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Superhero on a Budget?

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Heidi B said #1 Sep 9, 2010 at 7:49pm

I am a College student and love, love LOVE the way that I feel when I eat Superhero meals... mmmm just so content, centered, and calm. However, I am on a tight budget... like INCREDIBLY tight. Can anyone else relate to this problem or tell me how they deal with it? Thanks!

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Melody Ireland said #2 Sep 9, 2010 at 10:41pm

farmers market? i try and buy food in bulk as well... but it is tough, but i somehow manage it! i understand what u mean :P it can be tricky sometimes

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Maly said #3 Sep 10, 2010 at 9:12am

Hi! I am becoming more superhero by the day and as I do, my grocery bill decreases. We don't have a natural foods store in my small small town, so I drive 16 miles to one every other week. I buy from bulk food bins, make a two week list and spend $20-28/wk on my weekly groceries. An extra $40-80 on monthly staples like olive oil, miso, maple syrup, tea, spices and shoyu.


A typical week looks like this:


Breakfast: Fried Mochi or Van's Flax Waffles w Maple Syrup. (And my single cup of coffee, though drinking more tea now) A piece or a cup of fruit.


Lunch: some kind of brown rice, beans, greens and some kind of veg (usually roasted) The seasonings I use changes this from a naked burrito, to asian, to mediteranean from day to day. Maybe twice a week, I have pasta.


Dinner: Homemade Soup and Udon, or Soup with some new to me whole grain. Homemade Chili. Once a week a small Amy's Roasted Veg Pizza or I get a good small loaf of local bread and make bruschetta.


Snacks: One really good chocolate bar and 1 cup of nuts that I savor over the week. An extra bowl of soup if I'm feeling off or stayed up too late studying. On a hot day, Luna and Larry's Coconut Milk Ice Cream.


I use water instead of stock for most soups. I just started using carrot and potato peels, and celery ends and all sorts of "leftover scraps" to make my own stock. Do you live in a dorm or do you have kitchen access? (I'm a student too!)


I'm still super new at this, but for me Superhero is easier and less expensive because it's more satisfying, and while some of the ingredients look pricey to purchase, they last a super long time.


Looks like over time, I'll be down to an average of $30/wk including monthly stock ups. If you'd like to share your weekly or monthly budget, I might be able to suggest a few more ideas.


Hope this helps!



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Maly said #4 Sep 10, 2010 at 9:43am

I started one recipe at a time. Over time my staples evolve. A loaf of the bread I used to buy is the same price as the Mochi I now buy. I try 2 new things a week. And buying "new to you" grains in smaller quantities keeps your cost down and takes the fear out. If you hate barley, you only spent a dollar for that cup of it!


Remember if you are shopping for yourself, 1-2 lbs of two kinds grain, 1 lb of beans, 2 lbs of greens, 4-6 lbs of veggies can easily make you 12-20 meals. And when buying fresh and local and from bulk bins that list is $12-20. OR less than I used to spend on pop tarts and mac in cheese in my early twenties.


:)


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