Spend Smart. Eat Smart.

We all know there is a cost to buying food, but that cost can be magnified if the safety of products is not considered. Products past their expiration dates or damaged items may have deep discounts. For some types of foods that can mean good savings. But, for other types, over aged or damaged foods could put you at risk for a foodborne illness—and that will cost you, not just in physical pain but also lost work time and reduced productivity. So, think about what foods on sale are a good deal in the long run—to your health.

Learn how to prevent cross contamination when buying, storing and preparing foods at ISU’s Food Safety website. 

                             - contributed by Cathy Strohbehn

food cost, resources discounts, food safety, foodborne illness, health

Last fall my sister asked me how much I thought she should be spending on groceries (it turns out her husband thought she was spending too much). 

That’s a really hard one to answer; and, I sure didn’t want to get in the middle of an argument. Spending on food varies because of many factors including values and resources (time, money and skills).

I recommended my sister get on the Internet and Google “Cost of Food at Home.” I told her to check out the USDA Food Plans and see how what she was spending compared. I also agreed to look at her grocery receipts to see if I could suggest ways to save (more on that in a later posting).

If you would like to get an estimate of USDA’s Low-cost Plan, we have an online calculator that will do the math for you. Check out figure your food dollar on our Spend Smart. Eat Smart. web page. You will need the age, gender and number of meals eaten away from home for each person.
                                                                                                               - pointers by Peggy

food cost, resources calculator, groceries, spending

When I go by a vending machine, it is tempting to stop for a snack. But, just like everything, prices have gone up. If I buy a $.75 item every day, it adds up to $3.75 per week and $195.00 in a year. I can think of lots of things to do with $195.00—like getting several massages, or taking my family out for a special treat.

You can save money if you take a snack from home. For example, peanuts are a popular selection at a vending machine. The cost is $.75 for 2 ounces. But, if I buy a large container of peanuts* (34 ounces) for $5.29 and fill a small container that holds 2 ounces, my cost for a snack is only $.31. WOW! The vending machine snack costs more than twice as much.

This same concept works with most of the items in the vending machine…now if I can just remember to bring that snack from home.

Share with me some ways you save money on snacks.

*Dry roasted peanuts are healthier than cocktail peanuts because they have less sodium and fat.

                                                                                                          -contributed by Susie

food cost peanuts, snacks, vending

On a recent shopping trip, I started thinking about the cost of produce—bananas to be specific. It seems their cost has really skyrocketed over the past few years. I’m probably dating myself by admitting that I remember when I could buy bananas for 25 cents a pound! On this shopping trip to a big box store, the cost was 64 cents a pound. Well, it’s no wonder families are tempted to buy snack food to satisfy their hungry members instead of produce. So, being a home economist, I decided to do a comparison. I bought 5 bananas that weighed 1.71 pounds; the cost was $1.09. That meant that each banana cost between 20 and 21 cents each.

Next, I strolled over to the snack aisle and looked at a package of taco chips. The regular size bag cost $3.99. How many bananas could I buy for the cost of a bag of chips? Nineteen bananas! For a family of four, each member could have a banana a day for about 5 days for the cost of one bag of chips.

I’m sure the chips would not last that long at most houses; but, neither would the bananas. The lesson for me was that fresh produce may seem expensive, but when you calculate it by serving (a banana is one serving), the cost is reasonable. The challenge is to know—and serve—just one serving. Fresh produce tastes so good it may be hard to eat just one. Sounds like the start of a campaign—”I bet you can’t eat just one.” Oh, right, that’s already been used with a chip commercial.

                                           -contributed by Susan Klein

food cost bananas, fruit, produce

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so (I think) I deserve chocolate! But, chocolate is expensive when it comes to my calorie and money budgets. A co-worker has a recipe for fudge made with pinto beans that should be less expensive than commercial chocolates. Although it won’t be so healthy I can eat all I want, it will be less un-healthy than what I might otherwise buy. The fudge is called Amazing Chocolate Fudge.

Here are additional tips:

• It would be cheaper to purchase dried pinto beans and cook them; but, I bought the canned store brand on sale. First, I drained and rinsed them—it cuts down on the sodium by about a third.
• The recipe says to sift the powdered sugar; but, if it’s fresh you can skip this step. If you do need to sift it, just use a wire mesh strainer and large spoon to work as a sieve.
• If you have an electric mixer, use it. It will get a workout though—remember fudge is supposed to be thick! It’s amazing how the powdered sugar just melts and makes the fudge more spreadable.
• Once the powdered sugar is mixed in, you may add walnuts and dried cherries if you like. I added cherries to mine because President’s Day, also celebrated in February, makes me think of cherries. Even though I purchased the store brand, they can be pretty expensive. Raisins would do just as well and be lots cheaper. 

