family eating in their kitchen ()
Interested in stretching that dollar as far as it will go while still producing fast and delicious meals? With a little research, planning and imagination, feeding the family can be quick, easy and inexpensive.
Members of a local military community Facebook group, Foodies of the KMC, responded to questions about how they minimize grocery expenses and save time in the kitchen. Their top responses are compiled below. Before your next family dinner or trip to the store, consider these tips from other military moms and savvy shoppers to help you put together timely, terrific meals on a budget.
Tip #1: Plan
Creating meal plans and shopping lists was the number one suggestion for saving time and money by Foodies of the KMC members. By planning their meals in advance, they were able to buy bulk ingredients more often, and less likely to impulse buy or select convenience foods. They also used food more wisely, creating less spoilage. And, they conserved time and fuel by making less trips to the store.
Start by inventorying the freezer, fridge and pantry. Then, create meal plans that span at least a week, if not a month, allowing for bulk purchases. There are dozens of free, downloadable, fill-in-and-print templates online.
Or, utilize smart devices with organizational apps such as:
For more complex organization that includes online recipe clipping, personal recipe storage, meal planning and lists, try:
Tip #2: Try prepping meals ahead & freezing them for later
The second best response by the Foodies group members was for prepping and freezing foods. Spend one day a week prepping ingredients for the next week’s meals and snacks. You save by not buying pre-packaged items, and make healthier, whole-food choices. Wash, dry and chop fruits and veggies, portion dry snacks into baggies, shred cheese, pre-cook meats for tacos, stews, soups or salads, and create freezer meals that can be thawed, baked or simmered in a crockpot. A vacuum sealer system is a great investment for freezer foods.
Freezer meals
Numerous books, blogs and Pinterest boards are dedicated to this seemingly faddish yet fun and economical food prep technique. The process involves organizing and prepping a list of meals in just a few hours. Here are a few favorites:
Either do the prep alone, or join a freezer meal swap or coop, where each member prepares multiple meals of one recipe – one for each member of the group. Then, they meet and swap meals. Google or search Facebook for local groups. These websites can give you great ideas for time-saving casseroles, like buying a few rotisserie chickens, removing the meat and prepping several different casseroles at once, such as chicken and rice, chicken a la king or enchiladas. Ready-to-bake, frozen casseroles are great for a pinch.
Dairy & eggs
Yogurt, milk, cheese, butter, whipping cream and buttermilk can all be frozen and easily thawed. Crack eggs and freeze in ice cube trays for individual use, or store multiple in one container. You can also freeze cooked eggs in breakfast burritos or sandwiches for a quick breakfast on the go.
Fruit & veggies
Buy produce in season when it is cheapest — or pick it yourself at local farms — and freeze for future cooking, baking and smoothies. Most fruits can be washed, patted dry, then then sliced, cubed, quartered, and frozen on cookie sheets for easy storage and portion removal. Some tips:
Leave the peel on quartered citrus, or zest and freeze separately.
Shred zucchini, freeze, and drain after thawing.
Chop or process onion, bell pepper and celery in bulk and flash freeze.
Tomatoes can be frozen chopped and frozen for cooking, or made into stews, soups, sauces or salsa and frozen.
Buy nutrient-rich leafy greens during peak season, freeze on trays and store in freezer bags.
Frozen greens, veggies and fruit can be used all year in your favorite smoothie recipe. Or, prep several individual smoothies at once by freezing their ingredients, minus the base liquid, in a bag. When you’re ready for a smoothie, just blend frozen ingredients with a base liquid. For more ideas on delicious, healthy smoothies, visit simplegreensmoothies.com or www.momables.com.
Breads, pasta & sandwiches
Large batches of waffles, pancakes, French toast, biscuits, pasta, quick rise or yeast breads or pie crust dough balls can be frozen in airtight bags. For pizza or yeast roll dough, just let dough rise once, form into loaves or dough balls and freeze in airtight bags. Freeze prepared PB&J or deli meat and cheese sandwiches, wrap separately and freeze. Pop into the lunch box and they thaw by lunchtime.
Tip #3: Save costs by shopping around
According to Foodies members, shop both on the economy and at the commissary for the best deals. Autumn Ochsner, creator of the Foodies group, agrees. “I shop at discount stores like Lidl, Penny Markt and Aldi for seasonal produce, poultry and local specialties like cheese and wine. The meats and produce are usually local, fresh and since many items are usually seasonal, cheaper than the commissary,” adds Ochsner.
Other members also note that while these smaller stores provide less stock in general, they offer low prices on toiletries and the random selection of electronics, small appliances, housewares, bedding, apparel and more. The smaller stores also mean you can quickly shop, pay and leave. Larger hypermarkets like Cora and Globus are also beneficial, as they provide bigger selections in local or seasonal specialties, meats, fish, dairy and dry good items, and rival on-base prices for appliances and housewares.
Read flyers, buy in bulk & use coupons
Scan in-store flyers for weekly sales and lowest prices on items from your food plan and lists. It’s worth visiting a single store for a great deal on an item your family eats often. Buy it in bulk, use it in upcoming meal plans, or freeze for later. If you have the funds and proper storage, buy enough until it goes on sale again, then repeat.
Coupons up to six months past their expiration date are accepted at the commissary. Several military-friendly organizations clip and send coupons for commissary customers to use. See the bin near each store entrance and take what you can use. You can also sign up for coupons to be sent to you via email from your favorite retailers. For a list of DeCA retailers, visit www.commissaries.com and click on the coupon link under shopping.
Subscribe to our Stripes Europe newsletter and receive travel tips, fun event info, food and drink articles and more in your inbox from us!
Follow us on social media! Facebook: European Stars and Stripes Instagram: Stripes Europe Pinterest: Stripes Europe
