What are your food staples?

[Bearded Man]

There are certain things that allow for making many different types of delicious meals very cheaply.

Things like rice (I prefer basmati myself and know where to get it very cheap), beans, sausage, eggs, potatoes, pasta, bread, tomatoes, onions, chicken, butter, jam, etc.

I can make a pretty varied combination of cheap but filling and relatively nutritious meals with these items. It's cheap to have a piece of toast with butter and jam, or some pasta and sausage, or rice and beans with sausage mixed in. Last many meals, doesn't require great cooking skills and is very cheap.

If you don't buy many processed foods, and grow/raise a lot of your own potatoes, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, chickens and eggs, it should be pretty cheap to live like this. I don't understand how some people spend $500 a month on food for a one or two person household. Most families I know spend around 1K a month feeding themselves!

[abhe8]

staples (I feed a family of 6):

whole chickens (we raise and butcher our own)
beef (buy 1/2 at a time, so all cuts, although we eat a ton of roast and ground)
pork (also buy 1/2 at a time, all cuts)
fish (buy frozen at costco, usually salmon and some variety of white)
eggs (we have chickens....and we eat a lot of eggs)

rice, basmati
oatmeal
beans (black, pinto, garbanzo, navy)
many varieties of cow peas (grow these)
lentils, green and red
popcorn
quinoa
wheat berries (grind to make bread, waffles, muffins)

tomatoes (canned or frozen, fresh in summer)
peas, corn (frozen)
onions
potatoes, white and sweet
broccoli, green beans, lettuce and spinach (when in season)
apples, oranges, bananas

coconut oil
olive oil
butter
milk
cheese
sour cream

[Rural]

Brown rice, various beans, chicken, TVP, frozen vegetables, peanut butter, whole wheat bread and pasta, tomatoes (often from a can or jar), fresh spinach, potatoes and (for him) sweet potatoes. He also goes through mountains of roasted peanuts and store brand Cheerios. I go through bananas and apples.

[mm1970]

A lot of this is going to depend on where you live, and what you eat.

For example, I live in California.  Great state for growing your own (if you are into that, and me, not so much.  Of course, water is not cheap right now.)  But to buy it?  Pricey, because of overhead.  It's very good and very fresh, but not cheap.

Plus, our major grocery stores just merged, and were required to sell off a bunch of stores by the government.  Those stores got bought by a small chain that bit off more than it could chew, and now they are going bankrupt.  All in all this, plus a couple of other store issues, means that we lost 7 local grocery stores this year.  Less competition.  I have discovered the 99 cent only store, which is cheap, but the produce is hit or miss.  I can routinely get carrots for $0.99 for 2 lbs though.

So, some areas will be expensive (Canada, NYC), some cheaper.

Then, there is what you eat.  I love beans and rice, but at my age cannot eat much of them and maintain a healthy weight.  So, I end up with more eggs (0.50 for 2 eggs) and fewer beans (way cheaper than that per calorie).

Then there is the organic, local, and sustainable aspect.  Some people prefer to pay for this.  I belong to a CSA, but the rest of my food comes from cheaper sources.

So...for me:
whatever veggies I get at the CSA
chicken
beans
rice
corn tortillas
cheese (cheddar, parm, American)
bread, peanut butter, jam (for the rest of my family)
apples (these are expensive here)
strawberries in season
bananas
cantaloupe in season
lettuce
carrots
cucumbers
peppers
lentils
frozen green beans
broccoli
cauliflower

[11ducks]

Frozen veggies to make a daily breakfast smoothie

I do a weekly bean soup in the slow cooker and do a cup for lunch

Eggs (free range)

Then our usual meals, homemade chicken burgers, stir fry, pasta bake, meatballs, etx etx

[kite]

Oats are my #1 staple.  Not because I do much with them, but because I never tire of them.  At least 5 days a week I have oats for breakfast. 

Our other staples are potatoes, eggs and mushrooms, bread flour.  I use these "staples" as a vehicle for what was cheap and interesting at the market that week. 

Whatever vegetables and protein we've gotten can be made into a twiced-baked potatoes topping.  Likewise, the same kinds of ingredients diced fine & sautéed make filling for stuffed mushrooms.  We have a komodo style cooker that retains heat a very long time.  If it's fired up to cook a turkey, rack of ribs or pork loin, etc, we make use of the radiant heat when we're done cooking the first meal to make potatoes and stuffed mushrooms for subsequent meals. 
Any veggies or herbs make up a quiche or omelet out of the eggs.  And almost anything becomes topping for the pizza dough we make.  Pizza shells also get cooked on the grill when it's been heated up to cook anything else. 