Amazing Chocolate Fudge (You’ll never guess pinto beans are the amazing ingredient!)
48 Pieces

2 1/2 tablespoons margarine or butter
2 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
1 1/2 cups cooked pinto beans (one 15-ounce can equals 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1/2 cup dried cherries (optional)

1. Spray an 8-inch square pan with cooking spray; set aside.
2. Melt margarine and baking chocolate together.
3. Warm the beans 1-2 minutes in the microwave. This makes them easier to mash and the fudge easier to stir.
4. Combine the beans and margarine/chocolate mixture in a food processor or blender and mash.
5. Scrape bean mixture into a bowl, add cocoa and vanilla.
6. Gradually mix in powdered sugar—mixture will be stiff.
7. Stir in walnuts and/or dried cherries if you like.
8. Press into pan. Cut into 48 pieces (6 x 8). Store fudge in refrigerator up to one week. If you won’t get it all eaten in a week, divide into smaller packages and freeze.

Now, enjoy a little chocolate on Valentine’s Day and not totally blow your budget! 

Each piece w/walnuts and cherries: 70 calories, 2.1 g fat, 0.6 g saturated fat, 0.1 g trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 29.3 mg sodium, 12.8 g carbohydrate, 0.9 g fiber, 0.9 g protein
Cost: 10¢/piece with nuts and cherries; 6¢/piece with no nuts or fruit

Source: Vegetable Desserts by E. Schafer& J. L. Miller, RD. Chronimed Publishing, Minneapolis, MN.  ISBN 1-56561-135-7.

-contributed by Jan Temple 

food cost, food preparation, recipes budget, holiday, recipes

I find Valentine’s Day a welcome break between the holidays and spring. However, everything connected with the holiday seems to cost money—cards, flowers, a special dinner out… 

What does your family do to celebrate Valentine’s and not spend a lot of money?

When our four children were young, we dimmed the lights, added a candle to the table and enjoyed a candlelight dinner. Sometimes we cut out and hung red and white paper hearts for decorations. Sometimes we created homemade cards (and we still do).

The food wasn’t gourmet. The kids liked simple foods and they wanted to be involved. Pizza is a hit with most kids. The crust can be shaped into a heart shape for the occasion, and the kids can make their own pizza from an assortment of toppings. Cranberry oatmeal snack bars are an idea for dessert or a snack.

Now our kids are grown. If my husband and I want to go out for a special meal, we try to do it on a day other than Valentine’s Day. We find it less busy and the food is a better quality. If going out is important to you, check eating out for some ideas on how to spend less.

Maybe you have a way to make Valentine’s special for your family…I’d love to hear about it.
                                                                                              - contributed by Joyce Greving

food cost, food preparation, recipes eating out, holiday, recipes

If you are looking for an inexpensive, yet healthy snack, I encourage you to try air popped popcorn. It IS a whole grain – 3 cups of popcorn are equal to one slice of bread. And isn’t popcorn way more fun to eat than a slice of bread?  I know – the first reaction can be that it lacks tastes; the salt won’t stick and you really like having butter run down your chin. How about a compromise? Try mixing air popped or top of the stove top popcorn with ready to eat cereal. There certainly isn’t anything wrong with eating dry cereal as a snack, but the cost is getting ever higher. So – stretch that store - bought cereal with some air popped popcorn to have an inexpensive, easy to prepare, tasty treat. I have found that if you mix popcorn with honey flavored ready to eat cereal it makes the popcorn taste like kettle corn. Here is a suggestion of popcorn and cereal combination that costs only 13 cents a cup - Popcorn Trail Mix.

Here is an easy answer to those cravings for a cookie - Raisin Strudel Oatmeal. It costs less than 20 cents and is a good source of fiber. You can even prep this in the microwave for an afternoon snack at work or after school. You are supposed to wait 2 minutes after you add the boiling water, but I am too impatient so I just microwave it on on high for 30 seconds, stir and see if it’s about as thick as I want. Sometimes I don’t mess with the milk or granola – I just use the oatmeal, raisins, brown sugar and cinnamon. It really is almost like eating oatmeal cookie dough – only this IS safe to eat because there are no raw eggs. ENJOY!

-contributed by Jan Temple

food preparation, recipes