Healthy food on a tight budget

[OakLeaf]

we in Ohio haven't figured out Mexican food in big cities, let alone tiny towns

Okay, I admit I don't know Fairborn at all or Dayton more than superficially, and 20 years ago when my BIL lived in Beavercreek it was unimaginably whitebread (and he liked it that way ).

But Ohio has a huge and growing Mexican population. There have to be at least ten Mexican owned and operated tiendas in Columbus. Aren't there at least one or two in your area?? Maybe not close enough for a spur-of-the-moment ingredient run, but close enough for a monthly supply trip? And cripes, you should be able to get anything at all in Yellow Springs.


And I think I glossed over your comment about root veggies and kale, before. If you're looking for local and seasonal that's a great thing, but once winter comes, you're unlikely to be able to find much in the way of locally preserved vegetables and fruits anywhere. If you have the time, facilities (or community canning kitchen) and storage space to preserve things yourself now, that's great, otherwise you're pretty much going to have to resign yourself to stuff imported from California or farther away.


If you have a sunny window you ought to be able to grow parsley and basil in containers year-round without much attention at all, which can go a long way - parsley especially is a super-nutritious vegetable as much as an herb.