Tag Archives: eating cheap

Food on the Cheap

Once upon a time, I made a rash, but good, decision. I decided that I really wanted to live near my university instead of commuting four hours every day. But, I also knew that getting a job there would be hard without a local address. So, I did the fairly irrational thing: I moved there without having a job lined up. I had enough savings to pay my rent for a few months—except, oops, I totally forgot to budget for the other costs of living! Like food.

Photo by Sara Slattery

Photo by Sara Slattery

Food is kind of a big deal so I did some research, looked at basic nutrition, and then bought what was the cheapest. This was not at the “nice” grocery store with the nut bar and open bins of nutritional yeast and gluten-free oatmeal. This was at Grocery Outlet or Food Maxx. This was the “ethnic” Mexican, Vietnamese, or Indian market. This was the last half hour of the farmer’s market when the person behind the table wants to get rid of the last bag of oranges.

I took a notebook with me and, over a couple of shopping trips, saw what was cheapest and weighed that against my personal needs. For example, I find large grocery stores very overwhelming, so I get some stuff at Trader Joe’s that is the same price almost everywhere: milk, eggs, butter, bread, frozen vegetables—even organics, if I wanted them. I’m not including prices because they vary widely, and the best thing to do is compare prices at whatever is local to you!

In an attempt to balance my nutrition, I tried to have a carb, protein, and vegetable or fruit with every meal. For breakfast: hot rice pudding and fruit, or toast and an egg with frozen sautéed spinach, or just some oatmeal and brown sugar if I was feeling especially lazy. The oatmeal packets at the store are ridiculously easy to recreate. Lunch or dinner was maybe Spanish rice (rice, spices, canned tomatoes) and bean tacos, lentil and rice soup, black bean burgers, homemade French fries, pudlas, or stir-fry.

The Staples for a Cheap Kitchen

When I was living on the cheap, I filled my pantry with basic staples in bulk because they will spoil the slowest!

  • Dry rice
  • Dry lentils
  • Dry beans
  • Other dried goods (oats, bulgur, etc.)
  • Large bagged spices

I found that the following brought a lot more variety into my meals, so I bought as much as half my freezer and cupboards could hold! Discount and bulk stores, for the win!

  • Flour
  • White/Brown Sugar
  • Pasta
  • Potatoes
  • Frozen, dried or canned fruit and vegetables
  • Olive oil for cooking
  • Bouillon Cubes
  • Tofu
  • Eggs

Since we all have our own preferences and dietary restrictions, don’t feel limited because you can’t follow my examples above.  There are a lot of cheap alternatives for you to consider when stocking your own cheap kitchen:

  • Bulk Tea (instead of soda)
  • Corn Tortillas (instead of flour tortillas)
  • Bread ($2 for 12 servings!)
  • Fresh vegetables (when in season!)
  • Coffee (because everything is cheaper than Starbucks)
  • Mozzarella and Feta (the cheapest cheese I’ve seen)
  • Bacon Ends or Ham Hocks (great for flavoring soups and stews)
  • Meat and Fish on sale (throw it in the freezer if it is about to expire!)

Did you notice what’s not on here? I considered dairy, meat, and pre-processed foods “special items” because, when comparing price-per-ounce, they were way more expensive than other protein and carb sources like beans, rice, flour, and frozen/canned produce. Except for the occasional cheese wedge or free pizza, I didn’t see a lot of meat or dairy. It’s weird, but I was so into making affordable stuff actually taste good that I didn’t even miss meat. The key to cooking deliciously on the cheap is spices, spices, spices. I experimented with what I liked and started to add it to everything!

All this dried food requires a lot of cooking. I learned that it’s best to soak beans overnight to soften them, lessen gastrointestinal issues, and decrease cooking time! I just put some beans in a bowl, cover with water, and let them sit overnight. The next day, simmer until soft. I then discovered that it’s prudent to invest in a rice cooker if you like rice, and a crockpot if you hate standing over a stove. These meals usually come out to be cheaper per serving than frozen or boxed meals, and way more nutritious. It makes sense to try to safeguard your health when you can, because hospital bills in the future are definitely not frugal!

If you do like farmers’ markets, vendors usually lower their prices or are much more willing to haggle during the last half hour. They often don’t have long-term storage for their produce, so it’s better for them to get rid of it before it spoils. If you can pick from multiple markets, try them all, especially the ones in the less swanky parts of town: honestly, I’ve found the prices are much better there. I’ve seen the same vendors at multiple locations, and their lowest prices are usually in cities and more working-class parts of town, not the suburbs or the ladies-who-brunch neighborhoods.