[big_slacker]

Oat based museli that I eat for breakfast almost every day
Nut milk of some sort (Coconut almond blend)
Sticky brown rice that is in most lunches
Leafy greens (kale, spinach, chard, etc.)
Legumes (black and kidney beans are my favorites)
Plant based protein powder for shakes (Vega, Sunwarrior)
Ezekiel bread
Hummus
Seasonal fruits
Roasted nuts (Peanuts, almonds)

The above is most of what I eat on a daily basis. Of course are lots of seasonings, add ins and so on, but those are the staples.

[Ambergris]

This is something I've been thinking about a lot recently. I've been trying to increase the nutritional density of my staples, but it also seems to mean increasing the cost of the damn things.

Main staples: oatmeal (at least twice a day), yams. Occasionally: brown rice, 100% wholewheat bread or pasta

Beans: black, lentils, garbanzo, occasionally tofu.

Nuts and seeds: flax, almonds, pumpkin, walnuts, peanuts (these last are surprisingly nutritionally good for the cost)

Fish: salmon, flounder, shellfish, tuna (etc.)

Vegetables: kale, chard, broccoli, cauliflower, onions (red and yellow), garlic, tomatoes, celery, mushrooms, carrots, lettuce (summertime), peppers, squash, fresh herbs. Greens and herbs are based mostly on what I can get out of my garden. Want to add spinach if I can get the damn stuff to grow this fall.

Fruits: apples, berries + whatever is in season and cheap

Dairy: skimmed milk, Greek yogurt, eggs (whites only, usually), occasionally: parmesan cheese

Drinks: fruit and herb teas

Anything else I eat only rarely or as a treat.

[sunday]

Rice, quinoa, pasta, bread, coffee beans, almond milk, tomato paste, half and half, flour, eggs, and assorted spices, oils, and vinegars.
We cook with a wide variety of vegetables, but I always have on hand onions, garlic and shallots.

[ltt]

Eggs--we use a lot due to low-carb diet.  However, the price of eggs now is ridiculous.

Cheese--again for low-carb diet.  However, very expensive.

Meats---same thing, but expensive.

We always keep canola oil, butter, rice, pasta, lots of tortillas, refried beans, flour, onions.   

[sstants]

I use many of the staples that people have previously listed. Something that people haven't brought up:

I love anything I can buy in bulk and shovel into my hippie cloth drawstring sacks. I've recently been on a couscous kick, it's cheap and there's a whole wheat option at my grocery store. With broccoli, parm, and chicken it makes an awesome lunch bowl that you can make a ton of at the beginning of the week.

[Bolshevik Artizan]

Bake our own bread. From March 16 will grow our own root vegetables. Plan to home brew lager and bitter from that point also.

Pasta, basmati rice, potatoes, couscous
organic grass fed beef, organic chicken. No lamb or pork (wife does not like)
All vegetables organic. We aim for all meals to be at least 75% vegetable content, no more than 25% meat.

Batch cook large amounts of chili, chicken curry, ragu (for pasta), Moroccan chicken, vegetable soup, irish stew and also pot roasts. These create sub-$2 meals for the two of us and our son, each batch yields 3-4 family servings.

Baked potatoes with cheese and beans are another favourite. We do our own porridge with dates, sultanas, dried apple flakes and cinnamon every morning. If you have never tried this, please do.

Once we get rid of our expensive fancy water habit, our food bill per week will be CDN$150 (GBP 75; USD 190) including organic coffee and tea.

We spend more money on food than anything else because it's important to us to eat well.

BA

[Bolshevik Artizan]

Oats are my #1 staple.  Not because I do much with them, but because I never tire of them.  At least 5 days a week I have oats for breakfast. 

Our other staples are potatoes, eggs and mushrooms, bread flour.  I use these "staples" as a vehicle for what was cheap and interesting at the market that week. 

Whatever vegetables and protein we've gotten can be made into a twiced-baked potatoes topping.  Likewise, the same kinds of ingredients diced fine & sautéed make filling for stuffed mushrooms.  We have a komodo style cooker that retains heat a very long time.  If it's fired up to cook a turkey, rack of ribs or pork loin, etc, we make use of the radiant heat when we're done cooking the first meal to make potatoes and stuffed mushrooms for subsequent meals. 
Any veggies or herbs make up a quiche or omelet out of the eggs.  And almost anything becomes topping for the pizza dough we make.  Pizza shells also get cooked on the grill when it's been heated up to cook anything else.

