkin loaf and snatched it up for $1.61 and it should last me for the rest of the month if I am judicious about it’s use. Unfortunately, I ate half of the loaf along with a hardboiled egg for breakfast. For lunch I made a great chicken sandwich and a few almonds. Dinner is going to be spaghetti and a large salad. June 17, 2012 Cereal on the run for breakfast along with a hardboiled egg. It is Father’s Day and all my little ones (well a little no so little ones) are coming over and make a feast for me. My oldest daughter is making mushroom quiche. Well everyone arrived about 12:30 and they proceeded to make a fantastic brunch: Quiche (two kinds), bacon, fruit salad, Mimosas. I ate and ate and when I was done, I didn’t need to eat again that day. June 18, 2012 The day after Father’s Day and everything is back to normal … now I have to plot out what I will be having the rest of the week. This morning I’m having the classic waffle … the best I’ve ever had. The recipe calls for butter, but I always substitute olive oil since I can’t tell the difference and olive oil is a whole lot better of us. Lunch is an orange, apple, almonds and a bowl of cereal. I am really surprised how well the almonds have lasted. I guess, if you only have a few at a time you get the nutrition and they will last for a while. I defrosted the last of my chicken and fried it up with broccoli and eggplant for a great stir fry. June 19, 2012 The day after the day after Father’s Day and everything is back to normal again ... Oatmeal and almonds for breakfast and I'm feeling that this new diet regime should continue after the end of the month. A piece bagel and cream cheese for lunch A Costco visit yields a rare night out and a Costco Dog for $1.62 ... one of the best deals around. June 20, 2012 Wednesday ... Oatmeal and almonds for breakfast again with toast and peanut butter ... pretty nutritious. A Chicken sandwich for lunch at about 2:00 and cutting off a few more pieces to make Super Soup for tonight. Super Soup for dinner with green beans and an apple for dessert. June 21, 2012 Oatmeal again and some more almonds for breakfast. I went to Polly's today to pick up a Pumpkin Loaf and lunch ... well lunch was a half a pumpkin loaf. I felt stuffed afterward. A feast for dinner when I eat a roasted chicken thigh and leg off my Costco chicken, green beans and roasted apple. Today was another belly buster. June 22, 2012 Oatmeal again and some more almonds for breakfast. I went to Polly's today to pick up a Pumpkin Loaf and lunch ... well lunch was a half a pumpkin loaf. I felt stuffed afterward. A feast for dinner when I eat a roasted chicken thigh and leg off my Costco chicken, green beans and roasted apple. Today was another belly buster. June 23, 2012 Another great omelette for breakfast ... two eggs, chopped beef and green beans with pasta sauce and a couple of oranges. They say that breakfast is the most important meal, even more so on Saturday when things have to get done. Super Soup and oranges for lunch and I'm on my way again. A great chicken sandwich and another roast apple for dinner and a slice of my pumpkin bread. June 24, 2012 Sunday and we're off to church ... today I will cheat a little since my Sunday School class always has cake, fruit, donuts and coffee ... I eat a little more than the rest of my friends, but I'm filled for the day. Lunch is another chicken sandwich and some almonds ... with the carbo breakfast, I am not eating until 3:00 The last of my Super soup and an orange goes for dinner and I go to bed full. June 25, 2012 Another 2-egg omelette and oranges. I was thinking after breakfast that again eating on a budget can be pretty healthy ... certainly a lot better than relying on fast foods or spending the big bucks to go out every day. I am not ever hungry and I have gained weight for the month. I guess the only lament is the additional planning that it takes to make it balanced ... that reminds me, I better have a salad for lunch. The Grand Salad for lunch with romaine, avocado and tomatoes ... olive oil, lemon (from my tree out back), water, and pureed avocado. Great lunch. Famous peanut butter waffles for dinner with the rest of my pumpkin loaf (yes I know all cards makes for a dull dinner and unhealthy dinner ... I am not a nutritionist) June 26, 2012 Tuesday and what shall I do for today's Epicurean masterpiece. Breakfast scrambled eggs with meat pasta sauce on toast. This may not sound too good, but it was. Also had an apple and an orange to make for a balanced meal. I am not hungry until real late so I'm going to have an early dinner. Beef, broccoli, and olive stir fry with an avocado salad and a glass of milk ... apple for dessert. One thing that I miss on the dietary regime is juice ... I drink water most of the time and where my normal diet includes fruit juices, I am forgoing them for now. June 27, 2012 I was thinking about fruit juice last night and that I miss it ... so this morning first thing, I headed out to 99c store and snagged a 32 oz bottle of grape juice and made waffles with honey and had a great big glass of concord grape juice. I sliced some chicken breast today and they fried it in strips and made a chicken sandwich with avocado and lettuce. I had roasted chicken for dinner ... this may seem a bit of chicken overkill, but I still have plenty that need to be used. June 28, 2012 Cereal for breakfast with peanut butter and honey toast and another glass of grape juice. I got ambitious for lunch and make a frittata by shredding my beef, adding tomatoes, sliced mushrooms, and broccoli ... It turned out great. I am not used to eating frittatas and omelettes without cheese, but this month has introduced me to a whole new way of approaching food ... food can be prepared without traditionally appealing and high cost foods like cheese. Chicken and waffles for dinner with the last of my grape juice. I am a really blessed person. June 29, 2012 Breakfast is oatmeal with almonds and apples pieces. The last of my lettuce goes today as I mix up another Grand Salad with tomatoes, mushrooms, and sliced green beans. For dinner, I use the last of my green beans the last of my broccoli in a beef stir fry with the last of my avocadoes on the side. June 30, 2012 - Last Day I've got so much food left that I can hardly believe it when I look it over: oatmeal honey flour eggs bread olives mushrooms brown rice Cream Cheese Olive Oil Cereal Spaghetti pasta Pasta Sauce Beef (little bit) Chicken I think if I stretched I could go another 10 days easily, even though it would not be like the luxury I was living with for the last thirty days. With the all the bounty spread in from of me, I had waffles, eggs and fried steak (beef) for breakfast, and topped off my month with spaghetti pasta for lunch/dinner. |