Good Food On A Budget

Deb April 1, 2025

My latest post for the Brooklyn Wellness hub is a collection of tips and recipes for eating well on a budget.

These are not easy financial times and many people are struggling with their food budget. It’s tempting to buy the cheapest food available, without worrying about quality. But if we look back to the wisdom of older generations , there are options for good, nourishing meals that are budget friendly.

Home cook your meals and snacks. Make this part of the family culture. Involving the whole family in food prep and cooking will help prepare them for later life.

  • There’s no need for ‘fancy’ meals. Meals can be very simple, but still nourishing & appealing.
  • Use foods with the least processing possible, for better nutrition
  • For treat nights, make your own pizza, fried chicken, curry or fish and chips
  • For when time is short, have a variety of pre-cooked meals in the freezer

Shop wisely

  • There are big price differences between the supermarkets
  • Shop the specials, check online, and shop in bulk – maybe join a co-op.
  • Buy produce in season when cheapest and freeze, bottle, dehydrate or make preserves
  • Build relationships with a farmer or hunter

Produce your own food

Plan meals in advance, to reduce waste

  • You can always change the plan if needed, but knowing what you’re making for the next few days takes away a load of stress
  • Base your meals around what you bought on special in this week’s shop, what ripened in your garden and anything in your freezer that needs eating soon
  • Plan to use up leftovers eg roast lamb on Sunday, lamb rissoles for Monday night dinner, sliced lamb for sandwiches, and make some stock with the bone
  • Have a ‘fridge clean out’ meal each week before doing grocery shop. Make a casserole, stew, soup or frittata. Or have a smorgasbord of leftovers.

Cook in bulk and freeze already cooked meals

  • Soups and stews, for example, are ideal for making a big batch of and freezing
  • At the weekend, cook in bulk, for the freezer and for the coming week.
  • Keep a list of whats in the freezer and when it was frozen, so you can use the oldest things first and nothing gets forgotten

Read the rest of the article here.

Other recipe collections on the Wellness Hub website are: