Healthy food on a tight budget

[OakLeaf]

I buy pastured eggs there, which are I think $4-5/dozen.

Oh for heaven's sake, you're cyclists, you can't tell me you don't ride by at least two places on EVERY ride with a sign stuck on the mailbox "Eggs $1.50" or at most $2.00!

I'm only 100 miles from you guys, it can't be THAT different.

[Crankin]

I routinely pay that much for organic, cage free, etc. eggs. I don't buy lots of organic stuff, but eggs and milk are an always. We have lots of farms around here and I don't see any selling eggs for 1.50!

[OakLeaf]

I don't doubt that the whole pricing structure of food is different (and probably higher across the board) in your area - but I'd be surprised if there's that much variation in exurban central Ohio from east to west, is all.

[GLC1968]

Egg prices from farms are going to vary greatly by the time of year. In the spring, they are super cheap because the hens are laying like crazy and everyone is overflowing with eggs. Around here, it's kind of like zucchini in the late summer or pears and sugar plums in the fall. It's not unusual for people to drive around offering eggs/zucchini/pears/plums to their neighbors for free!

By late summer, farm eggs are less plentiful and prices will more closely match what you'd see in the grocery store/farmers markets. In the winter, non-factory farm eggs are expensive.

Also, farmers markets are usually cheaper than stores, but more expensive than on-farm stores because they figure in transportation costs and what the demand will be. The cheapest option would be farms who just put up signs on the roadside as they have no overhead and are usually just trying to lighten their egg load at home (ask me how I know this! In the spring - $3 per 18 ct at my house! )

[Blueberry]

Also, farmers markets are usually cheaper than stores, but more expensive than on-farm stores because they figure in transportation costs and what the demand will be. The cheapest option would be farms who just put up signs on the roadside as they have no overhead and are usually just trying to lighten their egg load at home (ask me how I know this! In the spring - $3 per 18 ct at my house! )

I get a bit frustrated with our farmer's market - it's damned expensive. I want the farmers to make a living - but I really can't afford most of the prices. They are more expensive than Whole Foods, generally speaking. Eggs, even in spring, are $4-5 per dozen at the market. There's a local egg farm that provides eggs to Whole Foods for sale in the $3 per dozen range (and the research I've done indicates their chickens are treated well). Even in the height of summer when folks are flooded with tomatoes, they rarely go below $3 per pound. It's hard to justify on a tight budget.

[GLC1968]

I get a bit frustrated with our farmer's market - it's damned expensive. I want the farmers to make a living - but I really can't afford most of the prices. They are more expensive than Whole Foods, generally speaking. Eggs, even in spring, are $4-5 per dozen at the market. There's a local egg farm that provides eggs to Whole Foods for sale in the $3 per dozen range (and the research I've done indicates their chickens are treated well). Even in the height of summer when folks are flooded with tomatoes, they rarely go below $3 per pound. It's hard to justify on a tight budget.

Yeah, I found the same thing actually, but I was figuring that it wasn't always the case. Certainly in NC - the GSO farmers market was not cheap. And a lot of it was not local either so you really have to pay attention! Earth Fare or Fresh Market prices were often better.

Around here, it's hit or miss. Actually, now that I think about it, the bigger farmers markets closer to the city tend to charge more. My guess is that it's demand. People are probably willing to pay more to not have to drive out to the country for their country fresh foods!

[nscrbug]

There is a guy at my local farmer's market who sells brown eggs for $4/doz. I tried them a few times, even though I had a hard time justifying the cost. They were okay...nothing spectacular. He doesn't advertise if his eggs are organic, or cage-free, or whatever...so I have no idea if they are or not. Next time I see him there, I will be sure to ask. Yesterday, I picked up a dozen large organic, cage-free brown eggs from Target for $3.89, which is about the cheapest I've seen around here for organic, cage-free eggs.

And I agree with some of the others who say that their farmer's markets are expensive. That is certainly true in my area. Blueberries are routinely sold for $5/pint, which I think is a lot. One of the more reasonable items I've found, is broccoli for $1/head. But most everything else is way more than prices in the supermarket, and most of the produce sold at the farmer's markets in my area are NOT organic. Infact, I can't recall ever seeing any organic produce at the markets here. So, even though the stuff is grown locally, and I'm all for supporting local farmers...it's still not pesticide-free.

[ehirsch83]

My grandfather lives in Dayton, my mom grew up outside of there(Tipp City) and the rest of my family is in Cincy.

There is a Trader Joes in Oakwood- you can look for healthier options there.

And then, is there a Costco in the area? We have found that buying meat there is a lot cheaper then at our local grocery!

There is also a farmers market on the weekends in Dayton, check it out for what will probably be better priced produce

[jessmarimba]

I choose to spend money on food that I know comes from a good source... I keep it within reason I guess, but probably spend more than most other single people my age.

No one's arguing that, but it's a thread about grad student food budget

I might spend $25 on groceries a week, not including one evening out at trivia...$4 is a significant portion of that.

[Blueberry]

I might spend $25 on groceries a week, not including one evening out at trivia...$4 is a significant portion of that.

That's impressive to me. DH and I spend way too much on food. Some things (local milk) I splurge on, and recognize they are splurges. Lots of the rest is a lack of planning/waiting until I'm starving to decide what's for dinner.

Got any other tips to share? About how to plan?

[Crankin]

I spend more on food now than I did when my kids were at home.... I figure it's for my health and cooking is a stress release for me.

When I was young and single, I spent about 25.00 a week, but that was in the late 70's. I can't imagine spending that now. I guess I ate well then, too. But I got a lot of stuff at the Co-op and ate at my parents at least once a week.

[Owlie]

When it was just me, I spent $25-30 a week on groceries, probably closer to 35-40 when I ran out of staples or meat. With DBF, we spent 40-60 a week, but since it was split, our individual contributions were the same or less.

I don't buy a lot of snack foods--just the occasional bag of kettle chips for after rides. The rest of it is fruit and nuts, or baking supplies.

[shootingstar]

I probably at least spend $40.00 per wk. on groceries when it's just me.

But with the short season summer and fall here, I end up buying more lovely fresh fruit and veggies. It's healthy stuff is my justification to myself.

[jessmarimba]

I'm the same with the snack food. Though I'll occasionally buy the $2 bag of tortilla chips that lasts me about a week

I just don't have a very creative diet unless there's a special occasion. Between work, riding, and running, I don't really take the time to cook. And since meat takes time to cook, I really don't eat a lot of it (which saves a lot of money).

I seem to have an endless supply of peanut butter and green olives of dubious origin and I have tomatoes and peppers in the garden, so sandwiches and salads are pretty cheap. And every so often I want something junky so I'll get the 6-pack of cupcakes that someone dropped or the clearanced angel food cake for $2.

I was really poor in college. I pretty much lived off of leftover baked potatoes from the restaurant where I worked, oatmeal, bananas, and ramen. And bean burritos from taco bell. So I guess I still feel a little bit guilty spending real money on food, even on weeks when I have more money to spend.

[OakLeaf]

Martha Rose Shulman is doing grain-based main dishes this week. Paellas, pilafs, risotti, grain salads.

These days nine times out of ten if I try a new recipe, it's one of hers ... and I have a whole stack of them either bookmarked or saved as .pdfs.