In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve all had to become masters of budgeting. With homes around the world going into lockdown, many of us are unable to work or earn money. Even those lucky enough to retain their jobs have likely taken a substantial pay cut. And with limited access to stores and online shopping taking longer and longer, we’re all grappling with how to make our food last longer and our grocery budget go further for us. With limited budget and access, it may seem like an impossibility to give our family a healthy and nutritionally complete diet. But with a little care and planning, it’s surprisingly achievable.
With that in mind, here are some practical tips to make your food go further which will help your household budget and your family’s health while in lockdown… and beyond.
More wholefoods, less of everything else
Think of this as an opportunity to develop healthier new eating habits that will last way longer than the pandemic. For instance, if you’ve typically been the kind of family that lives from one ready meal or processed food in a can to the next, now’s the time to load up on more wholefoods and jettison everything else. The vast majority of your diet should be plant based, especially at this time. Plants are filled with vitamins, minerals, immune boosting phytochemicals, protein and fiber. So load up in whatever fresh veggies and fruits you can. Where you can’t get fresh get dried, canned or frozen. Stock up on grains and pulses which are versatile and last virtually forever.
From these you can make bunches and bunches of affordable meals which can be made to last. Fruit and veg looking like it’s seen better days? Don’t let it go to waste. Mix it up into a smoothie or juice it.
Make big, big batches
Your freezer is about to become your new best friend! Batch cooking allows you to make the most out of the ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry. Cooking up a big batch of 5 bean chilli or chickpea and lentil curry can give you several days’ worth of meals for the whole family. Combine these with some brown rice and veggies and you have a nutritionally complete meal every day of the week.
Learn to make your own store bought favorites
Processed foods have become such a huge part of our lives that it can seem impossible to live without them. Nonetheless, a little ingenuity in the kitchen can go a long way. You can make virtually everything you find in the store yourself. Even bottled soft drinks like cola can be made from home to much more nutritious and taste recipes.
Whatever you can’t make yourself, you should buy in bulk. This is a good approach for things like baby formula- just follow these holle formula directions. You’ll find that you likely spend way less on food and have less waste (and smaller waistlines).
Experiment with leftovers
Finally, speaking of waste… don’t make the mistake of throwing your leftovers away. For instance, the mashed potatoes and veggies left over from your Easter roast can be made into delicious bubble and squeak patties for lunch the next day. Any meat left on the carcass of your poultry or the bone of your meat joint can be picked off and made into a curry, pie or soup.