Respects! I love the way you roll in the kitchen, will copy lots of this if I may...

[iwasjustwondering]

Rice (basmati), pasta, egg noodles (great for leftovers), flour (for pancakes and sauces, mostly), Arnolds bread. 

Kidney beans, chickpeas, navy beans. 

Ground turkey, chicken breasts, whole chickens, cornish game hens (when they're on sale, game hens are a very good value), grass-fed ground beef, beef stew meat, bottom round for pot roasts.

Eggs, milk, butter, cheddar cheese, peanut butter, almond butter.

Bananas (I buy green bananas, because they ripen very fast), apples, red peppers, frozen peas, potatoes, carrots, clementines, canned spicy tomatoes for breakfast, Victoria pasta sauce (which is awesome and often on sale).  I try to always have onions, garlic, and fresh ginger for curries. 

Oreos or other junky snack food, occasionally. 

Olive oil for cooking, vegetable oil for baking. 

[MMMaybe]

Basmati, arborio and brown rice. I sometimes eat red rice for variety. Oats (I make my own granola)
Eggs, cheddar, mozarella, parmesan and feta cheese. Home made yogurt.
Homemade rice milk. Regular milk for coffee only.
Coconut oil, olive oil, canola oil.
Gin, vodka, tonic. Orange, grapefruit and apple juices.
Pasta, flour, pita bread.
White beans, chickpeas, pinto beans (dried)
Tahini, mayonnaise, mustard, pesto, home made bbq sauce. A variety of vinegars.
Canned tomatoes, canned corn, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes
Lots of local fruit (bananas, papaya, watermelon, mangoes, lemons, pineapple) plus frozen berries.
Whatever vegetables are in season locally. We eat a lot of fresh veg.
Lamb, beef mince. We only eat meat once or twice a week as grass fed imported meat is very expensive here.
Salmon, fresh tuna, shrimps, local cod variety.
Dark chocolate. This amazing local icecream, which is all natural and so good.
Superfoods for the morning shake: Maca, spirulina, chlorella, camu-camu.

[2Birds1Stone]

Rice, Pasta, Beans, Lentils, Chicken, Ground Turkey, Kielbasa, Beer, Wine, Steam in Bag Vegetables

[clarkfan1979]

Here are the staples from your local CostCo

Organic Romaine Lettuce
Organic Eggs
5 lb. carton of tomatoes
Organic ground Beef
Uncooked Flour Tortillas
Carton of black beans
10 lb. bag of mozzarella
bag of 6 avocados

[Teacherstache]

Various lettuces, spinach, bell peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, cauliflower, green beans, corn, onions, garlic, bananas, apples, berries, potatoes, avocados, hummus, ranch dressing,
wheat bread, tortillas, tortilla chips, oatmeal, cereal/granola,
coffee, sugar, flour, chocolate chips, etc. for baking,
ground beef, bacon, pork loin, beef roast, chicken breasts, shrimp, tuna, shaved turkey breast
Salsa, tomato sauce, pasta, rice, various dried spices, broth, olive oil, canola oil, vinegar,
Mustard, ketchup, mayo, bbq sauce, pickles, hot sauce, soy sauce,
Free-range eggs, beans, refried beans, various nuts and seeds, peanut butter, jam
Milk, almond milk, cheeses, butter, sour cream, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese,

Don't need these, but they are still regular purchases: orange juice, nutella, fries, cream, potato chips, frozen pizza, chocolate

[use2betrix]

Breakfast every 5:30  AM is 3 whole eggs, 3 egg whites, 2 pieces bacon.
8:30 am - 2 servings oatmeal, 2 scoop protein shake
11:30 am - 8 oz chicken, steak, or ground beef, then usually some kind of basmati rice side
3 pm - same as 11:30 am
6 pm - 2 scoop protein shake
8 pm - almond chicken and salad or hamburger and salad (8 oz meat)

For myself and my fiancé is around $175/wk. Mostly due to all the meat. We don't get organic but with how much we eat I also stray away from the super cheapest stuff as well.

Our day time meals are usually like cheesey chicken and rice on the crock pot, chicken stir fry, steak and green beans, tuna sometimes, etc.

