My husband was lowered his salary, and I realized that we need to cut our expenses, otherwise we will not be able to pay the mortgage. We don’t buy expensive clothes, we don’t have lunch in cafes and restaurants and we don’t fly abroad to rest, so at the family council it was decided to save on planning meals. Saving does not mean switching to pasta and potatoes. We have children who need proper and balanced nutrition. So, I share with you my advice.
Pantry with products
Behind every good chef is a stocked pantry with basic products, including pasta, rice, buckwheat, a variety of seasonings and, possibly, sauces (if your family loves them). No need to clearly follow the recipe - start experimenting in the kitchen! For example, if you go to cook pasta and you don’t have any tomatoes at home, then do not rush to go to the store to pick them up. Use other vegetables instead of tomatoes, and you will get a new dish.
Every time you want to cook something, look at your pantry and only then go to the store. If you have buckwheat at home, then use it. And you always have time to buy new others.
Involving children in menu planning
With children, cooking becomes a creative process. They love to experiment with food and find new combinations and tastes. My 7-year-old son is very fastidious in food, so I always involve him in planning the menu for a week, so that later I will not cook for him separately (and this is an additional cost).
Children often go shopping with me, and I ask them to choose the products that they love. I noticed that after we started shopping together and making the menu, my children became more responsible. Previously, the son did not like cutlets from zucchini, but when we cooked them together, adding his favorite sauce to the dish, the child stopped acting up.
Menu planning
At first it was difficult for me to make a menu for the week, so I started by planning the menu for 3-4 days. I’ll tell you how the process goes. Over the weekend, I make a menu for the week and write down a list of products. According to this list, I go to the store and make purchases immediately for the whole week. I noticed that this helps me save up to 3 thousand rubles a month. Before, I often went to the store after work and bought extra products, but I don’t do that anymore.
Reduced meat consumption
I rarely eat meat, but my husband and children love him. Together we decided to introduce "Vegetarian Thursday." There is no meat on our menu this day. How do I replace it? Beans, nuts and whole grain products. They are very nutritious and beneficial to the body.
By excluding meat from the menu for 4-8 days a month, you will be able to save significantly without harming your health. Just change the ratio of products on your plate, moving from meat dishes and dairy products to dishes that include whole grains, legumes and vegetables.
Buying seasonal fruits and vegetables
Buying fruits and vegetables during the season is not only effective in terms of saving money, but also gives us the opportunity to eat foods rich in vitamins, and not stuffed with chemicals. Watermelon, peaches, berries and corn are great for the summer. And basic vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, onions and cabbage can be bought all year round, because they are relatively cheap.
My children love berries, so in the summer I freeze them so that in winter you can eat or cook compote.Also in winter, I sometimes buy a mixture of frozen chopped vegetables (bell peppers, corn, peas and green beans), which I usually cook with rice.