I hope this article gives you some insight into eating cheaply without resorting to McDonald’s and Top Ramen! Some great resources with tips and recipes I’ve found include Budget Bytes, Broke Ass Gourmet, and Poor Girl Eats Well. If you’ve got any of your own suggestion, share them in the comments. Bon appétit!

Getting Your Brunch On

Having lived in New York City for almost seven years now, brunch has become a weekly staple in my life. Before moving here for college in 2005, I never really understood the concept of the word “brunch.” In my younger years, it was more of a fun combination word (breakfast + lunch).

BrunchHero

Photo by Anastasia Heuer

But then I discovered some things: I could eat a full plate of delicious breakfast food (and not just a quick bowl of cereal or a bagel before class/work during the week) alongside a lovely cocktail long before Happy Hour and not feel guilty whatsoever. I could do so after sleeping in until one o’clock in the afternoon (I hate when delis and fast food restaurants stop serving breakfast at eleven o’clock in the morning. What is that about anyway? For the record, I am not a morning person). All while catching up with anyone and everyone after decompressing from the work week.

When I talk to my family members in Florida about “brunch,” their reaction is often an intrigued “ohhhh,” with a raised eyebrow or side smile. It’s like they assume I’m trying to be fancy. That’s just not the case. People assume a lot of things about brunch—it’s expensive, pretentious, and difficult to coordinate. Those things can be true, but they don’t have to be! Every brunch is different depending on the restaurant, cuisine, group of diners, and the intentions of the individuals involved.

A couple things to keep in mind when planning a brunch date:

Beware the Food Coma: Sometimes I’m in the mood for a truly hearty and filling brunch. After a long week of eating on-the-go and stuffing my face with takeout, I like to sit and eat something that will fill me up and make me want to pass out in my bed afterwards. A few months ago, I had the Jerk Bacon and Eggs at Red Rooster in Harlem. The bacon and eggs are served in a skillet on top of beans with a side of grits. It was seriously delicious, but I went into a food coma as soon as I got home. This should not be your go to option if you have grand plans for an afternoon activity or an evening at the gym. Okay, maybe eating those grits, too, was overdoing it. Sometimes, though, you just need a day of food and rest. Let me tell you—after that four-hour post-brunch nap—I felt much better.

If you’re in NYC, my picks for “fill-you-up” brunches are great at Balthazar, Alice’s Tea Cup, and Kitchenette.

The Joys of the Boozy Brunch: My friends and I will often get together on a weekend to enjoy an excuse to start drinking well before five o’ clock. But, to really take advantage of this concept, one must find a restaurant with “unlimited” brunch cocktails, like mimosas, Bloody Marys, Arnold Palmers, bellinis, Irish coffees, and more. Generally speaking, your party has a 2-3 hours to drink up as many of those cocktails as you want.

I have grown to love a good Bloody Mary (especially when it’s spicy), and I had my very first one at the Sunburnt Calf on the Upper Westside. We ended up drinking for several hours before we had to leave (brunch ended at four o’ clock). Because the servers keep refilling your glass, be careful that you don’t lose track of just how many drinks you have consumed. I find this usually leads to either passing out by six o’ clock in the evening or getting an early start on that night’s “going out.” Either way, in my experience, it leads to a satisfying day… and night.

If you are in NYC, this and this are both lists of great spots for a boozy brunch. My favs are the Sunburnt Calf, Calle Ocho, and Yerba Beuna. They all offer the wonderful “unlimited brunch cocktails” option. Intermezzo is another “unlimited brunch cocktail” establishment that sometimes has a drag show later in the afternoons for those who like to keep the party going.

The “Prix Fixe” and The More Adventurous: Some restaurants have a “prix fixe” brunch menu that includes one or two brunch cocktails, coffee or juice, and an entrée. It’s the best of all things brunch in one tidy package. Others might try to wow you with their unique menu items or food combinations. These can be fun places to try but warn your guest in advance just in case they have picky pallets. In terms of a more adventurous brunch, in NYC, I recommend Talde. I’m still thinking about their brunch menu many months later. (Key Appetizer: Pretzel Pork and Chive Dumplings. I mean, who can resist?)

Don’t Forget about Price: Some of those upscale, four to five “dollar sign” restaurants can charge a pretty penny for brunch. Going to a bar-type establishment, or a “hole in the wall,” can give you a great meal and end with a modest bill. This varies greatly depending on the establishment. But you can do yourself a favor and plan ahead. Find out if a brunch place is for you by reading reviews on Yelp, or taking a pre-look at the restaurant’s menu online. This will also help you predict which kind of brunch you are in for.

No matter how you do it, brunch can be exactly what you need for whatever mood or occasion it happens to be.

Comment and let us know what your favorite type of brunch is! Do you have any great brunch spots in your area?