maximizing food dollars

​In these very weird political and social times, many of us are getting nervous about food supplies. More than half of Oregon residents are already pinching pennies and cutting back on food budgets. I'd like to address strategies for stretching your food dollars and maximizing nutrition for your family. 

Firstly, please get over your resistance to visiting emergency food pantries. They're here for anyone who is struggling to make ends meet, and they can provide some free basic essentials so you can use your money for more fresh food. Some items you can count on your local pantry for are beans, rice, pasta, canned vegetables & soups, canned fruit, peanut butter. Some pantries commit their own funds to stocking frozen meat and vegetables, and most accept donations so they end up with surprise items like condiments, snacks, and treats. Many welcome anyone without an appointment or any registration. Others prefer people to be in the SNAP food stamps program. You can usually visit twice a month. We'll be publishing a comprehensive list if Washington County resources this summer, but you can find many pantries at FoodFinder.OregonFoodBank.org. There's an interactive map, so you can click on your nearby programs to get details. This large free food network is there for all of us as greater food insecurity looms. 

Secondly, if you qualify, go ahead and apply for SNAP benefits. Set up an OregonOne.org account and follow the prompts to find out if you can get help. You just have to revisit your account every six months and report any changes in income or living arrangements. You can buy all varieties of food with your SNAP EBT card, even unhealthy processed foods and goodies, so don't waste your actual cash if you don't have to! 

Thirdly, plan ahead. You need to make lists to save money. Write down your favorite meals and snacks, then create a complete list of the groceries you expect to use in any given month. The list will help you choose only what you need from the free pantries and to prioritize your use of SNAP benefits.

Fourthly, if possible, plant a garden. Only plant what you normally eat, unless you intend to share with neighbors. I've wasted too much time growing green beans that none of us want for dinner! Our family uses a lot of tomatoes, zucchini, lettuce, cucumbers, onions, berries, and fresh herbs, so that's what we grow. We have planter boxes along the side of the driveway to maximize space. 

Finally, shop with your actual cash. From your list, determine what meals you want to cook for a week and what ingredients you still need after your free items are taken into consideration. Meat, fresh produce, and dairy products are big on my list. Frozen vegetables actually retain more nutrients that their fresh counterparts, if the fresh items have to travel any distance. If you're not buying your vegetables at a farmers' market (using double-up food bucks for twice the value!), it may be smarter to choose the frozen option. (I draw the line at carrots, though. Frozen carrots are rubbery, imho.)

Today I made my old stand-by, leftover soup. I'll add the recipe and photos in tomorrow's post. I spent about $2.50 on vegetables. Everything else came out of the back of the pantry and the bottom of the fridge. I ended up with 2 gallons of hearty soup.                                                                                         
​                                                                                                                       Photo courtesy of Alicia McCabe and WBUR News.

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