I never miss meals, but occasionally change them up a little. Sometimes for breakfast on the weekends my fiancé will do these higher protein sweet potato pancakes with peanut butter, and some other stuff like that.

So that is how someone has a high grocery bill for 2 people. Around 650-700/mo, not including our protein powders, which are another 75-100. We are very into fitness/bodybuilding so to maintain 220+ lbs at 5'10 with a reasonably low body fat, it takes a lot of protein and a pretty thought out diet. At least with my body type. I was 170lbs around 4 years ago, with a slightly higher BF. My diet has been much trial and error.

For a normal person without my fitness goals, they could eat half as much meat.

[MayDay]

Brown rice, various beans, chicken, TVP, frozen vegetables, peanut butter, whole wheat bread and pasta, tomatoes (often from a can or jar), fresh spinach, potatoes and (for him) sweet potatoes. He also goes through mountains of roasted peanuts and store brand Cheerios. I go through bananas and apples.

What do you do with TVP?

[Dances With Fire]

There are certain things that allow for making many different types of delicious meals very cheaply.

Things like rice (I prefer basmati myself and know where to get it very cheap), beans, sausage, eggs, potatoes, pasta, bread, tomatoes, onions, chicken, butter, jam, etc.

I can make a pretty varied combination of cheap but filling and relatively nutritious meals with these items. It's cheap to have a piece of toast with butter and jam, or some pasta and sausage, or rice and beans with sausage mixed in. Last many meals, doesn't require great cooking skills and is very cheap.

If you don't buy many processed foods, and grow/raise a lot of your own potatoes, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, chickens and eggs, it should be pretty cheap to live like this. I don't understand how some people spend $500 a month on food for a one or two person household. Most families I know spend around 1K a month feeding themselves!

^^^Agree, we don't spend anywhere close to this...

Eggs.

Variety of Beans from our small urban garden. As well as potatoes, onions, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and squash just to name a few. (I refuse to buy an onion or garlic clove when they are arguably the easiest veggies to grow. You could include herbs as well.) I have yet to "kill" a garlic plant.

Rice, chicken, salmon, and trout. (A few I catch myself.)

And Beer...

Cheers! Dances With Fire

[MicroRN]

What we always have on hand:
Eggs (we keep chickens)
Beef or pork (alternate buying a half of one or the other)
Rice, rolled oats, whole wheat flour, bread flour, pasta, black beans
Potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, carrots
Canned tomatoes
Apples
Homemade jams and apple butter, peanut butter
Olive oil, coconut oil, butter
Parsley, green onions, and cilantro
Assorted cheese
Greek yogurt

Most of our meals rotate around these items.  We go through a lot of bread - try to bake it ourselves, but sometimes we just buy.  I regularly make spaghetti, meatloaf, homemade mac & cheese, black bean burrito bowls, crock-pot roasts, and stir-fry.  Breakfast is usually eggs, oatmeal, or yogurt.  PB&J features heavily for lunch.  Vegetables are seasonal, based on what we can grow and can buy inexpensively.   

[halseyskates33]

Does anyone have any tasty and frugal recipes they would like to share? I can't cook at all.

[Cranky]

Brown rice, various beans, chicken, TVP, frozen vegetables, peanut butter, whole wheat bread and pasta, tomatoes (often from a can or jar), fresh spinach, potatoes and (for him) sweet potatoes. He also goes through mountains of roasted peanuts and store brand Cheerios. I go through bananas and apples.

What do you do with TVP?

Whatever you would do with hamburger, except actually make hamburgers.

[JZinCO]

Brown rice, various beans, chicken, TVP, frozen vegetables, peanut butter, whole wheat bread and pasta, tomatoes (often from a can or jar), fresh spinach, potatoes and (for him) sweet potatoes. He also goes through mountains of roasted peanuts and store brand Cheerios. I go through bananas and apples.

What do you do with TVP?

pass gas if you're me :)
Rural, I love making sweet potatoes and you have reminded me that I need to go to the store and stockpile some.

