What foods are the best value?

[threebeansalad]

On a related note, check out all the great articles from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension's "Cook it Quick" section. All of these resources fit the budget and health minded consumer: Cook It Quick!

Assuming staples like oil and flour are available, my list would include:
1. Frozen veggies of any kind
2. Canned tomatoes
3. Dry milk
4. Whole wheat pasta
5. Potatoes
6. Block cheese
7. Dried beans
8. Eggs
9. A whole turkey or chicken (Not cheap, but very versatile)
10. Apples

[Caoineag]

Assuming this was me who was on a tight budget for awhile;

1. Canned Tomatoes
2. Flour
3. Milk (wish I knew where you people were finding dry milk for cheap but I can get the real stuff for half the price of making the dry stuff)
4. Frozen veggies
5. Eggs
6. Canned Beans
7. Spinach
8. Potatoes
9. Sour cream
10. Butter

There are very few things that I can't make with that list. I have never had to buy my bags of chicken breasts, oil, pasta or seasonings when things have been tight because I only buy those in quantity when on sale. Meat is the first thing that gets cut when expenses are tight and it only gets bought on sale.

[howk055]

I bought some tortelli in a BOGO. I am going to make that, salad, and some bread. What is on your menu today?

[Duchesse]

Where are you getting inexpensive dry milk?

If it wasn't for my family I wouln't be able to afford dry milk. My cousin, a senior citizen is eligible for USDA food and she doen't use the dry milk.) I use it for cooking (mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, baking, etc.)

I must use Lactaid which just went up to $6.59 for 3.5L . Pathmark recently had a sale for $4.99/3.5L with a limit of 6.

Along with a friend I bought 12 and froze some or else my son would finish it in 12 days.

My son loves cereal so much he drinks the dry milk anyway. I know the powdered milk gives him the runs but, I can't afford to keep up with his appetite for milk. I also get a whole case from my cousin for FREE!

What do you do with a 15 year old who loves milk, is lactose intolerant, and drinks 3.5L of milk which costs $6.59 per day?

I'm counting the days until he gets a job.

[Coleroo]

Where are you getting inexpensive dry milk?

If it wasn't for my family I wouln't be able to afford dry milk.

Im not sure about lactaid, but i can get regular dry milk in a 20 qt box for $6 to $7 from our aldi's. That's what, 4 gallons for less than $8 taxed? In a pinch you can thin it out more.... I love it. I can get it for almost that cheap at our Super Walmart too. We dont like it to drink (unless we add sugar) but for baking and mixing (cereal, milkshakes, etc) you can't beat the price.

[snafu]

couscous, orzo, barley, lentils are all fast, easy to cook and filling. They extend soup, act as a side dish or form a casserole with whatever you have left over.

[mom-from-missouri]

I get mine at aldi's, or get similac brand at the grocery store. My favorite place is the amish general store which has it in 10, 15 and 20 lb boxes. I can freeze the powder until I need it.

[Revend]

Good topic to discuss and all posts are nice. In my opinion following are best food for health.
1. Banana
2. Mango
3. Potato
4. Radish
5. Spinach
6. Apple.

[Boulevard]

I think the rice,potato,flour,eggs, butter , pastas,milk, beans,sauce and chicken .These are enough to make new dish everyday in tight budget too.

[photo]

I would add any fresh vegetable or fresh that is in season. Not only will it have the best taste but also the best price.

[NetSkyBlue]

-Canned tomatoes – You can use these in many, many dishes. Combine them with just about any of the other foods listed here. You can also make your own pasta sauce from them. Bonus if they are home-grown and canned!
-Eggs
-Rice
-Cheapest cuts of chicken you can find – typically leg/thigh quarters, bones are great – you can use them to make stock. Sometimes a whole chicken goes on sale for $0.79/lb. I roast it, de-bone all the meat, shred most of it and freeze it in portions, then boil the carcass and make stock.
-Pasta
-Fresh corn in season – So cheap, and you can buy loads & freeze what you can’t eat fresh.
-Sliced American cheese (not the singles) – This one’s kind of expensive, but you can use it in anything. Sick of three-day old soup? Tear up a couple slices of cheese and melt it in. A completely new meal.
- Flour
- Butter
- Sugar

Make your own bread. It’s not that hard, and it is VASTLY superior to store-bought. Then you can do French toast, garlic bread, egg sandwiches, dip bread in your homemade soup, roll up three balls of dough and put in muffin tins to cook and you’ve got rolls, and then when it gets a bit stale, you can make croutons, bread crumbs, or bread pudding.

Another thing you can do with bread dough is what we call “bum bread” in my family – because my great-grandma used to make it when bums hopped off the train near her house begging for food. When the bread is risen (or partly risen) just punch it down flat and fry up medium sized balls of it, then slather it with butter.

[Branden62225]

If you were on a limited budget, what are the 10 foods you feel are the best value that can be used in a number of different dishes? Basically, what would you stock up on when money was really tight?

Good topic to discuss and all posts are nice.
In my opinion following are best food for health.
1. Banana
2. Mango
3. Potato
4. Radish.
Good luck!

[thesimplemoneyblog]

1) Beans
2) Pasta
3) Rice
4) Eggs
5) Butter
6) Sugar
7) Oatmeal
8) Chicken (of most varieties: whole, roasted, wings, breasts, etc.)
9) Bread
10) Frozen veggies

Unfortunately, the cheapest foods are often the ones with the least overall nutritional content. It can be difficult to work in a balanced diet when you are looking to be the cheapest, so most fresh fruits and veggies are not available options.

[Ramose]

1) Beans
2) Pasta
3) Rice
4) Eggs
5) Butter
6) Sugar
7) Oatmeal
8) Chicken (of most varieties: whole, roasted, wings, breasts, etc.)
9) Bread
10) Frozen veggies

Unfortunately, the cheapest foods are often the ones with the least overall nutritional content. It can be difficult to work in a balanced diet when you are looking to be the cheapest, so most fresh fruits and veggies are not available options.

Usually you can get good prices for produce that is currently in season. Depends how tight your budget is though.

[carolinee]

If I was on a limited budget for a variety of dishes, my choice:
1. pasta
2. rice
3. vegetable oil (or olive with discount
4. meat
5. carrot
6. cabbage
7. onion
8. soy souse (will be Chinese cuisine)
9. Italian seasoning(spices for Italian cuisine)
10. apples (for fusion cuisine