Saving on healthy groceries

[FinancialRecovery]

Hello,

Does anyone have any ideas on how to save on healthy / nutritious breakfast items for children (including one with special needs) ?

We are losing our shirt on these purchases. Any ideas / suggestions / advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[richard johnson]

Instead of hitting up the grocery store, shop locally. The most farmers’ markets sell fresh produce they grow themselves, so there’s very little mark-up. Furthermore, food is picked when it’s ripe, so it’s healthier than store-bought.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

We might need to hear which items you are finding too expensive in order to share any tips about them. Does "special needs" affect what kind of food you serve (ex: finger foods only, soft foods only, allergen avoiding)?

If you and your child are flexible about food, though, I'd encourage you to serve other types of foods in the morning, that is, foods that you normally serve at lunch or supper-- foods you find nutritious and thrifty.

[FinancialRecovery]

Joan,

My son with special needs is milk-free (he has a milk / milk-product allergy).

This seriously restricts what he can eat or will eat. If he was more flexible or could eat milk-based products / recipes, it would not only save us $$$ but would make my life so much easier.

His lunches and dinner are usually rice / pasta with a soup and a serving of vegetables. I am just bored (and I am sure he is, too) with eating the same things over and over and over again, all day, every day.

Thanks.

[snafu]

Building on JOA suggestion, I hope you'll consider making breakfast muffins, cake and cookies. There are lots of recipes on-line and most use carrots, zucchini, raisins etc. Likewise you can stuff anything shredded in a Pita for children to eat in hand. Breakfast pizza appeals to kids who won't eat breakfast. I enjo wraps [tortilla] with a lettuce base to use up leftovers as it doesn't matter if no two are alike and Tacos are similar. Bim Bap is a Korean styled items that uses a lettuce leaf to hold a mixture of rice & protein of choice like a tiny bundle to pop into your mouth [cute and healthy]. Will you family tolerate Berry/yogurt Smoothies? Fruit parfait is similar with home made granola for crunch if dairy isn't an issue.

When it's cold and rainy I use ta CrockPot sometimes called Slow Cooker to make soup. Merely add all the chunked up root vegetables your family will eat, water, a bunch of spices, canned tomato and let it cook overnight. Before plating, add cooked rice or pasta. Chowder is similar but thick like squash & apple puree.