[Bracken_Joy]

Meats: Ground elk, Elk steak, Elk backstrap, Venison ground, salmon, whole chickens, canned tuna (tuna is the only store bought one)
Bulk: Basmati rice, Dave's bread for work days
Other protein: Eggs (tons), Chickpeas
Nuts: Almonds, Cashews
Dairy: Yogurt, Sour cream, cream (for coffee), sometimes cheese- feta or Tillamook cheddar, usually
Fats: Butter, coconut oil, olive oil, coconut milk
Sugar: honey, maple syrup
Veggies: Onion, cabbage, broccoli, romaine lettuce, carrots, celery, garlic, shallots, peppers when they're on sale, green onion, green beans, frozen veggie stir fry mixes
Misc/premade: Chicken stock, pickled green beans, stuffed olives, pickles, canned tomatoes, canned pumpkin puree, tomato paste, salsa
Drinks: Coffee, chai tea, and red wine

We eat a lot of curry over rice, taco bowls (usually with rice and lettuce), and chicken soups. Scrambled eggs for breakfasts. Hummus with veggies, roasted chickpeas, hard boiled eggs, plain yogurt with almonds and honey for snacks.

[Bracken_Joy]

Does anyone have any tasty and frugal recipes they would like to share? I can't cook at all.

BudgetBytes is your new best friend =)

[Rural]

Brown rice, various beans, chicken, TVP, frozen vegetables, peanut butter, whole wheat bread and pasta, tomatoes (often from a can or jar), fresh spinach, potatoes and (for him) sweet potatoes. He also goes through mountains of roasted peanuts and store brand Cheerios. I go through bananas and apples.

What do you do with TVP?

Whatever you would do with hamburger, except actually make hamburgers.

 I've made burgers as well, or at least meatballs and sausage patties. Just need some egg for the binder and a bunch of spices.


 These days, though, I most often make pasta sauce and chili.  Oh and a Mexican dip that my husband loves.

[With This Herring]

Meats: Ground elk, Elk steak, Elk backstrap, Venison ground, salmon, whole chickens, canned tuna (tuna is the only store bought one)
*snip*
Misc/premade: Chicken stock, pickled green beans, stuffed olives, pickles, canned tomatoes, canned pumpkin puree, tomato paste, salsa
Drinks: Coffee, chai tea, and red wine

We eat a lot of curry over rice, taco bowls (usually with rice and lettuce), and chicken soups. Scrambled eggs for breakfasts. Hummus with veggies, roasted chickpeas, hard boiled eggs, plain yogurt with almonds and honey for snacks.

Does this mean you buy chicken stock, or that it is a misc. item?  I would think that if you have whole chickens you would be making your own chicken stock, but maybe you just go through more stock than chickens...?

And I second your recommendation of BudgetBytes.


For us (cooking vegetarian at home for DBF):

Dried Beans

• Black
• Chickpea/garbanzo
• Lentils
• Kidney
• Great Northern or navy (whichever is cheaper)
• Anything else on a good sale (<=$1/lb - I got fifteen-ish lbs of chickpeas and kidneys at Aldi this week at $0.59/lb!!!  SO HAPPY!!!)

Rice

• Brown 5-lb bags
• White 2-lb bags (working up to bigger sizes once we are out of apartments)

Pantry

• Flour - AP and whole
• Sugar
• Oatmeal
• Cornmeal
• Vital wheat gluten (for making vegetarian protein foods, sometimes added to baking stuff)
• Cheap black tea for iced tea
• Fancy Irish breakfast tea for hot tea on weekends
• Sugary breakfast cereals (DBF only)
• Soy sauce
• White vinegar
• Balsamic vinegar
• Olive oil
• Peanuts
• Peanut butter
• Mustard
• Tahini
• All my lovely spices
• Pasta sauce
• Canned tomatoes
• Lemon juice
• Tortillas
• Pickles, pickles, pickles

Produce

• Mushrooms
• Red bell peppers ($1/lb on sale)
• Bananas
• Apples (cheap in NYS)
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Celery
• Onions onions onions
• Garlic
• Tomatoes
• Red potatoes
• Basil (3-year-old plant in the window, grew into a mutant tree)

Dairy

• Whole milk (2 gal per week for 2 adults)
• Extra-sharp cheddar
• Pepperjack cheddar
• Mozzarella (mostly blocks, rarely shredded)
• Butter

Other cold

• Eggs
• Juice...way too much juice (splurge item for us)
• Mayo for making spreads (garlic mayo for burgers, horseradish mayo for dipping homemade onion rings, wasabi mayo for ninja burgers) and egg salad/deviled eggs
• Prepared horseradish
• Salsa
• Miso
• Frozen corn and peas
• Some premade vegetarian "chick'n patties" and burgers, but I'm trying to get away from those

