Frugal Cooking for Moms - By: Genesis D.

While everyone can use frugal cooking tips, no one needs to cut back on food costs more than a mom. When you have kids to feed, it becomes even more important that you provide them with cheap, nutritious food. Gone are the days when ramen noodles could sustain you for months . . . now you need healthy food on a tight budget!

How do you do that? Well, there are a few things you can do.

Look for recipes that use cheaper ingredients. Casseroles are an excellent food for families, but the problem is that nearly all casserole recipes call for several cups of cheese, a rather expensive ingredient. Instead of using these, try looking for recipes that offer non-cheesy options.

Skip expensive desserts. Chocolate can be pricey, as can most pre-made desserts. Skip all those and make simple recipes like almond jelly, shortbread cookies, etc. that will satisfy the sweet teeth in the house, but without breaking the bank.

Make it from scratch. Amazingly, most recipes don’t take much longer than a mix to make up. A cake, for example, can be put together in about 5 minutes if you use a simple recipe. Cookies don’t take much longer, so it’s well worth making your own stuff . . . it will save you hundreds of dollars in the long run!

Even when looking at frugal cooking, you might want to consider splurging on some areas. For example, having fresh fruit and vegetables in the house is very important. These cost more than canned, but if you can afford them, certain veggies are better to have in the house than others. For example, it’s a good idea to keep leafy greens like spinach and lettuce on hand for a quick salad. Carrots, potatoes and peas are all excellent to have on hand, too. If you can’t afford fresh, get frozen, they are still far better than canned.

Check everything you buy for nutrition information. It’s not really a savings if you pay less for very little in the way of nutrition! You need to nourish your family, even with frugal cooking and many moms actually find that they are able to drop the price of their food while increasing the quality. It takes some work, but is worth it.

There are many other ways to save money on food. Frugal cooking is a lifestyle, you’ll need to clip coupons, look at sales and possibly even grow some of your own food (herbs in pots are great).

About the Author

Looking for more frugal cooking ideas ? At TheGourmetMama.com, you’ll find great, easy recipes to impress everyone in the family.

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