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You are here: Home / Deals / Real Food Deals – The Make it from Scratch Edition!

Real Food Deals – The Make it from Scratch Edition!

February 23, 2011 by Alea Milham 3 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.
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I debated whether or not to pop back in from my blogging break to do a Real Food Deals post. The deciding factor was my grocery bill this week! I bought some convenience items, packaged versions of things I would normally make from scratch. I didn’t buy a lot, just enough to cover 2 dinners and a few lunches. The result? My grocery bill was double what it normally is. Seriously, DOUBLE!

Often when I come home with groceries, my oldest son asks what I bought and my daughter replies, “Mom just bought ingredients again”. However, focusing on buying ingredients rather than precooked foods allows me to keep my grocery bill low while buying high quality, organic items.

Each one of the recipes below, which were graciously shared in guest posts,  is an example of an item that is often bought premade or packaged but can be made much more frugally from scratch. They can also be made healthier since you have complete control over the ingredients.

The Best Pancakes Ever

Shredded Hashbrowns with Sausage and Peppers

Hamburger, Help Her

Homemade Chocolate and Banana Snack Cake & Homemade Carrot, Walnut and Ginger Snack Cake

Another way I save on groceries is by shopping at a variety of stores, including ethnic markets. Mangos are usually around a $1.00 each at the local stores, but at the Latin Market I can buy 3 or 4 mangos for $1.00. Laura shared how she saves money and buys interesting food by shopping at ethnic markets: Fascinating Foods, Fantastic Prices.

To Participate in Real Food Deals:

Share a tip on how to save money on wholesome food on your blog. You can read more about what makes a Real Food Deal here.

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About Alea Milham

Alea Milham is the owner of Premeditated Leftovers and the author of Prep-Ahead Meals from Scatch. She shares her tips for saving money and time while reducing waste in her home. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes. She believes it is possible to live fully and eat well while spending less.

Comments

  1. a moderate life says

    February 25, 2011 at 6:38 am

    Hi Alea, linking up two great recipes for gravy, which you know can be a frugal way to add nutrients and healthy fats to any meal. One recipe is my mom's old standard and the other is a mark bittman gluten free pan gravy. Big hugs! Alex

    Reply
  2. Alea says

    February 23, 2011 at 4:22 pm

    Thank you Melynda, I am honored!

    Reply
  3. Melynda says

    February 23, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    Hello Alea, I am featuring this great post in my Wednesday Wanderings collection. Thanks!

    Reply

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Welcome. I'm Alea!

On Premeditated Leftovers I share simple recipes made with whole foods, practical shopping tips, time saving techniques, and meal planning strategies. I also share tips for minimizing food waste, so more of the food that is purchased ends up on the table.

While volunteering as a budget counselor, I realized that food is the element of most people’s budgets where they have the greatest control. I set out to develop low-cost recipes from scratch to prove it’s possible to create delicious meals on a limited budget. Eating well while spending less is about more than just creating recipes using inexpensive ingredients; it’s about creatively combining ingredients so you don’t feel deprived and are inspired to stick to your budget.

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