Hot sauces/pastes

• Frank's Red Hot
• Sriracha (aka "Rooster Sauce")
• Valentina (Mexican brand?  Got it at Aldi)
• Gochujang (Korean)
• Blair's death sauce (a few types)

[Bracken_Joy]

Meats: Ground elk, Elk steak, Elk backstrap, Venison ground, salmon, whole chickens, canned tuna (tuna is the only store bought one)
*snip*
Misc/premade: Chicken stock, pickled green beans, stuffed olives, pickles, canned tomatoes, canned pumpkin puree, tomato paste, salsa
Drinks: Coffee, chai tea, and red wine

We eat a lot of curry over rice, taco bowls (usually with rice and lettuce), and chicken soups. Scrambled eggs for breakfasts. Hummus with veggies, roasted chickpeas, hard boiled eggs, plain yogurt with almonds and honey for snacks.

Does this mean you buy chicken stock, or that it is a misc. item?  I would think that if you have whole chickens you would be making your own chicken stock, but maybe you just go through more stock than chickens...?

And I second your recommendation of BudgetBytes.

Well, we do make stock every time we cook a whole chicken. But I also keep boxed stock on hand (GASP) as a "convenience food". That way I can throw together a rice/veggie/egg drop type soup as needed. I used to can my own and have it on hand, but haven't had a chance to do that in a while. I def. need to do that again, but I would have to buy quart jars (sigh), as they ended up moving to a different state with my parents.

We don't have chicken all that often, cook a whole one maybe once every two weeks. It's mainly lots and lots of game up in here.

[Bracken_Joy]

Hot sauces/pastes

• Frank's Red Hot
• Sriracha (aka "Rooster Sauce")

I didn't go into our condiments, but OMG yes. We do so much hot sauce. We always keep Frank's, Sriracha, and Tapatio on hand. Oh, and Sambal Oelek. [/list]

[With This Herring]

I wasn't criticizing, just curious.  I have tried and failed to make veggie stock from veggie scraps, so I can't say anything.

I love spicy things and varied flavors.  It is ridiculous how much of my fridge and cabinets are taken up with varied sauces.  (And I probably listed far too many things for "staples"!)

We get pasta sauces that come in quart jars.  There is even a local brand that uses Mason jars.  (And, here, Better Than Bouillon jars is cheaper per cup (~$0.20) than boxed (~$0.60) as well as more compact but still has great flavor.)

[hoping2retire35]

Does anyone have any tasty and frugal recipes they would like to share? I can't cook at all.

Cooking isn't so much about recipes as it is about making something you want. I have been thinking about this, how did I learn to cook? I know now what I do when I want to make something, I get on the Internet and read several recipes then decide what my recipe will be. Try making scrambled eggs, add salt, a little first and if you decide you need more add more next time, always gradual. As long as they don't seem runny or there is too much moisture you are ok. Next try baked chicken, breast only no bone. add some kind of dry spice pack if you are worried. 350 or whatever until you cutit and it is not pink inthemiddle. Keep making baked chicken, very tasty and easy, one of my favourites is marinated chicken with Italian dressing.
Also try to make soups, hard to burn a soup, I doubt impossible though. Again you will need to add a lot of salt. the frugal part will come as you begin to use less expensive ingredients, but first be a good cook and the rest will be easy. You will also do a lot of precise measuring at first which is important to get consistently good food, but will gradually move to just doing it by the eye.

Another rule I am beginning to learn about cooking, if it needs more flavour just add fat, sugar, or salt and you won't go wrong.

[smella]

I use many of the staples that people have previously listed. Something that people haven't brought up

I love anything I can buy in bulk and shovel into my hippie cloth drawstring sacks. I've recently been on a couscous kick, it's cheap and there's a whole wheat option at my grocery store. With broccoli, parm, and chicken it makes an awesome lunch bowl that you can make a ton of at the beginning of the week.

This is one of my go-to quick meals.   I make mine a little more Greek though: couscous, chicken/sausage/whatever meat is left over, sautéed onions, olives, cucumber, and a ridiculous amount of feta.  My food coop also has whole wheat cc, and I've been very happy with it.  Plus, I love the speed.  I haaaate waiting around for rice! So slow!

[pbkmaine]

TVP: DH does not like it, but before I met him, I used to mix rehydrated TVP half and half with 80/20 ground beef, and then use it for hamburgers, meatballs, meatloaves, chili and anything else I would use ground beef in. Brings both the fat content and the cost of the ground beef down.


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